Kick-off: 2000, 25/04/2023
Stadium: Elland Road
TV: BT Sport
It was a bad weekend for Leeds as their defeat at Fulham and results elsewhere left them just one point above the relegation zone ahead of a tense night at Elland Road.
Leicester climbed out of the bottom three by beating Wolves but are only above Everton on goal difference so the stakes could hardly be higher.
Both teams have looked shaky in defence for much of the season and over 3.5 goals at 7/4 is our opening Leeds vs Leicester prediction.
Worrying times for Whites
Javi Gracia admitted he is “worried about everything” ahead of this crunch clash in the relegation battle.
His team were unable to impose themselves against an improving Fulham on Saturday and went down 2-1, having failed to find an equaliser after Patrick Bamford’s effort was deflected in off Joao Palhinha.
Gracia said. “It’s our third defeat in a row, and we have to improve. All the players, the level of the players, we have to recover our best XI because we have a very important game in three days and we have to be ready in all the positions.
“They have to (still believe). We don’t have time, in this moment we can’t have doubts. We have to believe because we did it four games ago, five games ago.
“These three defeats, it’s not easy to manage, but we are coming from games where we were able to have better performances and results. We have to recover that level. We have to believe and try to do it together.”
Leeds have at least found the net in their last seven matches so have the firepower to cause problems but are badly missing defensive midfielder Tyler Adams.
Both teams to score is 8/13 in the Leeds vs Leicester odds but with both teams desperate for the win, goals at both ends in the first half looks worth the extra risk at 29/10.
Last Leeds line-up: Meslier, Koch, Cooper, Kristensen, Wober, Aaronson, Roca, Summerville, Harrison, McKennie, Rodrigo.
Win keeps Foxes in the hunt
Leicester remain in serious trouble but were one of the biggest winners of the weekend in the survival scrap as they came from behind to record their first victory since February against Wolves.
It was the first points under boss Dean Smith in their first home game since he succeeded Brendan Rodgers and it ended a run of nine matches without a win – eight of which had been losses.
The trip to Leeds is followed by the visit of Everton next Monday so this is shaping up to be a big seven days for the Foxes.
“We’re not looking at this week in general, we’re just looking at Tuesday and Leeds United at Elland Road,” said Smith.
“It’s a great place to play football, with the atmosphere that their fans produce – and our job is to try to keep them quiet.
“You don’t give them any reason to get lifted. We can’t give cheap free-kicks away around the box, or cheap goals. We have to keep them quiet for as long as we can. If we can do that it makes it a better place to go for us.
“It’s crucial because you’re playing a team in and around us and if we win we go above them. We’ve looked at Leeds, their strengths and weaknesses, but ultimately it’s about us, what we do and how we do it.”
Leicester look set to be boosted by the return of James Maddison and Harvey Barnes, who have scored nine and 10 Premier League goals this season respectively, while Jamie Vardy should also be fit despite being forced off at half-time against Wolves.
They undoubtedly add to Leicester’s attacking threat and an entertaining game looks in store, so we’ll take 21/4 for either team to come from behind and win as the last of our Leeds vs Leicester betting tips.
Last Leicester line-up: Iversen, Faes, Soyuncu, Kristansen, Castagne, Tielemans, Iheanacho, Daka, Tete, Soumare, Vardy.
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