Burnley vs Leeds Utd news: Five key battles and score prediction
Monday night sees arguably the biggest game of the Championship season so far as Burnley play host to Leeds United.
League leaders Leeds travel to Turf Moor for a match that will no doubt have huge implications for the promotion race come the end of the season.
It is the Championship’s most prolific attack against its most frugal defence in a clash that is sure to produce fireworks.
Sports News Blitz writer Samuel Leasley outlines five key battles to anticipate and offers a score prediction.
Scott Parker vs Daniel Farke
Parker wasted little time in adding some much-needed depth to his squad during the January transfer window.
Notably, club legend Ashley Barnes has rejoined the club following a spell at Norwich City and Jonjo Shelvey has penned a short-term deal until the end of the season.
Parker will be hoping to add some more firepower to his side in order to complement the Clarets’ immaculate defensive acumen.
It was thanks to a stern defensive performance and a quick counter-attack that Burnley managed to grab a win over Leeds at Elland Road back in September, and it will be interesting to see if the Clarets look to play on the front foot at Turf Moor.
Unlike his opposite number, Farke has been far more reserved when it comes to transfers.
Despite a seemingly never-ending number of links to former players, little traction is ever made and any significant incomings seem unlikely.
Farke’s side have responded with a vengeance in the aftermath of the aforementioned home defeat to the Clarets as they are yet to lose a home game since, dropping only two points out of a possible 36.
With Burnley unbeaten at Turf Moor this season and having only conceded four home league goals, it will be a huge task for Leeds but nothing they have not achieved before.
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James Trafford vs Joel Piroe
The clear man of the moment for Burnley is goalkeeper Trafford.
Despite employing some questionable tactics to delay both penalties taken by Wilson Isidor, he produced two remarkable saves to salvage a clean sheet against a desperately unlucky Sunderland side.
The former Manchester City man has the highest save percentage of any ‘keeper in the division (85%) as well as the most clean sheets (18).
Trafford has also prevented the second-most goals of any goalkeeper in the Championship with 8.5 goals prevented, trailing only Stoke City’s Viktor Johansson in that regard.
On Monday, the league’s most reliable goalkeeper is set to face arguably the league’s most efficient goal scorer in Piroe.
Piroe is the Whites’ top scorer this season with 10 goals and has laid on five assists to boot.
Interestingly, the former Swansea man is also massively outperforming his xG tally of seven.
With the dangerous form of Leeds’ wide men, Burnley will need to be alert at preventing giving Piroe space, with the striker averaging a goal every two shots on target.
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Jaidon Anthony vs Junior Firpo
A name all too familiar with Leeds fans is winger Anthony, who has established himself as a regular feature in the starting line-up under Parker.
While Anthony has not accumulated overly impressive numbers this season – only three goals and two assists – the Englishman has been one of the main attacking outlets for the Clarets having attempted the most shots (35) and the second-most shots on target (16).
Anthony has also operated well as a defensive winger when Burnley have chosen to drop back, making 25 successful tackles alongside 17 interceptions.
The midfielder will feel hard done by for his low assist total as he has actually created 43 chances in the Championship for an xA of 3.8.
A man boosting the Leeds ranks with his return from injury is Firpo, who made his Championship return against Norwich.
He was instrumental in Leeds’ second goal in midweek as he drove down the left flank against a stagnant Canaries defense and, following a bit of penalty area pinball, Dan James placed his shot past Angus Gunn.
Leeds’ left wing instantly becomes more dangerous with Firpo present as his overlapping creates an extra option down the byline or an effective decoy to create space for Manor Solomon.
This is not to say that Firpo is poor defensively either as the left-back has accumulated 17 successful tackles and 20 interceptions in only 15 starts.
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Connor Roberts vs Manor Solomon
Another player familiar with the Leeds faithful following his short spell on loan last season is Roberts.
The Welsh international notched his third assist of the season in the Clarets’ 5-0 hammering of Plymouth Argyle on Wednesday and continues to pose a dangerous attacking threat with Anthony on the right hand side.
Roberts has been a regular target of opposition full-backs and wingers in the Championship, winning the most fouls of any Burnley player with 39 while only committing 13.
He has also provided a strong contribution to the Burnley defensive effort by winning 17 tackles and providing 14 interceptions.
However, Roberts will be faced with one of his toughest tasks this season against Leeds as Solomon enters the fixture in his best form in a Leeds shirt.
The Israeli international has five goal contributions in his last four fixtures, consisting of two goals and three assists.
Following a spell out of the team through injury, Solomon has claimed the left-wing spot as his own, forming a strong partnership with James on the opposite flank.
Against Norwich, both assisted each other as Leeds racked up yet another home victory.
As part of the Leeds high press, Solomon has further won 14 tackles and regained possession 20 times in the final third, the most of any Championship player.
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Josh Brownhill vs Ao Tanaka
A man who has probably been Burnley’s best performer this season is club captain Brownhill.
He is the Clarets’ top scorer with nine Championship goals alongside providing the most assists in the squad with four.
Brownhill has also been just as strong defensively as he has offensively, having won 21 tackles and making 22 interceptions.
The only blemish on Brownhill’s performances this season has been his discipline as he has committed 37 fouls, second only to Luca Koleosho.
The man tasked with keeping Brownhill quiet on Monday will be the ever-reliable Tanaka, who has proven irreplaceable in the Leeds starting line-up.
The Japanese international has made the most interceptions of any player at the club with 26 and racked up the second-most successful tackles with 32.
Destruction appears to follow the midfielder within matches as Tanaka has also won 30 fouls while giving away 32 himself.
Having scored his second league goal for the club against Sheffield Wednesday, Burnley will need to be careful about leaving any space free for Tanaka to get a strike on goal.
Summary
This fixture is possibly one of the hardest to predict for this season.
Turf Moor is arguably the hardest place to visit in the Championship, although Leeds have the firepower to break down any defensive side.
It is therefore set to be poised on a knife edge, but I feel Leeds will gain their revenge and deliver a killer blow to Burnley.
Score prediction: Burnley 0-1 Leeds United
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