Saturday 8th May 12.30pm | Elland Road
Spurs may feel at home during Saturday lunchtime's encounter at Elland Road. Earlier in the season, the Whites were heavily criticised for the maintenance of their pitch, and ended up buying a brand new one that Spurs had prepared for next season at a cost of £300,000. Since taking over the reigns in North London, Ryan Mason has recorded impressive back to back league wins over Southampton and Sheffield Utd, keeping their dream alive of a top four finish. They will be without Left-back Ben Davies who has a calf problem,
Having lost to Brighton last weekend, Leeds have slipped a couple of places to 11th. A home win will see them leapfrog Villa and Arsenal back to 9th place, though Villa have a game in hand. Marcelo Bielsa will name an unchnaged starting eleven. Liam Cooper's suspension is over but he has picked un a slight injury meaning Diego Llorente and Pascal Struijk will extend their run together at the heart of the Leeds defence. Rodrigo remains on the bench, the Spanish forward played the last half hour against Brighton, and 45 mins for the U23's during their emphatic 5-2 win over Burnley.
Kelvin Phillips absence against the seagulls was a huge disappointment for the Whites. He received a knock on the back of his knee in training but is fit enough to make the bench today. Raphinha was spotted in training videos during the week, sparking speculation he had recovered from his hematoma picked un against Manchester City. We have missed the Brazilian's magic, and he makes the bench today alongside Phillips. Helder Costa is out for the rest of the season meaning Stuart Dallas remains on the wing with Mateusz Klich in the middle of the park with Robin Koch dropping deeper.
Last time out Spurs won 3-0, with goals from Harry Kane, Son Heung-Min and Toby Alderweireld. Leeds have only earned one point from their past six Premier League games against Spurs, having won the previous six meetings between 1999 and 2001. Tottenham's current three-match winning streak against Leeds in the league is their longest in this fixture. Leeds are hosting Spurs for the first time since January 2013, when the Whites won 2-1 in an FA Cup tie. Leeds are without a win in all nine of their Premier League home fixtures this season against teams currently above them in the table (D5, L4). All five of their home league matches so far against established top-six opposition in 2020-21 ended in a draw.
The age difference of 35 years and 327 days between head coach Marcelo Bielsa and Tottenham counterpart Ryan Mason is the second biggest in Premier League history, after Bobby Robson and Chris Coleman (37 years and 112 days). Ryan Mason is aiming to become the first manager or coach to win his opening three Premier League matches in charge of Tottenham. Spurs have scored in 11 successive league games, the longest current run in the competition. Only Manchester City have scored in more top-flight fixtures this season than the 28 by Spurs.
