Premier League: Leeds and Villa are Loving Life In the Top-Flight!

Leeds United vs Aston Villa

When Dean Smith’s Aston Villa head to Elland Road for the Saturday teatime match against Leeds we can expect a tasty clash between two of the grand old names in English football.

This Premier League tiff brings together two teams which can be delighted with their work in the 2020/21 league season.

Marcelo Bielsa’s Whites have entertained neutrals right from the very first whistle and they have been rewarded with a comfortable top-10 position in their first season with the elite crowd since 2004.

Entertainment has always been on the agenda at Leeds. And while they have suffered 12 defeats from their 25 games, Marcelo Bielsa’s side are a threat to any team they meet with 11 victories and they might already have enough points (35) to reserve their place in the Premier League again next term.

Aston Villa too have had a great campaign as they’re currently in eighth, and that’s some turnaround from the players who escaped by the skin of their teeth on the last day of the 2019/20 season.

Talking Points

Leeds bounce back against the Saints

February wasn’t shaping out to be the best of months for Leeds after losing three of their first four games, but they recovered on Monday with a good win over Southampton.

Marcelo Bielsa has kept faith with the players who have done him proud all season and striker Patrick Bamford has paid him back with 13 goals as leading scorer.

Attacking midfielder Raphinha is in fine form too and he gave the Southampton defence the run-around, scoring the third in Leeds’ 3-0 victory over the struggling Saints.

Leeds United's Raphinha celebrates after scoring his third Premier League goal from outside the box this season — Leeds United’s Raphinha celebrates scoring their third goal vs Southampton

That made it five goals and five assists for the Brazilian and he has made more chances and completed more dribbles than any of his teammates.

At 24, this is the third European league he has played in and he has plenty of time to keep improving.

On-loan winger Jack Harrison has also caught the eye on many occasions. And with a relentless scoring philosophy which sometimes looks a little gung-ho though great to watch, defensive midfielder Kalvin Phillips has been a key player though he may have a late fitness test to see if he can make the Villa game.

Will Grealish be fit?

The visitors have an injury headache of their own and their fans would argue it’s even more significant.

Captain Jack Grealish was out injured when Villa went down to Leicester City last week, but boss Dean Smith has not ruled out a return for the Villains’ talisman when they meet Leeds on Saturday.

The boss was annoyed that the news of Grealish’s minor leg injury had leaked out on social media before the match, but there was little his side could do to stop James Maddison and Harvey Barnes earning the Foxes a third league win in a row.

Grealish had experienced discomfort in training and the club feared he may be out for up to a month but Smith is now more hopeful.

Anwar El Ghazi replaced the skipper against Leicester and he has been a little hit-and-miss. But despite Grealish’s 10 assists, Villa aren’t a one-man team.

Ross Barkley and John McGinn both have the ability to unlock a defence and another striker in his Premier League debut season has impressed.

Ollie Watkins has 10 goals already, and he will fancy his chances against a sometimes generous Leeds defence.

History

The head-to-head Leeds vs Aston Villa results couldn’t be much closer. The Yorkshire men have won 10 of the meetings since 1994, while Villa have won nine and there have been 10 draws.

Back in October, Leeds stunned Villa with a 3-0 win on the Midlanders’ turf and it’s a game Leeds’ Belgian centre-back Pascal Struijk won’t forget in a hurry.

In only his third Premier League start, he was hooked after just 21 minutes after receiving a yellow card and then treading close to the line when he committed a foul minutes later.

It was an example of Bielsa’s tactical nous and ability to make the quick decision as his side went on to win comfortably.

Leeds haven’t lost at home to Aston Villa in six encounters, and the Villains’ last victory at Elland Road came back in 2000.