Leeds vs Tottenham Hotspur Predictions

• Leeds have drawn three of their seven matches this season, while Tottenham have drawn three of their last four.
• Spurs have scored two or more goals in each of their last four away matches.
• Joao Palhinha has scored three times this season, including two in his last three matches.

Expect a tasty affair in lunchtime offering

Leeds United are making a decent fist of things on their return to the Premier League and we expect the Whites to stand firm when Tottenham roll into Elland Road on Saturday lunchtime.

The Yorkshire side start this round of matches in 12th place having taken eight points from their opening six matches. That’s just four short of what relegated Southampton managed in the whole of last term, so there signs are good that Leeds could mount a decent fight for survival.

A 2-2 draw against highflying Bournemouth last week was mightily impressive and we predict a similar outcome a week later against Spurs. Prior to that draw, Leeds beat Wolves 2-1 and they have also held Newcastle to a 0-0 draw in the opening weeks of the campaign.

Daniel Farke’s side opened the season with a 1-0 home win over Everton, and although they were then hammered 5-0 by Arsenal, there has been plenty in recent performances to suggest Leeds can at least avoid defeat against their London visitors this lunchtime.

Midweek jaunt could tell for Tottenham

Tottenham made a sprightly start to life under new boss Thomas Frank this term, drawing 2-2 with European champions Paris Saint-Germain in the European Super Cup and following it with emphatic wins over Burnley, Manchester City and West Ham. However, a dismal 1-0 home loss to Bournemouth – their only defeat of the campaign so far – suggested there was still plenty for Frank to work on and that has become more apparent with Spurs drawing three of their last four matches.

A 2-2 draw at Brighton was clinched only by an 82-minute own goal from Seagulls’ defender Jan Paul van Hecke and last week’s 1-1 home draw with bottom side Wolves came only after Joao Palhinha equalised for Tottenham in added time, and Spurs were at it again on Tuesday as they came from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with Bodo/Glimt in the Champions League only after the home side had put through their own net in the 89th minute. That gruelling trip to Norway could take it’s toll, particularly as Leeds have had the week off to prepare.

Those results show Frank’s men will fight right until the end of matches but it also shows a vulnerability which suggests Leeds can take advantage of, so a 2-2 draw at Elland Road is our correct-score prediction as that was the outcome in Leeds’ last outing last Saturday, and on three occasions for Tottenham this term.

Joao the punters pal with hot streak

Joao Palhinha failed to score in 29 outings for Bayern Munich last term but he already has three goals for Tottenham this season and he may be worth backing to get on the scoresheet at Elland Road this Saturday lunchtime.

The Portuguese battler is more accustomed to scrapping away for the ball in midfield but he looks to have been given more room to roam by Tottenham boss Frank and he has made the most of it with some key strikes.

Palhinha rescued a point in Spurs’ 1-1 draw with Wolves last week and he opened the scoring in the 3-0 win over Doncaster in the EFL Cup. His 45th-minute strike against Manchester City proved decisive as the Londoners ran out 2-0 winners against the Citizens and we predict another moment of magic from the 30-year-old Bayern loanee this weekend.

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