Fulham vs Leeds United verdict, predicted score, key stats and suggested bets
Patrick Bamford #9 of Leeds United during the Premier League match Leeds United vs Crystal Palace at Elland Road - April 2023
After a humiliating six-goal drubbing by Liverpool, Leeds will be looking to restore some confidence at Fulham as they struggle against the drop in the Saturday lunchtime kick-off.
Fulham are comfortably in mid-table, but Leeds are only two places and two points above the Premier League relegation zone as the two sides meet at Craven Cottage.
Date, KO time and TV coverage
Premier League, Saturday April 22, Kick-off 12.30pm, live on BT Sport
Predicted score
Suggested bets
Fulham vs Leeds - Both teams to score
Fulham vs Leeds - Over 2.5 goals
Fulham vs Leeds - Over 3.5 goals
Key stats
There have been over 2.5 goals scored in Leeds' last six Premier League games.
Leeds have conceded at least two goals in five of their last six Premier League matches.
Before winning at Everton, Fulham had lost five matches in a row.
Fulham have scored in 11 of their 15 home matches in the Premier League.
Leeds have won just twice from 15 away Premier League games.
Leeds have lost their last three games (4-1, 5-1 and 6-1).
Team news
Neeskens Kebano is ruled out and Layvin Kurzawa is also injured. Dan James is ineligible against his parent club and Aleksandar Mitrovic is suspended.
Max Wober could return for Leeds after making the bench versus Liverpool. Tyler Adams and Stuart Dallas both remain sidelined. Patrick Bamford will have to be assessed before this game after missing Monday's defeat to Liverpool.
Verdict
Fulham might have been accused of being on the beach after a spell of five straight defeats.
While losses to Arsenal and Man Utd can be excused, the defeats to West Ham and Bournemouth had people asking questions about Marco Silva's future. However, the Fulham boss answered those critics with a well-deserved win at Everton last time out.
These teams have already met twice this season, with Fulham winning 3-2 at Elland Road and claiming a 2-0 FA Cup win over Jesse Marsch's Leeds in February.
Leeds were unfortunate that day under American coach Marsch, but he has since made way for Javi Gracia, who has seen his side hammered 4-1, 5-1 and 6-1 in his last three games.
The Whites are in a relegation battle and after shipping six at home to Liverpool, they desperately need to restore some confidence. However, away from home they have been fragile. Only Nottingham Forest (6) have picked up fewer points away this season than Leeds (9).
Gracia has won two of his seven games in charge, but the recent defensive displays are a major concern and goals again look likely in the capital.
Only Leeds and Southampton (both 30) have conceded more home goals in the league this season than the Cottagers. And with the pressure off, Silva's men may just decide to cut free against a Leeds side under huge pressure.
Fulham even without James and Mitrovic should be capable of causing Leeds problems and they netted twice against them in the FA Cup when Leeds had Adams in their line-up too.
The American dynamo is still out for Leeds and Marc Roca is no replacement. It's hard to see how Gracia can sure up the visitors, although Wober's return would be a big lift.
Leeds are capable of scoring goals too, but it's just a case of how many they ship at the other end at the moment. Still, expect a reaction from their 6-1 humbling by Liverpool.
It's a tough result to predict and it may just be better going for goals at Craven Cottage.
