Premier League: Banged Up Leeds Set for Big Battle at Brighton

Brighton & Hove Albion vs Leeds United

Leeds United have dealt with some significant injury problems during this Premier League season, and they look set to battle through even more challenges as they prepare to take on Brighton at Falmer Stadium.

Aside from long-term absentee Patrick Bamford, Leeds could also be without a few of their other key attacking players for this match.

But even with all of their absentees, the Whites should still fancy their chances of picking up a positive result as they take on the struggling Seagulls, who have suddenly gone winless over the last two months.

Talking Points

Seagulls stuck in a major winless skid

After a promising start to the season, Brighton are suddenly struggling. The Seagulls are without a win in their last eight games in all competitions, with seven coming in the Premier League.

They have lost just two of those seven league games during that time, but they had two disappointing draws against relegation strugglers Norwich and Newcastle and lost 2-0 last time out to Aston Villa on Steven Gerrard’s debut.

Much like last season, Graham Potter’s side is still not scoring too many goals. They have just 12 goals in 12 games thus far this season. But unlike last year, they are struggling to even create goalscoring opportunities.

Neil Maupay – the team’s top scorer with four goals – has not found the back of the net in two months and has lost his starting spot in recent weeks.

Potter tried to play Adam Lallana next to Leandro Trossard up front against Villa, but it did not prove all that successful.

But on the bright side for Brighton, No 1 keeper Robert Sanchez is set to return after suspension, while midfielder Enock Mwepu also has an outside chance of returning from a recent injury absence.

Leeds could be without more key starters

Leeds’ back luck with injuries this season is showing no signs of letting up. The Whites lost 2-1 to Tottenham last time out on Antonio Conte’s home league debut as they were without top scorer Raphinha (five goals) and Rodrigo Moreno, who joined Patrick Bamford on the sidelines due to injury.

With all those injuries in attack, Marcelo Bielsa was forced to hand teenager Joe Gelhardt his first career Premier League start.

Leeds have struggled to score many goals this season in Bamford’s absence – they have just 12 goals thus far – and the Premier League 2021 odds will once again be very much against them if Raphinha and/or Rodrigo do not recover in time.

The likes of Tyler Roberts, Daniel James, and Gelhardt are the only other options Bielsa has left to start up front, and they have a combined one goal this season.

Aside from the attack, Leeds also have some pressing injury concerns in defence. With key defenders such as Luke Ayling, Robin Koch, and Jamie Shackleton also out, Bielsa had to move star midfielder Kalvin Phillips into a three-man defence. Phillips played well in the role, though, so he could continue at the back against Brighton.

Meanwhile, Junior Firpo made his return from injury against Spurs and could be an option to start at left wing-back against Brighton.

History

Leeds and Brighton are tied with 18 wins apiece in their historical head to heads, with 11 draws.

The Seagulls have been able to claw their way back from a sizable deficit by dominating the last decade or so of this matchup. They have lost just twice in their last 15 matches against Leeds dating back to 2010. Many of those matches were in the Championship.

But Brighton did the double on Leeds upon the Whites’ return to the Premier League last season. They won 2-0 at home thanks to goals from Pascal Gross and Danny Welbeck.

Betting Tip

	Brighton & Hove Albion vs Leeds United	1X2 Draw @ 3.30
	November 28, 01:30 (GMT+8)

SBOTOP odds have Brighton priced at 2.12 to end their long winless run at home against Leeds, who have 3.35 odds to grab the much-needed win. Meanwhile, a draw is at 3.30.

Leeds’ chances will depend largely on whether the likes of Raphinha and Rodrigo will be available. With Bamford out, those two are the biggest goal threats on the team.

If those two do play, then there is still a decent chance that Leeds can battle an out-of-form Brighton side for an away draw.

 

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