Preview: Leeds United vs. Tottenham Hotspur - prediction, team news, lineups

Tottenham Hotspur will be looking to give their chances of a top-four finish in this season's Premier League a boost when they travel to Leeds United on Saturday afternoon.

Spurs are currently sixth in the table, five points behind fourth-placed Chelsea on the same number of games (34), while Leeds occupy 11th position in England's top flight, just two points off ninth-placed Arsenal.

Match preview

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Leeds have impressed many on their return to this level of football, and there is no question that it has been a successful campaign for the club, who currently sit 11th in the table, just two points behind ninth-placed Arsenal as they bid to secure a top-half finish.

The Whites, who have won 14, drawn five and lost 15 of their 34 matches this term, will enter Saturday's contest off the back of a 2-0 defeat at Brighton & Hove Albion on May 1, with Pascal Gross and Danny Welbeck scoring the goals at the Amex.

Marcelo Bielsa's side had been on a six-game unbeaten run in England's top flight entering the clash with Brighton, though, holding Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United to draws, in addition to recording victories over Fulham, Sheffield United and Manchester City.

Leeds have a relatively kind finish to the season on paper, facing Burnley (A), Southampton (A) and West Bromwich Albion (H) in their final three fixtures, and while eighth position seems unlikely, there is no question that ninth is open at this stage of the campaign.

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Tottenham, meanwhile, will enter this weekend's contest off the back of a 4-0 win over Sheffield United last weekend; Gareth Bale scored three times for the North London club, while Son Heung-min was also on the scoresheet during a strong performance at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Spurs are still in the argument for a top-four spot, but they will need a lot to go in their favour in the final weeks of the season, with five points separating them from fourth-placed Chelsea on the same number of games (34).

Tottenham have now won both of their league matches under Ryan Mason, who certainly appears to have given the team more freedom to attack, which was not always the case with Jose Mourinho at the helm.

Spurs are working hard to identify a long-term replacement for Mourinho, but they cannot afford to take their eye off the ball in the Premier League, and it seems likely that four victories will be needed to give them a realistic chance of sneaking into the Champions League positions.

The capital outfit will face Wolverhampton Wanderers (H), Aston Villa (H) and Leicester City (A) in their final three fixtures, and the trip to the King Power Stadium on the final weekend of the campaign could yet prove decisive as a fascinating race for the Champions League spots enters its final stages.

Team News

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Leeds boss Bielsa has ruled Helder Costa out for the remainder of the season due to a back injury, while Adam Forshaw will also be unavailable for selection on Saturday afternoon.

The Whites will have to make a late check on Kalvin Phillips and Raphinha, with Bielsa admitting that he will not make a final decision on either player until the morning of the match.

Club captain Liam Cooper is available following a three-match suspension, though, and it seems likely that the 29-year-old will return to the first XI on Saturday.

Phillips appears more likely to start than Raphinha, who could make his return from the bench, meaning that Stuart Dallas and Jack Harrison could operate as the wide players in a 4-1-4-1 formation.

As for Spurs, Ben Davies will again be unavailable as he recovers from a calf problem, but Giovani Lo Celso is expected to recover from the knock that he suffered against Sheffield United last weekend.

As a result, it would not be a surprise to see Mason name the same starting XI, with Bale joining Dele Alli, Son and Harry Kane in the final third of the field, leaving the likes of Tanguy Ndombele, Lucas Moura and Erik Lamela on the bench for the top-four hopefuls.

Toby Alderweireld is back in favour under the new manager and should retain his spot at the back, while Serge Aurier should edge out fit-again Matt Doherty to feature at right-back.

Leeds United possible starting lineup:
Meslier; Ayling, Llorente, Cooper, Alioski; Koch; Harrison, Phillips, Roberts, Dallas; Bamford

Tottenham Hotspur possible starting lineup:
Lloris; Aurier, Alderweireld, Dier, Reguilon; Lo Celso, Hojbjerg; Son, Dele, Bale; Kane

We say: Leeds United 1-2 Tottenham Hotspur

Spurs need the points more than Leeds, who deserve so much credit for their performances this season; it would not be a surprise to see a home win or a draw this weekend, but Tottenham were excellent against Sheffield United last time out, and we can just see the visitors edging a very tight match here.

Video prediction

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