Leeds United will be hoping for a slip-up from Leicester City in their home game against Southampton tonight, as Russell Martin’s side looks to keep the top two fight open moving into the penultimate weekend.
Leeds can only do their job at this point in the season, having closed the distance on Leicester and Ipswich earlier in 2024, only to lose two home games against bottom-half competition to remain outside the top two.
Another big game at the top of the table takes place this evening, with Southampton heading to Leicester City in the hopes of disrupting the Foxes’ renewed title push.
Leeds looking for Southampton’s favour at Leicester.
As much as Daniel Farke will continue to ensure Leeds do everything in their ability to get promotion, he will undoubtedly be watching events at the King ability tonight, hoping for a positive outcome.
At the moment, anything less than a Southampton win isn’t ideal for Leeds in terms of narrowing the gap on league leaders Leicester.
With Ipswich Town not playing until the weekend, Leeds and the Foxes may secure their positions in the top two with victory before Friday.
Blow for Leeds: Southampton set to rotate vs Leicester
An worry for Leeds is that Southampton may have a broader picture to consider than just securing a result against the Foxes.
The Saints’ defeat at Cardiff City effectively eliminated them from contention for the top two, at least in the eyes of Russell Martin, who spoke on Monday morning about his desire to rotate as he seeks playoff success, with Flynn Downes expected to miss the game due to the injury that kept him out against Cardiff on Saturday.
Alfie House shared this with Martin:
Russell Martin says they’ll “wait and see” if Flynn Downes can play on Tuesday. Says the landscape has changed, so hurrying him back is doubtful.#SaintsFC
— Alfie House (@AlfieHouseEcho), April 22, 2024.
Leeds could do with a 100% Saints performance against Leicester.
Martin’s reaction to this defeat reveals that he isn’t confident about automatic promotion this season, implying that he will make changes here.
His first aim ahead of the playoffs will be to keep players fit, which will begin with tonight’s tight turnaround against Leicester.
For Leeds, we can only hope that they respond positively to Saturday’s setback and play with more freedom.
