Premier League: Will Leeds Pile More Pressure On Fulham?

Fulham vs Leeds United

It’s FA Cup weekend in England, but we have some great league action to look forward to as well, and Premier League: Fulham vs Leeds United is the entertainment on offer on Friday night.

Marco Bielsa takes his Leeds team to Craven Cottage in great shape, in 12^th position with 36 points and a place in the 2021/22 Premier League all but guaranteed. It’s no less than Leeds fans expected when they stormed back into the top flight and invested well in some high-class talent, and next season they can expect to kick on. But for Scott Parker’s Fulham it’s all about the here and now. The Cottagers are in an almighty survival battle, in 18^th place and two points from safety with nine games to play.

Leeds can afford to relax, and they have been one of the most entertaining sides in the competition this season; though latterly they have learnt how to tough it out, clean sheets earning points at a time when the free flow of goals has slowed.

It all adds up to a fascinating clash in West London with plenty at stake.

Talking Points

Can Fulham complete their recovery?

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La Liga

From the moment their promotion back to the top flight was confirmed Fulham were touted as a relegation candidate and they have been in the bottom three for pretty much the entire season. But head coach Scott Parker has done a fine job to gel together a group of on-loan stars, hurriedly assembled when the summer transfer window closed, and results have recently taken an upturn.

The Cottagers looked dead and buried in the deep mid-winter but a run of 12 points from the last eight games have hauled them back into contention. In fact Fulham were level on points with Brighton briefly, until the Seagulls beat Southampton last weekend, to end a sequence of three consecutive defeats.

There’s plenty of hope for Fulham with Sheffield United and West Brom seemingly doomed and a clutch of teams in view. While Southampton, Burnley and Wolves still have some work to do to stay clear of danger, the Cottagers really have Newcastle United and Brighton in their sights.

The hosts will have to recover from an expected 3-0 home defeat to Manchester City and they have plenty of creative flair in the side with Ademola Lookman and Ivan Cavaleiro both potential match-winners. But they sometimes struggle to convert attractive football into goals and Parker may be without striker Bobby Reid who will face a late fitness test.

Leeds continuing to grow into the Premier League

Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds have wowed their fans and won over many neutrals with their attacking and free-flowing football which has earned them 11 victories in an all-action campaign. Brazilian winger Raphinha has put in some eye-catching performances, with five assists and five goals, while centre forward Patrick Bamford has looked at home in the Premier League with 13 goals.

Patrick Bamford could miss Leeds United's Premier League match against Fulham due to injury — Patrick Bamford during Leeds United’s match against Chelsea

Since beating Southampton in February the Whites have drawn three blanks, but they picked up a valuable point last week. Leeds showed they can mix it with the best, holding Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea to a goalless draw last week, defending resolutely against one of the most expensively assembled attacks in world football.

Pascal Struijk and Diego Llorente have formed a strong centre back pairing while wing-back Luke Ayling has been excellent throughout the campaign, so Leeds are getting harder to beat. They may be without Bamford and Pablo Hernandez, who are both doubtful, but no longer do they need to score a hatful of goals to win; Leeds have grown into an all-round top-flight team.

History

The head to head Fulham vs Leeds United results are close, with the hosts six to five ahead in the 17 meetings since 2001, while there have also been six draws.

Leeds won an entertaining tussle at Elland Road, back in September, running out 4-3 winners as Helder Costa scored a brace for Leeds, as did Aleksandar Mitrovic for Fulham.

Fulham won the most recent meeting at Craven Cottage as both teams were promoted from the Championship last term.

When playing at home Fulham are unbeaten against Leeds in four encounters and the Yorkshire side is yet to draw away this season, winning six and losing eight on the road.

Betting Tip

	Fulham vs Leeds United	Under 2.50 @ 1.85
	March 20, 04:00 (GMT+8)

All three results are in play, as is always the case with these two clubs, but the Fulham vs Leeds United betting odds here at SBOTOP give the Cottagers a slight edge at odds of 2.43 with the draw at 3.01 and Leeds at 2.83 to take all three points.

It could go either way, Leeds have the quality and Fulham need the points, but both have learned to keep things tight at the back and I think we’ll see a 1-0 either way, or a low scoring draw.