Leeds Utd v Sheffield Wednesday preview, predictions & possible XIs
Leeds United welcome Yorkshire rivals Sheffield Wednesday in the Championship on Saturday afternoon.
Marcelo Bielsa’s men currently sit atop of the league table and look on course to end a 16-year absence from the Premier League.
Sheffield Wednesday, meanwhile, sit two points outside the play-off spots and come into this game on the back off an FA Cup third-round victory over Brighton & Hove Albion.
Read on for our Leeds Utd v Sheffield Wednesday preview, predictions, team news and TV coverage information.
When is Leeds Utd vs Sheffield Wednesday and where can I watch live?
Competition: Championship
Venue: Elland Road
Date: Saturday, 11 January 2020
Kick-off: 3:00 PM (UK time)
TV coverage (UK): N/A
Last five meetings: Leeds Utd vs Sheffield Wednesday
26 October 2019: Sheffield Wednesday 0-0 Leeds Utd (Championship)
13 April 2019: Leeds Utd 1-0 Sheffield Wednesday (Championship)
28 September 2018: Sheffield Wednesday 1-1 Leeds Utd (Championship)
17 March 2018: Leeds Utd 1-2 Sheffield Wednesday (Championship)
1 October 2017: Sheffield Wednesday 3-0 Leeds Utd (Championship)
Aggregate Score: Leeds Utd (DWDLL) 3-6 Sheffield Wednesday (DLDWW)
Ones to watch
Leeds Utd: Jack Harrison
Ever-present this season, Jack Harrison has started in every single one of Leeds’ opening 26 league outings and proven to be an integral part of their promotion push. The left-winger has scored on no fewer than five occasions, while also providing six assists for his teammates.
That reported £8m price-tag to make his loan from Manchester City permanent is starting to look like a real snip.
Key stat: Jack Harrison is the only Leeds player with 5+ goals and assists in the Championship.
Sheffield Wednesday: Steven Fletcher
The veteran Scottish marksman has been great value for money. To date, he’s scored nine goals more than Sheffield Wednesday’s next top scorer. Garry Monk, who returns to his former club this weekend, has used him sparingly of late but is set to unleash him from the get-go at Elland Road.
Key stat: Only four players have scored more Championship goals than Steven Fletcher (12) this season.
Team news
Leeds Utd
Bielsa is expected to make a couple of changes from the side he picked in their slender FA Cup defeat to Arsenal. Kiko Casilla, Stuart Dallas and Hélder Costa are all expected to return to his starting lineup.
Predicted XI: Casilla; Ayling, White, Cooper, Alioski; Klich, Phillips; Costa, Dallas, Harrison; Bamford.
Subscribe to Squawka’s Youtube channel here.
Sheffield Wednesday
Monk has a fully available squad to choose from when he takes on his former team. Steven Fletcher, who came on against Hull City in their last Championship outing, should begin at Elland Road with Atdhe Nuhiu starting on the bench.
Predicted XI: Dawson; Iorfa, Lees, Börner, Fox; Harris, Bannan, Hutchinson, Reach; Fletcher, Winnall.
Squawka prediction
Leeds are mindful of how last season ended when it looked certain they were Premier League-bound. After winning seven on the bounce, they’ve failed to win in four of their last five Championship outings. Sheffield Wednesday will be hoping to pounce on any anxiety, but we can see the Peacocks running out slender victors.
