Leeds United are set to play Spurs at Elland Road today, with the game scheduled to kick-off at 12.30pm as the first Premier League fixture on Saturday.
It’s the seventh matchday of the Premier League season, with it also being Leeds United’s fourth outing at Elland Road. As of this morning, the Whites have not lost a home league match in 384 days.
They will hope Daniel Farke continues his record against Tottenham. However, this will be his first fixture against Spurs when he is in charge of Leeds, having taken 190 points during two seasons in the Championship.
The newly-promoted clubs are holding their own well so far, which is a significant reason to be positive. Another consideration is that Thomas Frank has not yet got Spurs’ attack clicking after replacing Ange Postecoglou.
Leeds’ dismal early kick-off record in the Premier League
When it comes to the game of football, it is a sport which can be impacted by variance more than many others. Chance and random strokes of luck come into it, but Opta believe Spurs will get something at Elland Road.
Whatever the outcome, the two managers will end the game full of respect for one another. In their pre-match press conferences this week, Farke spoke of his Frank admiration ahead of Spurs‘ trip to West Yorkshire.
Frank reciprocated those feelings towards Farke on Friday ahead of today’s game between the duo. It’s a game which could be tight or wide open, depending on how aggressively Farke wishes to play the early kick-off.
It is that particular aspect, with the Premier League choosing the game to be broadcast live on TNT Sports, which is the problem for Leeds, amid plenty of other reasons to be hopeful.
MORE LEEDS UNITED STORIES
That is because Leeds haven’t won any of their last 11 Premier League matches that have kicked off before 3.00pm. They have drawn two and lost nine since a 3-0 win over Chelsea in August 2022, which was a 2.00pm kick-off.
It’s a shocking three-year record now, which was also a problem in the Championship for much of last season as well. The ray of optimistic sunshine is Leeds have won in their last two 12.30pm kick-offs in the second tier.
They beat Preston North End 2-1 at Elland Road in April and won the title with the last kick of a ball from Spurs loanee Manor Solomon during a 2-1 win away at Plymouth Argyle.
Paul Merson and pundits predict Leeds United vs Tottenham Hotspur
Alan Shearer is confident Leeds will draw with Spurs. He is just one of a number of pundits who have hope for Leeds. That’s because Chris Sutton has predicted a draw in Leeds vs Spurs.
He is not the only one who views this as a tough test for Frank and co. as Ally McCoist rates Leeds’ chances against Spurs as well. Paul Merson spoke to Sportskeeda to provide his, stating: Tottenham are a bit strange; they aren’t a 90-minute team!
“I’ve noticed that Spurs start playing their best football only after they go behind in games. It’s easy to play when you’re losing, that takes the pressure off your back. But they can’t keep doing it if they want to be ambitious under Thomas Frank this season.
“Spurs showed good character to come from 2-0 down to draw against Brighton. But since then, they have struggled against both Wolves and Bodo/Glimt, failing to win them games. So I don’t think they’re as great as some people say!
“This is a tough game for Tottenham because Leeds have been quite good at home. If at the start of the season, you told Leeds that they can get a point from this fixture, they would have happily accepted it. And that’s exactly what I think will happen here.
“Leeds’ form at home will be crucial to their chances of avoiding relegation and they have shown enough to suggest they can hold Spurs to a draw at Elland Road. I expect goals in this one. Prediction: Leeds United 2-2 Tottenham Hotspur.”