Albion will look to make it six games unbeaten against Leeds United when they head to Elland Road on Saturday, kick-off 3pm.
Since their promotion to the Premier League, the Whites have only taken two points off us, losing the other three encounters – including our 1-0 win against them in August at the Amex.
Jesse Marsch was in charge of Leeds that day, but was replaced by Javi Gracia in February with the Spaniard charged with turning around their fortunes. They sit just outside the relegation zone on goal difference.
It is their form at Elland Road that has kept the bottom three in the Premier League at arm’s length with four wins and four draws in 12 home matches, but one win on the road is form that will have to improve if Leeds are to climb the table.
Roberto De Zerbi’s team, on the other hand, haven’t lost an away Premier League game since the trip to Manchester City at the end of October, winning three and drawing twice on the road since.
Georginio Rutter from Hoffenheim and Maximilian Wöber from Red Bull Salzburg bolstered the Whites’ defensive and attacking options during the transfer window while the acquisition of Wilfried Gnonto last summer has proven to be a good piece of business.
Team news
Roberto De Zerbi confirmed that Solly March is fit and ready for tomorrow's game, while he will decide on whether or not to include Levi Colwill. Tariq Lamptey on the other hand needs to be assessed as to whether he is fit to play.
The head coach also suggested that Jason Steele will retain his place in the starting line-up.
"Solly March and Levi Colwill will be on the list for tomorrow," the head coach said. "Tariq Lamptey we will have to see. Levi played with the under-21s and I was there to watch - he looked good, I want to see how he is today."
"One of the best relationships I have in the dressing room is with Robert Sanchez. At this moment though I prefer Jason [Steele], only for our style - Robert can improve this part [of his game]. I have been clear and honest."
Our last meeting
MA+ members & STH only - Log-in required
Log-in required
Pascal Gross netted the only goal of the game in our fixture back in August, continuing our fine form against Leeds in the Premier League. At Elland Road, we won in an empty stadium in 2021 when Neal Maupay rounded off a lovely team move in our 1-0 win before our 1-1 draw there towards the end of last season when Danny Welbeck scored. A point that day proved vital for Leeds, as they staved off relegation the following weekend with victory at Brentford.
Player to watch
UNBELIEVABLE 🤩
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) January 18, 2023
Wilfried Gnonto just keeps on impressing 📈
It's taken @LUFC just 26 seconds to score!#EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/1bDuPkdE1S
The signing of Wilfried Gnonto went under the radar when he arrived on deadline day in September, but his wonderful performances on the wing for Leeds has certainly alerted Premier League fans to the Italian’s attributes. The 19-year-old has already played for his country eight times, netting once in a defeat to Germany.
Stats
Leeds have won just one of their last 12 league games against Brighton (D2 L9), a 2-0 home win in the Championship in March 2017. They've scored just four goals in this run, failing to score at all on nine occasions.
Brighton are unbeaten in all five of their Premier League meetings with Leeds (W3 D2), keeping four clean sheets and conceding just one goal in these games.
Leeds have won just one of their last 12 Premier League games (D4 L7), beating Southampton 1-0 in Javier Gracia's first match in charge. The Whites' last three games have all ended in 1-0 wins for the home side (beat Southampton, lost to Everton and Chelsea).
Leeds are looking to win consecutive home league games for just the second time since the start of last season, with the other occasion being against Wolves and Chelsea in their first two at Elland Road this term.
| Pos | Team | Pld | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5
|
LIV
|
38 | +28 | 67 |
|
6
|
Albion
|
38 | +19 | 62 |
|
7
|
AVL
|
38 | +5 | 61 |
Brighton have scored 43 Premier League goals this season, their highest tally in a single campaign in the competition. Their goals scored has risen in each of their last five Premier League seasons, becoming the first team to see an increase in goals scored in five straight top-flight campaigns since Manchester United between 1989-90 and 1993-94.
Brighton are unbeaten in their last five Premier League away games (W3 D2), the joint-longest current run in the division, along with Brentford (5). They've won five of their 11 away games this season (D3 L3), only winning more in a single Premier League campaign in 2021-22 (7).
Brighton have had 61 more shots on target than they've faced in the Premier League this season (136 for, 75 faced) – only Manchester City (88) have a higher positive difference in the competition so far this term.
Brighton have only failed to score in one of their 11 Premier League away games so far this season (0-2 vs Brentford in October). No team has failed to find the net in fewer games on the road so far this term (Arsenal also once).
Following Leeds' 1-0 win against Southampton, Javier Gracia is looking to become the first manager to win his first two top-flight home games in charge of the Whites since Jimmy Armfield in October 1974, who took over as full-time manager from Brian Clough.
Brighton's Kaoru Mitoma has scored six Premier League goals this season – it's the joint-most netted in a single campaign by a Japanese player, level with Shinji Kagawa (2012-13) and Shinji Okazaki (2017-18).
Match officials
Referee: Paul Tierney.
Assistants: Constantine Hatzidakis, Neil Davies.
Fourth official: Anthony Taylor.
VAR: Chris Kavanagh.
Assistant VAR: Adam Nunn.