Leeds v Aston Villa predictions: Hosts hoping to go well fresh at Elland Road

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Leeds v Aston Villa in the Premier League on Sunday.

Where to watch

Sky Sports Premier League & Main Event, 4.30pm Sunday

Best bet

Leeds
2pts 11-8 Betfred, Hills

Team news

Leeds
Stuart Dallas remains sidelined but Rodrigo (shoulder) could return.

Aston Villa
Boubacar Kamara, Lucas Digne and Diego Carlos are injured and Matty Cash (hamstring) is a doubt.

Match preview

Leeds have had more than four weeks to stew over their 5-2 Premier League defeat at Brentford on September 3 but Jesse Marsch's side can celebrate their long-awaited return to action with a home win over Aston Villa.

The hosts have taken seven points from their first three league fixtures at Elland Road this season, including a memorable 3-0 victory over Chelsea, and they will be keen to avenge a 3-0 home loss to Villa in March.

Since that victory, Villa have struggled on the road, losing six of their last eight away games at the end of last season and the start of this term and their only win during that run came against relegated Burnley in May.

A 1-1 draw with champions Manchester City and a 1-0 home win over Southampton, in a cagey game featuring only four shots on target, have eased the pressure on Villa boss Steven Gerrard but a haul of seven points from seven matches is a poor return on the club's summer investment.

Villa have scored only six league goals this season, and the underlying stats suggest that is a fair reflection of their attacking endeavours, and they were flattered by the scoreline of their last away game, a 2-1 defeat at Arsenal on August 31.

Gerrard's men were comprehensively outplayed by the Gunners – their goal came direct from a Douglas Luiz corner – but more worrying for Villa fans were the defeats against promoted Bournemouth, Crystal Palace and struggling West Ham.

Villa also made hard work of beating poor travellers Everton, who had 15 shots to their hosts' 12 in August's 2-1 defeat in Birmingham, and their lack of attacking fluency means they are worth opposing at Leeds.

Gerrard also has significant injury problems to overcome as centre-back Diego Carlos, one of the club's marquee summer signings, is a long-term absentee and France internationals Lucas Digne and Boubacar Kamara are also sidelined.

Leeds have had terrible luck with injuries over the past couple of seasons but their squad is finally looking more robust, particularly up front as Patrick Bamford is fit again and teenager Wilfried Gnonto, a deadline-day signing, started Italy's Nations League win in Hungary on Monday.

Rodrigo's shoulder injury is less serious than first feared and USA internationals Tyler Adams and Brenden Aaronson have made bright starts to their Premier League careers under compatriot Marsch.

Leeds should be raring to go after a lengthy hiatus and they have little to fear from their depleted visitors.

Key stat

Aston Villa have lost six of their last eight Premier League away fixtures.

Inside info

Leeds

Penalty taker Patrick Bamford
Assist ace Jack Harrison
Set-piece aerial threat Rodrigo
Card magnet Rasmus Kristensen

Aston Villa

Penalty taker Ollie Watkins/Danny Ings
Assist ace Ollie Watkins
Set-piece aerial threat Tyrone Mings
Card magnet Douglas Luiz

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