Aston Villa vs Leeds Predictions

• Aston Villa have failed to win three of their last four matches, drawing one
• Leeds have drawn eight of their last 14 matches
• A Morgan Rogers’ brace sealed a 2-1 win for Villa at Elland Road in November

Whites seek Second City double

Leeds United go in search of a Second City double when they return to Birmingham to face Aston Villa in the Premier League on Saturday. Daniel Farke’s side overcame Villa’s rivals on penalties in a close FA Cup fourth-round tie on Sunday with a virtual second-string side.

But the big guns will be back for this one and Farke should revert to the tried-and-tested formation that changed the course of the Whites’ campaign shortly after they lost 2-1 at home to Villa in November.

That was the third of four successive defeats for the newly promoted club and brought a great deal of pressure on the German coach. Farke deployed a three-at-the-back system with wing-backs and two forwards at home to Chelsea two games later and his side lost only two of their next 15 matches.

Daniel’s draw specialists

Leeds’ current situation is bordering on mid-table comfort because of the six-point cushion they have to the drop zone. A point from Saturday’s game would be viewed as a positive result and their recent form suggests they can get it.

The Whites have drawn eight of their last 14 matches in all competitions and held top-half teams such as Brentford, Liverpool, Everton and Chelsea to just a point on the road. And although they are 11th now, Sunderland were sixth when Leeds bossed a 1-1 Stadium of Light stalemate just after Christmas.

Villa didn’t have to cope with Leeds’ fresh front-foot style when they last faced off with the Yorkshire outfit now ranking first for long throws into the box, shots following long throws into the box and xG from shots after long throws into the box since December.

Rogers could rescue Villa

Unai Emery’s side are having to deal with a serious injury crisis in midfield and some patchy form that has seen them win only two of their last six in the Premier League, and only one of their last four domestic matches at Villa Park.

It is difficult to pinpoint who has been the biggest miss because John McGinn, Aboubacar Kamara and Youri Tielemans were all playing at such a high level before injury struck. Villa can go level on points with Manchester City in second place with a win, but a draw seems like a much likelier outcome.

If the points are shared then it is unlikely to be a goalless game because Villa have only been shut out in four league games since September while only keeping two clean sheets in their last 13 such games. Rogers, who has eight goals and five assists, remains the dangerman for Leeds to stop but a 1-1 scoreline is well within the visitors’ capabilities.