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Leeds to win and BTTS – 7/2
The hosts know that they need to win and will go into the game with confidence after scoring three against Villa last time they met a month ago. The visitors will also fancy their chances of scoring, but if the xG of the Leicester game is anything to go by, Leeds have plenty left in the tank.
Coutinho to score, Leeds/Villa win and BTTS – 11/2 (via Bet Builder)
Philippe Coutinho ran Leeds ragged in the 3-3 draw at Villa Park and has really found his feet in Steven Gerrard’s side. With the two teams both capable of blowing hot and cold and Leeds in need of a result, there should be a winner and expect both teams to score.
Leeds to score a penalty – 9/2
Only Norwich have conceded more penalties than Villa so far this season with 10, while Leeds have been awarded four this season – only three teams have won more.
Match preview
It was an encouraging start to the Jesse Marsch era on Saturday, despite a 1-0 defeat to Leicester that sees them mired deep in the relegation battle.
Fortunately for Leeds, results elsewhere meant they were not caught up by Everton and Burnley and there should be enough optimism that the renewed solidity under Marsch should be enough to stem to flow of goals and pick up the necessary points.
They finished the Leicester game with an xG of 2.11 (compared to just 0.38 for the Foxes), representing their dominance throughout, so there were enough signs of improvement for supporters.
Concerns remain over their ability to convert, but with Patrick Bamford edging ever nearer to a return, they will be targeting a run of form to drag them clear of the bottom.
With Norwich to come up after Villa, these two games represent a golden opportunity for the Whites.
That is because, despite back-to-back wins, Steven Gerrard’s side had been on a run of just one win in seven league games and are still a work in progress.
A 3-3 draw between the two sides in early February was one which summed up the chaotic nature of Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds, so they will be confident coming up against a Villa side with several weaknesses.
That said, a 4-0 win over Southampton at the weekend offered the biggest sign that things were starting to click with Philippe Coutinho influential – though he is unlikely to find as much room to play as he did in the reverse fixture
Leeds United team news
The big news for Leeds fans is the imminent return of Patrick Bamford, who was on the bench during the defeat to Leicester.
Bamford was only fit for 10 minutes according to Jesse Marsch, but he did concede that he will likely feature on Thursday, and his presence is made all the more important by news that Tyler Roberts is out for the rest of the season after suffering a ruptured hamstring tendon. Kalvin Phillips and Liam Cooper are edging closer but still not ready.
Aston Villa team news
Lucas Digne and Ezri Konsa were the two notable omissions in the win over Southampton due to contracting COVID-19, and with the short turnaround it is unlikely they will be fit enough to return.
That leaves Calum Chambers and Ashley Young as likely to deputise, with Danny Ings retaining his place alongside Ollie Watkins. Carney Chukweumeka is expected to be available after injury while Marvelous Nakamba faces two more weeks out.
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