Leeds United will turn their focus towards the Premier League this week as they prepare to travel to the Midlands to take on Aston Villa on Saturday afternoon.
Villa beat Leeds at Elland Road 2-1 in November, just days before Daniel Farke changed formations and turned the team’s season around with a tactical tweak.
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This is a very different Leeds team that will be travelling to the Midlands this weekend and have looked resilient and hard to beat on the road in the last few months.
They came back from two goals down to get a point at Chelsea last week, and will back themselves to get something from their trip to Villa Park this weekend.
Leeds United vs Aston Villa early team news
Dominic Calvert-Lewin missed the last league game against Chelsea due to illness. However, he was back in the squad for the FA Cup clash at the weekend.
The striker is expected to return to the starting eleven when Leeds take on Villa away from home on Saturday. However, there are question marks over the fitness of a few players.
Anton Stach has missed the last three games due to a hip injury, and Pascal Struijk has been struggling with a back problem. Dan James also missed the FA Cup win at Birmingham City due to back spasms.
Noah Okafor also picked up a hamstring problem at St. Andrew’s on Sunday, and could miss the game against Aston Villa on Saturday.
At Villa’s end, Unai Emery will be boosted by the return of Spanish right back Andres Garcia, who missed the last four games due to a hamstring injury.
Ross Barkley is also expected to be in the squad after getting through 65 minutes against Newcastle United in the FA Cup at the weekend.
However, Boubacar Kamara, Youri Tielmans and Josh McGinn are all out with injuries. Back-up goalkeeper Marco Bizot is suspended after getting red-carded against Newcastle in the FA Cup.
Emiliano Buendia and Matty Cash are uncertain about being involved against Leeds on Saturday.
Leeds are good enough to get something against Villa
Aston Villa are third in the Premier League and are fighting to finish in the Champions League spots this season, while Leeds are fighting to survive in the league.
However, Villa have lost two out of their last three league games and were beaten by Newcastle at home in the fourth round of the FA Cup at the weekend.
Leeds have come back from the Arsenal hammering with a win over Nottingham Forest and a draw at Chelsea, while beating Birmingham City to progress in the FA Cup.
Aston Villa Premier League Record This Season – Home, Away & Overall Form
A detailed breakdown of Aston Villa’s Premier League performance this season,
highlighting their home form, away record and overall league statistics.
Category Played Wins Draws Losses Goals For Goals Against Goal Difference Points Per Game
Home Form 13 9 1 3 19 10 +9 2.15
Away Form 13 6 4 3 18 17 +1 1.69
Overall 26 15 5 6 37 27 +10 1.92
The away side are in better form at the moment, and have the wind up their sails to get a result at Villa Park at this stage of the season.
Villa have been strong at home this season, but they are not invincible. They have lost three and drawn one of their 13 league games at Villa Park.
It is not out of the realms of possibility that Leeds get a point at Villa Park, despite the position Emery’s team are in the Premier League table.