Na last season top-two teams for Championship go jam again for Premier League showdown this Saturday afternoon as Burnley go host Leeds United for Turf Moor.
This match go also feature two managers wey their Premier League stats no too sweet — Burnley boss Scott Parker and Leeds manager Daniel Farke — dem be the two coaches with the lowest average points per game among anybody wey don manage at least 50 Premier League matches. Parker get 0.75 points per game, while Farke dey manage just 0.61.
Match Preview
Last season, Burnley miss the Championship title to Leeds just on goal difference, even after dem gather 100 points. But since dem don return to Premier League, things never smooth at all — only four points from their first seven matches.
All those four points come for home ground, including their only win of the season against fellow promoted side Sunderland back in August. Since then, na five games without win, the latest na 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa before the international break.
Parker men don concede 15 goals already — second-worst in the league after West Ham (16) — and na just one goal less than wetin dem concede in all 46 Championship games last season.
For football history, na only Liverpool back in 1894-95 wey don match that kind record — conceding their full last-season total within the first eight matches of the next season.
Burnley no dey control games either — their 35.3% average possession na the third-lowest ever since Opta start to track Premier League data in 2003-04, only Cardiff (33.9%) and Sheffield United (35.0%) don worse pass them.
Still, dem fit hold onto one small positive: dem collect four points from Leeds last season (1-0 away win and 0-0 home draw), and dem don lose only one of their last six home games against Leeds (W3 D2). Turf Moor fit give dem small edge again.
For Leeds, the story no too bright either but still better pass Burnley’s own. Dem don win two, draw two, lose three from their seven Premier League matches, last one na 2-1 home defeat to Tottenham.
Leeds dey 15th for table — four points above Burnley wey dey 18th — but the problem be say any time dem concede first, the story no dey end well. Dem don lose eight of their last 10 league games wey dem concede first, including three this season.
Daniel Farke don talk say him dey prepare for a “difficult period” because three of Leeds next four league matches go happen away from home. Even he talk am plain say “no easy moment” dey expected against Burnley.
Leeds no score against Burnley in both Championship fixtures last season, but dem still hold better recent record overall — only two defeats in their last nine meetings (W4 D3), and just one loss in their last six league games against the Clarets.
Leeds go also dey chase back-to-back away wins for the first time since April 2022 after dem beat Wolves 3-1 last month.
But their away defence dey leak — only one clean sheet in their last 24 Premier League away games (0-0 vs Newcastle, December 2022). Dem don concede 51 goals in that period, so this one no go be easy task.
Burnley Premier League Form:
W L L D L L
Leeds United Premier League Form:
L D L W D L
Team News
For Burnley, Jordan Beyer (hamstring) and Connor Roberts (knee) still dey out, same as forward Zeki Amdouni (knee). Lyle Foster get only dead leg from international duty and Scott Parker believe say him go fit play, while Jaidon Anthony fit return after him collect one heavy knock against Aston Villa. Hjalmar Ekdal wey no make the Villa matchday squad fit return, but if Parker still drop am, Josh Laurent, Axel Tuanzebe and Maxime Esteve go continue as the central defence setup.
For Leeds, Willy Gnonto (hernia) and Harry Gray (hip) still dey unavailable. Noah Okafor dey doubt (adductor), but Daniel James and Lucas Perri don return from injury and fit make the squad. Daniel Farke don use the same starting XI for their last four Premier League matches and fit continue that run — na only once before for 1995 Leeds name the same lineup for more consecutive league matches (eight times straight).
Anton Stach still dey run things for midfield. The German don both attempt at least 10 shots (12) and create 10 chances from open play (10), leading Leeds in both stats. E go continue inside midfield with Ethan Ampadu and Sean Longstaff beside am.
Burnley Possible Lineup:
Dubravka; Walker, Laurent, Tuanzebe, Esteve, Hartman; Tchaouna, Florentino, Cullen, Anthony; Foster
Leeds United Possible Lineup:
Darlow; Bogle, Rodon, Struijk, Gudmundsson; Stach, Ampadu, Longstaff; Aaronson, Calvert-Lewin, Okafor
Prediction
We Talk Say: Burnley 1-0 Leeds United
This fixture fit turn out to be one tight battle because both teams dey desperate for points to escape relegation zone talk. Last season both matches end tight, and we fit expect the same kind stubborn contest again. But Burnley home advantage plus Leeds defensive shakiness away from home fit make the Clarets snatch this one by small margin.
