Leeds United travel to the Etihad Stadium to face Manchester City with Daniel Farke’s future hanging in the balance.
Leeds’ defeat against Aston Villa left the Whites firmly lodged in the bottom three after 12 games, having fallen behind the one point per game target set by Daniel Farke.
As a result, the pressure is mounting on the Leeds manager, who desperately needs to find a way to pull off a shock result in Manchester.
With the likes of Steven Gerrard linked with a move to Elland Road in recent days, Farke needs to halt Leeds’ recent poor run of form, which has seen his side lose five of their last six games.
Leeds will need to invoke the spirit of Stuart Dallas to secure a victory, as they look to end their opponent’s daunting run of form against newly-promoted sides.
Prediction for Leeds v Man City:
Leeds secured a blue riband scalp in the 2020/21 Premier League season, as Marcelo Bielsa inspired his side to a famous victory.
According to the BBC, Leeds’ win at the Etihad in April 2021 was the last time that Manchester City suffered defeat against a newly-promoted side.
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Manchester City’s record against newly-promoted sides since April 2021:
Played: 25
Won: 23
Drawn: 2
Lost: 0
Since then, the Citizens have played 25 games against the sides coming up from the Championship, winning 23 times and drawing just twice.
During that time, City have won their last four Premier League games against Leeds, scoring 16 goals in the process.
Pep Guardiola’s side are third in the table heading into the game, seven points behind leaders Arsenal, and in desperate need of a win to keep their title hopes alive.
Stuart Dallas celebrates his goal for Leeds United at the Etihad Stadium
Photo by MICHAEL REGAN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
Stuart Dallas was the hero in Leeds United’s last win against Manchester City
The mood around Elland Road could hardly be more different than it was in April 2021, as Bielsa’s side stormed to a ninth-place finish in their first season back.
So often the unsung hero in Bielsa’s side, Stuart Dallas secured a thrilling, backs-to-the-wall victory for Leeds, who played the majority of the game with 10 men after Liam Cooper was sent off in the first half.
Stuart Dallas masterclass as Leeds beat Man City 2-1, with 10 men
Speaking via the Daily Mail after the game, Bielsa hailed Dallas’ “generosity” to his teammates and his selfless approach, stating: “It gives me great happiness because he is a player whose game is built on a lot of generosity.”
Before adding: “He helps all his teammates to recover the ball and not lose it. The goals today have allowed his name to shine. This year has allowed Dallas to show a part of himself that we didn’t know he had.”
The one lingering regret is that the victory was claimed in front of an empty stadium, as one can only imagine the scenes of jubilation that would have been witnessed from the travelling Leeds fans.
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