Portuguese defender out for a month, whilst striker for not expected back until New Year following World Cup win
Leeds United vs Manchester City
Competition: F.A. Premier League
Date: 8.00pm, Wednesday 28th December 2022
Venue: Elland Road, Leeds
Referee: Stuart Atwell Assistants: H Lennard, D Cann Fourth Official: M Salisbury VAR: J Gillett
Odds: Leeds 10/1, Draw 6/1, City 2/9
Tickets: Sold out
TV: Amazon Prime
Leeds United
Manager: Jesse Marsch
Squad (from): Meslier, Klaesson, Robles, Ayling, Firpo, Koch, Cooper, Llorente, Strujik, Kristensen, Hjelde, Forshaw, Aaronson, Roca, Summerville, Harrison, Gyabi, Klich, Bamford, Perkins, Rodrigo, Gnonto, Gelhardt, Greenwood
Injured: Sinisterra, Gray, Dallas
Doubtful: Bamford, Summerville, Machado, Cooper, Klich, Harrison, Meslier
Suspended: Adams
Form guide: LWWLL
Manchester City
Manager: Pep Guardiola
Squad (from): Ederson, Ortega, Carson, Walker, Stones, Ake, Cancelo, Laporte, Akanji, Lewis, Gomez, Phillips, Gundogan, Grealish, Rodri, De Bruyne, Silva, Foden, Palmer, Haaland, Mahrez
Injured: Dias
Doubtful: Phillips
Suspended: None
Form guide: WWLWW
Ruben Dias misses the trip to Elland Road with a thigh injury sustained during the World Cup. The Portuguese defender is expected to be out for around a month. Julian Alvarez is also absent after being granted extended leave following Argentina's success in Qatar, whilst Kalvin Phillips involvement is in doubt after Pep Guardiola criticised the midfielder for returning to Manchester overweight.
City have a difficult run of games coming up, and the manager is expecting a tough challenge from Jesse Marsch's side.
“(It’s) One of the toughest games. I would have preferred another opponent than Leeds in that moment after the World Cup,” Guardiola said in his pre-match press conference.
“It’s the most aggressive team in the Premier League with statistics.
“Their guys don’t give you time to think.
“You have to be precise, and you have to be in our high level to do it in the situation we have after our defeat against Brentford.
“And how strong is Arsenal and the opponents that come from behind.
“You have to be alert and be careful because if the distance is bigger, it’ll be so difficult to catch them.”
City drew their last game at Elland Road 4-0, with Rodri, Nathan Ake, Gabriel Jesus and Fernandinho netting for the Blues. Overall City have won 47 of the 108 games played against the Whites, with 18 draws and 43 defeats.
Predicted line-up: Ederson, Walker, Stones, Laporte, Ake, Rodri, Bernardo, De Bruyne, Mahrez, Foden, Haaland
Score prediction: Leeds 1 City 3