High-flying Brentford will be looking to close in on the European places when they travel to Elland Road to face Leeds United in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon.
The hosts, meanwhile, are searching for their first top-flight win since the beginning of November as they bid to climb away from the relegation zone.
Match preview
© Reuters
After failing to win any of their first five competitive games since the World Cup break, Leeds secured a much-needed confidence-boosting 5-2 victory at home against Cardiff City in their FA Cup third-round replay on Wednesday night.
Wilfried Gnonto and Patrick Bamford both scored a brace, while top scorer Rodrigo was also on target to help the Whites set up a favourable fourth-round tie with either Accrington Stanley or Boreham Wood later this month.
Jesse Marsch will now be focused fully on Sunday's Premier League contest with Brentford, with his Leeds side – who have won only four top-flight matches all season – one of a number of clubs facing the prospect of relegation as the head into the second half of the season.
After losing 2-1 away at Aston Villa in their most recent league game, Leeds have slipped to 14th place in the table, just two points above the relegation zone, although they do have a game in hand on all six teams below them.
Leeds have conceded more Premier League goals than any other team since the start of last season (112), and have kept a clean sheet in only one of their last seven meetings with Brentford.
However, the West Yorkshire outfit will be hoping that their supporters can spur them on towards another positive home result this weekend, having already picked up 12 of their 17 points at Elland Road so far this season.
© Reuters
Brentford supporters are rightly buzzing at present as their Bees side have won four of their last five Premier League matches, including a routine 2-0 win at home to Bournemouth last weekend.
Goals either side of half time from Ivan Toney and Mathias Jensen helped secure maximum points for the West Londoners for the seventh time this season, and their hopes of securing a surprise European spot are well and truly alive.
Indeed, Brentford currently sit in eighth place above both Liverpool and Chelsea in the top-flight table, just four points behind Tottenham Hotspur in fifth with a game in hand.
Thomas Frank's side are brimming with confidence as they have lost only one of their last 10 Premier League games, and they head to Elland Road having already beaten Leeds this season, securing an impressive 5-2 home victory in September courtesy of an Ivan Toney hat-trick.
The Bees have accumulated seven points from their last nine available away from home, including back-to-back wins at Manchester City and West Ham United, and another victory on Sunday would see them record three successive top-flight wins on the road for the first time in their history.
Making a fast start at Elland Road could be key to the Bees' success on Sunday, considering that they are unbeaten in all 20 Premier League games in which they have scored first.
Team News
© Reuters
Leeds boss Marsch has confirmed that January signing Maximilian Wober is available for selection on Sunday despite limping off with an injury against Cardiff, while Crysencio Summerville, Archie Gray (both ankle), Stuart Dallas (leg) and Adam Forshaw (groin) all remain sidelined.
Liam Cooper and Robin Koch were both rested in midweek after picking up minor knocks, but the centre-back duo are in contention to return to the first XI on Sunday, while Pascal Struijk may be recalled at left-back after watching on as an unused substitute against Cardiff.
Luis Sinisterra came on for the final 10 minutes on Wednesday to make his first appearance since the end of October after recovering from a foot injury; the Colombian will now compete with Gnonto, Brenden Aaronson, Jack Harrison and Sam Greenwood for a starting berth on the flanks.
Club-record signing Georginio Rutter was not registered in time to make his Leeds debut against Cardiff but he is available to play on Sunday, although Rodrigo is expected to lead the line from the start.
As for Brentford, Pontus Jansson (hamstring) and Frank Onyeka (thigh) both remain sidelined, while Shandon Baptiste is closing in on a return from a groin problem but is unlikely to feature on Sunday.
Aaron Hickey may be selected in the matchday squad for the first time since October after a spell out with an ankle injury, while Rico Henry is available after missing the win over Bournemouth due to a calf strain; Vitaly Janelt is therefore likely to move back into centre-midfield after starting at left-back last time out.
Toney, who has scored 13 Premier League goals in 17 games so far this season, is poised to lead the line, while new recruit Kevin Schade will be pushing to start his first game for the Bees, competing with Bryan Mbeumo, Yoane Wissa and Keane Lewis-Potter for a place in attack.
Leeds United possible starting lineup:
Meslier; Kristensen, Koch, Cooper, Struijk; Adams, Roca; Harrison, Aaronson, Gnonto; Rodrigo
Brentford possible starting lineup:
Raya; Ajer, Pinnock, Mee, Henry; Jensen, Norgaard, Janelt; Mbeumo, Toney, Wissa
We say: Leeds United 1-2 Brentford
Fourteen goals have been scored in the three previous Premier League meetings between these two sides and plenty more goalmouth action could be on the cards this weekend.
While Leeds have the firepower to cause Brentford problems on home soil, we expect the Bees to continue their strong run of form and come away with maximum points to boost their hopes of a top-six finish.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
