Pundits Chris Sutton and Paul Merson have delivered their predictions for Leeds United's mouthwatering clash with Newcastle United.
Daniel Farke's side will be looking to return to winning ways following back-to-backs defeats to Arsenal and Sheffield Wednesday in the Carabao Cup when they entertain the Magpies tomorrow night, kick-off 5:30pm. The Whites boss is expected to make a plethora of changes to his starting XI, having rested a number of first team players against the Owls.
As for the Magpies, they travel to Elland Road on the back of a 3-2 loss to Premier League champions Liverpool. Writing in his weekly BBC predictions column, Sutton thinks it will finish 1-1 between United and Newcastle. He said: "Newcastle were phenomenal against Liverpool. But my worry for them is this: Sandro Tonali and Joelinton both went off injured last match and those two in midfield are an absolute force. I don't know what taking them out will do to the team.
"Leeds lost 5-0 to Arsenal. They were thumped. Well beaten. But are they going to be a different proposition at Elland Road? They played with such great intensity in their opening game against Everton.
"There should be an asterisk for this one, really. If Tonali and Joelinton are fit, which I don't think will be, then Newcastle should win. But this has put me in a really vulnerable position as the BBC predictions expert - I don't have all the data!
"With Anthony Gordon also suspended, I'm going for a draw, purely based on the fact that Newcastle won't have any players."
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Former Arsenal midfielder Merson also thinks it will finish one apiece. He told Sportskeeda: "Newcastle were outstanding the other day against Liverpool. But they got no points to show for that brilliant performance, which will be quite hard to take for the players. The bigger problem here is that they could be without Joelinton and Sandro Tonali, who both limped off with injuries in that loss to Liverpool. Alexander Isak is obviously missing and to make matters worse, his deputy at centre-forward Anthony Gordon is suspended!
"If Newcastle had all of them players fit and available, they would easily win this game. William Osula came on and scored against Liverpool but I still don't think he's ready to start week in, week out in the Premier League.
"This is the perfect time for Leeds to take on Newcastle and they should try to make the most of it. Leeds will be disappointed about losing to Sheffield Wednesday in the Carabao Cup, that is a game they should have won. I expect a better result this weekend."
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