Leeds vs Leicester predictions: Gnonto can aid Whites' attempt to catch Foxes

- Five of Leeds’ last eight Championship games have gone over 2.5 goals
- Wilfried Gnonto has scored four goals in his last four Championship appearances
- Recommended bet: Wilfried Gnonto to score anytime @ 3/1

Friday night will see the Championship’s top two face off at Elland Road as second-placed Leeds welcome league leaders Leicester, with the hosts looking to complete a double over their visitors and close the gap with the Foxes to just six points.

The Whites won the reverse fixture at the King Power 1-0 and come into this match in flying form, which will have them feeling confident ahead of Friday’s huge clash.

Team news

Leeds are without five players for this top-two clash as Patrick Bamford, Stuart Dallas, Pascal Struijk, Karl Darlow and Sam Byram are all out injured but, with no fresh concerns, Daniel Farke could name an unchanged lineup from the Whites’ 2-0 win at Plymouth on Saturday.

Wilfred Ndidi is still out for Leicester while young defender Ben Nelson is a doubt. However, Enzo Maresca has decisions to make further forward as Kelechi Iheanacho will be available for the first time since returning from the Africa Cup of Nations and the Nigerian attacker will be pushing to start at Elland Road.

The stats

Five of Leeds’ last eight Championship games have gone over 2.5 goals, while eight of Leicester’s last 10 matches have seen the ball hit the net three or more times.

Wilfried Gnonto has scored four goals in his last four Championship appearances.

The Foxes have netted 11 times in their last five Championship away matches, but have kept just two clean sheets in their last 12 league road trips.

There have been two draws and two wins for each side in the last six meetings between these two teams.

Prediction

With just one place and nine points separating these two sides in the Championship, it would be no surprise to see little between the pair on Friday.

There have been two draws and two wins for each side in the last six meetings between the pair and, with Leicester top but Leeds having won the reverse fixture at the King Power Stadium, a tight affair should be expected at Elland Road.

It might come down to big moments from individuals to split the two title rivals.

Luckily for the hosts, they have plenty of individuals capable of stepping up, just as they have done in recent weeks during a run of eight consecutive Championship wins for the Whites, with seven of those victories coming to nil.

One man in particular who has really impressed is Italy international Wilfried Gnonto, who has netted four goals in his last four Championship appearances, scoring three in his last two games.

Gnonto boasts plenty of pace and his dynamism could lead to some joy against a Foxes’ defence that presses high and leaves gaps in behind.

Leicester have kept just two clean sheets in their last 12 Championship away games and the Italian could extend that record to two from 13 games with a strike on Friday.

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