Leeds host Norwich in a major title decider

Elland Road will host possibly one of the biggest game of Leeds United’s season as Marcelo Bielsa’s side face Norwich City.

The Canaries are three points behind their title challengers, if the hosts win they will go six points clear at the top.

The home side go into this tie with a perilous record in the last six getting two wins in their last six, those coming against Rotherham United and Derby County. Most recently they lost 2-1 to Stoke City and were also knocked out the FA Cup by QPR.

As for Norwich City, the Norfolk side have one win in their last six, with it being two games ago against Birmingham City. City also have three draws and two losses with many resulting from a late winner or equaliser this means they are going to have to fight to the end before getting there hopes up.

Marcelo Bielsa took a bold strategy to name his Leeds United starting eleven two days before their clash goes ahead:

? | Marcelo names his expected Starting XI for this Saturday's clash: "Casilla, Ayling, Jansson, Cooper, Alioski, Forshaw, Harrison, Klich, Roberts, Hernandez, Roofe"

— Leeds United (@LUFC) January 31, 2019

Therefore, the side that the manager named is likely going to be the players to start against their title challengers, Bielsa also announced this during his press conference:

“Norwich is a team that attacks very well and is designed to attack, it doesn’t mean that they don’t defend well, but the profile of the team is a creative one.

“We want to attack, but we know we will have to defend a lot too, it is an opponent we have to respect.”

“If you have a difference of six points and the team plays with regularity, it is a big difference.”

His opposite number Farke said:

“The Championship is a marathon. There’s no coincidence that us and Leeds are at the top, it’s deserved. It’s two good sides and hopefully, we see some good football.”

“We know everything about Leeds. We’ve analysed them, what style they play. Perhaps there are one or two questions marks, even after Bielsa naming the team two days ago. It has no meaning at all, towards the spy topic.”

As Bielsa named his eleven already, the faces coming back into the team are known as striker Tyler Roberts will get his first league start since October after impressing during last week’s win against Rotherham.

He came on as a substitute at half-time replacing Jack Clarke, while Kalvin Phillips will be replaced by defensive rock Pontus Jansson as he returns from suspension.

What is know is Gaetano Berardi, Patrick Bamford and Stuart Dallas are all out along with Isaiah Brown who’s been playing with the development squad as he looks to regain match fitness.

The Canaries could welcome two players into the team as midfielder Emiliano Buendia seems to have recovered from a dead leg while Philip Heise a transfer from Dynamo Dresden may also be included in the squad that travels to Leeds.

Norwich have six players expected to miss the tie with Timm Klose (knee), Alexander Tettey (abductor muscle) and Moritz Leitner (ankle) are the sides longer term sidelined players. Louis Thompson and Carlton Morris will see this game come too early for the pair.

Kemar Roofe is Leeds United’s top scoring player with 14 goals in 24 matches, last putting the ball in the back of the net three games ago when they beat Derby County 2-0.

Winger Pablo Hernández is the club and the league’s top contributor with 11 assists in 22 matches.

Finnish striker Teemu Pukki leads the line in a Norwich City shirt as the attacker has 18 goals in 29 matches for the Championship side. He also has been involved in 16 goals in his last 14 league games with four assists during that time.

Emiliano Buendía has 10 assists in 27 meaning he tops the charts for assists for side currently placed second in the league.

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