West Bromwich Albion vs. Leeds United: LEGIT Prediction, Team News, and Lineups
West Bromwich Albion return to The Hawthorns for the first time this season on Saturday afternoon, where they will face Leeds United.
On Tuesday night, a much-changed Baggies side was knocked out of the EFL Cup, while the Whites suffered a shock home defeat to Middlesbrough and were also eliminated.
Following four consecutive pre-season defeats at the close of their summer calendar, West Brom turned on the flair last weekend at Loftus Road, coming from behind to overcome Marti Cifuentes’ Queens Park Rangers 3-1.
Since then, Albion’s rocky relationship with cup competitions continued on Tuesday night, when the Championship side was knocked out of the EFL Cup in the first round by League Two outfit Fleetwood Town, who took full advantage of the visitors’ decision to field an XI dominated by Under-21 players.
As a result of the 2-1 setback in midweek, Carlos Corberan’s side will focus solely on second-tier concerns for the rest of the year, with West Brom hoping to return to the Premier League after finishing fifth and losing in the playoff semi-finals the previous season.
The Baggies’ impressive 46-game regular season in 2023-24 was built on a strong record at The Hawthorns, with Saturday’s hosts winning 15 and losing only four of their 23 Championship games at their Black Country home – only Ipswich Town, Leicester City, and Leeds collected more points at their respective grounds last season.
Albion were one of only a few teams in last season’s second division to avoid loss against Daniel Farke’s Whites, with West Brom even defeating Leeds at home on December 29, when a first-half Grady Diangana strike secured all three points at The Hawthorns.
Daniel Farke, Leeds United’s head coach, on May 12, 2024.
© Reuters.
Leeds United supporters have been treated to lots of aggressive activity over the past week, with nine goals scored in two meetings at Elland Road, but their club is yet to win a game in the 2024-25 season.
The Whites needed a 95th-minute equaliser from Brenden Aaronson to save a point against newly promoted Portsmouth last Saturday, before Daniel Farke’s side were knocked out of the EFL Cup on Wednesday night following a humiliating defeat to Middlesbrough.
Despite having the most of possession, Leeds were unable to break down Solomon Brynn, whose Boro side scored three times in a frantic second half through Anfernee Dijksteel, Delano Burgzorg, and Josh Coburn.
The Whites travel to The Hawthorns on the weekend hoping to continue their impressive away form from last season, when Leeds collected 37 points from 23 Championship outings, with only the promoted trio of Leicester City (45), Ipswich Town (42) and Southampton (39) managing a higher tally.
Although their most recent trip to B71 ended in defeat, Leeds have fond memories of visiting the Black Country, thanks to their 5-0 thrashing of Sam Allardyce’s Baggies in December 2020, when the gap between two sides promoted to the Premier League together earlier in the calendar year was frightening.
West Brom captain Jed Wallace continues to provide assistance from home as he recovers from a calf injury, with the winger expected to be ready next month.
Diangana, a fellow forward, has a similar timescale for his return, having last played for the Baggies in the second leg of the playoff semi-final against Southampton in May.
Josh Maja, who scored a hat-trick last weekend, will continue to lead the Albion line, while the injured Daryl Dike will continue to dream of getting on the end of Tom Fellows’ crosses in the New Year.
Farke, who altered his squad for the EFL Cup match against Boro, will welcome back a number of first-team players on Saturday, including Pascal Struijk, Willy Gnonto, and Ilia Gruev.
Georginio Rutter is expected to have played his final game for the Whites after Brighton & Hove Albion reportedly released his £40 million release clause.
West Bromwich Albion’s likely starting lineup: Palmer; Furlong, Bartley, Ajayi, Heggem; Molumby, Mowatt; Fellows, Swift, Grant; Maja.
Leeds United’s likely starting lineup: Meslier; Bogle, Rodon, Struijk, Firpo; Ampadu, Gruev; James, Piroe, Gnonto; Joseph.
