Leeds vs Sunderland – News and Probable Lineups

In their second of three consecutive home matches, a Leeds United side without Daniel Farke faces Sunderland in a contest between two newly-promoted Premier League teams on Tuesday evening.

Frustration peaked for the Whites’ head coach following Saturday’s 1-0 defeat to Manchester City, which occurred just hours after the Black Cats managed a 1-1 draw with Bournemouth.

Match overview

Having secured points from Chelsea and Aston Villa in the lead-up to Manchester City’s game, Leeds were expected by many to disrupt the Sky Blues’ title chase, particularly with their main striker Erling Haaland sidelined due to an injury.

However, Antoine Semenyo stepped up for the visitors, scoring the sole goal in Pep Guardiola’s side’s 1-0 win at Elland Road, where Farke expressed his anger at the referees after the match.

The 49-year-old received a straight red card from referee Peter Bankes due to his protests—his assistant, Eddie Riemer, indicated this was due to concerns over alleged time-wasting from Manchester City—resulting in a touchline ban for the Sunderland match.

Although Leeds’ unbeaten streak of four matches ended painfully over the weekend, they maintain a healthy six-point buffer over West Ham United in the relegation zone, reflecting their remarkable resurgence since the onset of colder weather.

Saturday’s loss against Manchester City marked only their third defeat in 16 matches across all competitions since early December, yet they have conceded at least one goal in 10 of the last 11 fixtures, shutting out Fulham in that stretch.

Last season, there was a remarkable 24-point gap between first-placed Leeds and fourth-placed Sunderland in the Championship rankings, yet the Black Cats arrive at Elland Road holding a six-point lead over their opponents in the Premier League table.

Regis Le Bris’s team could have increased their advantage over the Whites to eight points on Saturday, with Eliezer Mayenda in the right position to net against Bournemouth; however, a header from Evanilson earned the Cherries a point.

While Sunderland managed to halt a three-match losing run in the Premier League at the Vitality Stadium, a fourth consecutive game without a win has dampened their fleeting hopes for European competition, even though they are still closer to the top four than the relegation zone in terms of points.

On the road, the situation remains dire for the Black Cats, who have not triumphed in their last nine Premier League away matches, with five losses and four draws since their shocking victory against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in October.

Le Bris’s side also faced a 1-1 stalemate with Leeds at the Stadium of Light in December, extending their winless run against the Whites to four matches since their last victory, a 1-0 triumph in December 2023 when Jobe Bellingham scored the only goal.

Team News

Leeds currently have a wealth of options for selection, with the only injury absentee being Noah Okafor, who is expected to be sidelined for a couple more weeks due to the hamstring injury he sustained in the FA Cup.

The hosts pushed Manchester City to their limits on Saturday, so the suspended Farke may opt to retain the same starting lineup, provided none of his players are facing severe fatigue.

Should Farke wish to rest the frequently injured Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Lukas Nmecha presents an alternative, while Ao Tanaka and Sean Longstaff could challenge Ilia Gruev’s position after his disappointing performance last time out.

Sunderland’s fitness situation remains the same, as Le Bris has reported no new concerns from Saturday’s draw against Bournemouth, while no injured players are set to return just yet.

The visitors will therefore proceed without Dennis Cirkin (thigh), Reinildo Mandava (knee), Romaine Mundle (thigh), Brian Brobbey (groin), Nordi Mukiele (calf), and Jocelin Ta Bi (ankle), particularly restricting their options on the flanks.

Captain Trai Hume is likely to once again fill in at left-back, although Bertrand Traore and Nilson Angulo could threaten Chemsdine Talbi’s starting role in attack.

Leeds United probable starting XI:

Darlow; Justin, Rodon, Struijk; Bogle, Stach, Groove, Ampadu, Gudmundsson; Aaronson, Calvert-Lewin

Sunderland probable starting XI:

Roefs; Geertruida, Ballard, Alderete, Hume; Xhaka, Sadiki; Talbi, Diarra, Le Fee; Mayenda

Among the last four encounters between Leeds and Sunderland, three have ended in draws, and under normal circumstances, another tie would seem plausible.

However, the squad depth of the Black Cats is currently being tested, and their away form has consistently let them down throughout the season, leading us to believe Leeds will return to winning ways and further strengthen their bid for survival.