Daniel Farke is getting his Leeds United squad ready for a huge Premier League clash tonight, with Sunderland making the trip to Elland Road.
Leeds are still licking their wounds after Saturday’s narrow 1-0 defeat at home to Manchester City. It was a frustrating day out, overshadowed by contentious refereeing calls and a red card for Farke himself, which the club are hoping can be overturned in time for this evening’s game.
Despite that setback, the bigger picture has not shifted too dramatically. Results elsewhere went in Leeds’ favour, leaving them six points clear of the relegation zone and sitting 15th in the table.
A victory against Sunderland would be a significant step towards securing Premier League football for another season. With that in mind, Farke is expected to stick largely with the same lineup rather than make sweeping changes.
Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris gives honest verdict on Leeds United
The Black Cats finished 24 points behind Leeds in the Championship last season, but they are three spots and six points ahead of the Whites in the top flight.
However, Sunderland are dealing with a real injury crisis ahead of their trip to Elland Road, with six players out of action.
Regis Le Bris is aware that his Sunderland side are in for a tough game against Leeds, who he credited for having a clear identity and playing direct vertical football.
He is also wary of the Elland Road atmosphere and conceded that it was no surprise that Leeds dominated the Championship last season.
Le Bris said in a press conference: “They’re doing well.
“They have a clear identity and the ability to go direct. They are well coached with a great atmosphere at Elland Road.
“Last season, they were strong, and the outcome at the end of the season [promotion] was no surprise.”
A win over Sunderland will be huge
Leeds came away from Saturday’s defeat to Manchester City feeling irritated rather than disheartened, and that says a lot about how far they’ve come this season.
Not so long ago, losing narrowly to the champions would have been seen as par for the course. Now, it feels like an opportunity that slipped through their fingers.
With West Ham, Nottingham Forest and Tottenham all finding wins hard to come by, Leeds’ six-point gap to the relegation zone is beginning to carry real weight at this stage of the season.
| Pos | Club | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 |  Leeds United |
28 | 7 | 10 | 11 | 37 | 47 | -10 | 31 |
| 16 |  Tottenham Hotspur |
28 | 7 | 8 | 13 | 38 | 43 | -5 | 29 |
| 17 |  Nottingham Forest |
28 | 7 | 6 | 15 | 26 | 41 | -15 | 27 |
| 18 |  West Ham United |
28 | 6 | 7 | 15 | 34 | 54 | -20 | 25 |
| 19 |  Burnley |
28 | 4 | 7 | 17 | 32 | 56 | -24 | 19 |
| 20 |  Wolverhampton Wanderers |
29 | 2 | 7 | 20 | 20 | 51 | -31 | 13 |
Tonight’s meeting with Sunderland suddenly takes on even greater importance. Three points would not only boost their survival hopes but could also edge them further clear of West Ham, who currently occupy the final relegation spot.
At the moment, Forest and Tottenham appear more realistic targets for West Ham to reel in. Leeds, meanwhile, have developed a stubborn defensive edge and an increasing belief that they can hold their own against anyone in the league.
