Leeds 1-0 Leicester LIVE: Luis Sinisterra puts the hosts ahead in the HUGE relegation battle after Youri Tielemans’ screamer was ruled out by VAR… with Aston Villa and Wolves also leading
Follow Mail Sport’s coverage of all three Premier League clashes tonight, being Wolves vs Crystal Palace, Aston Villa vs Fulham and Leeds vs Leicester.
Host commentator
As it stands – and it’s probably a bit early for all that – Leeds are on 32 points, four clear of the visitors tonight, who are maybe one loss away from being cut adrift.
Leeds now have a free-kick in a dangerous area out on the right, but Iversen comes out to claim and launch the counter.
It’s Sinisterra for Leeds!
Harrison deserves great credit for the goal, having picked out a stunning cross to the back stick, but it was a fantastic header from the Colombian.
The ball is sent back across goal with a wonderful whip on it, and Sinisterra just jumps highest and nods into the ground and there’s nothing that Iversen can do about it.
1-0 to the hosts, and the home crowd didn’t half enjoy that one!
Oh it should be 1-0 Leicester.
Cooper this time with the slack pass, and Iheanacho has the ball on the top-left corner of the Leeds box.
He cuts in onto his left and sends the ball arcing to the back post where Maddison is sliding to meet it, but just can’t quite get on the end of it, and Leeds breathe a sigh of relief.
Really open stuff, which can only bode well for the game to come.
A great chance for Barnes to get another goal against Leeds.
It’s a slack pass out from Koch at the back, which Soumare latches onto, before one-touch passes from Maddison and Iheanacho put Barnes through on goal, but Cooper recovers brilliantly to snuff out the danger.
Leeds seconds later have a chance of their own with a ball to Sinisterra at the back post, but his flicked finish is wayward.
That Tielemans goal-that-wasn’t-a-goal has taken a bit of a sting out the game, with Leicester now dominating the ball and preventing the hosts from unleashing their energy on the break.
Barnes has been bright for the Foxes, and a lovely bit of footwork gets him clear of Ayling before a superb ball from Soumare is not met with as good a first touch by Tete.
It’s a very strong start from both sides, but if anything it’s Leicester who are edging the early exchanges.
But we have had a goal at Villa Park, and it’s Tyrone Mings who gets the opener!
It’s a corner in to the near post from John McGinn, with the England defender glancing home the header at the near post to give Unai Emery’s side a brilliant start after Bobby Decordova-Reid was replaced by Harry Wilson early on.
But wait – there’s an offside call!
The ball comes in from Maddison, but in the melee inside the box it’s come off Soumare, who was in an offside position!
It pings off the midfielder and one touch later it’s at Tielemans’ feet.
It’s a really unnecessary one as well, Soumare just stands still and fails to get himself back into an onside position.
It’s been chalked off, and we’re back to square one at Elland Road – 0-0.
It’s been Leeds coming out of the traps the quicker as you might expect, but Leicester have still given almost as good as they’ve got.
Maddison wins a corner after turning one way then the other in the box and firing a cross in towards Barnes.
Maddison then takes the corner himself, and after a muddle in the box, Tielemans lets fly from outside the box and it simply flies into the top left corner!
Stunning way to open the scoring!
Bit of a breakneck start already, with both sides showing little hesitation in getting forward.
Referee Paul Tierney has also been active with his whistle already, with both sides rightly picking up fouls.
Harrison is free in behind to latch onto a long ball, but Iversen is well positioned to gather after Kristiansen misread the pass.
Very energetic start from both sides.
Well Maddison has already picked up a bit of a knock and spent some time on the ground.
That’ll worry Leicester fans, given that he was a doubt until about 24 hours ago with an illness.
He’s back up on his feet and looks like he means business – you suspect that’s probably not the last nervy moment for Leicester fans given the stakes tonight.
Here we go!
It’s Leicester who get us underway and we’re live in the 8pm game up at Elland Road!
We’ve already mentioned the atmosphere at Elland Road, but the crowd are in absolutely deafening voice as we get the first of what will likely be many Marching On Together renditions.
The players are in the tunnel now, and they’ll be coming out with their ears ringing in a pretty sunny Yorkshire tonight.
13 goals conceded in three games from the hosts – but you wouldn’t know it by the sounds of optimism from the stands.
Leicester however will be looking to build on a massively important win over Wolves at the weekend.
Moments away now as the managers shake hands.
A reminder of the stakes tonight before we get underway at Elland Road.
Leicester are in 17th, just above the drop on goal difference, while Leeds are only a point above in 16th.
However, the home side’s goal difference is inferior by some eight goals, meaning that Leeds will want to inflict some damage tonight and level the playing field a little.
We’ve had almost a new bottom three every week this season, but with Southampton taking on relegation rivals Bournemouth – and Forest and Everton both with tricky fixtures this week – it could be a very good opportunity for both sides to get some much-needed points on the board.
All eyes on #LEELEI 👀 pic.twitter.com/RqygLIaA1B
🤩 @RobinKoch25 pic.twitter.com/2elqIEMlyl
An update to the game at Villa Park – Willian was due to start the game, but he has had to pull out, with Manor Solomon coming into the fold to replace the Brazilian out on the right.
Neeskens Kabano – not originally in the squad – is now on the bench for the visitors.
The action is also underway at Villa Park, where Unai Emery’s Aston Villa are taking on Fulham.
Around 15 minutes to the action at Elland Road, too.
There’s been a booking at Molineux, and Eagles fans will perhaps not be surprised to see it’s gone the way of their skipper, Milivojevic.
It’s been a great start in the first kick-off, with Wolves really playing with a spring in their step.
Villa vs Fulham set to kick-off in just a few minutes.
We saw what Javi Gracia thought before the game a little earlier – bit how about a word from his opposite number?
‘It’s a huge night for both football clubs,’ Dean Smith told BT Sport Both are in positions we don’t want to be in. We got a result on the weekend but it means nothing unless we can get one tonight as well.
‘We need to score goals to win games. They haven’t come readily from the centre-forwards this season. It’s nice to get some fresh legs in there.
‘I haven’t [set a points target for safety]. You have to go game by game because the picture changes constantly.
‘It’s different because you’re in for a short period of time. This is all about getting points. I’m not bothered about upsetting players. We all know the position we’re in.
‘I don’t even know whose out of contract to be honest. I’m not really bothered. Our focus is on the next game and it’s as simple as that.’
Veering away from Molineux, the home side at Elland Road have been out warming up ahead of kick-off against Leicester.
A relatively seasonal 9 degrees up in Yorkshire – although it’s set to get a little chillier tonight.
💪 Countdown to kick-off… pic.twitter.com/I73MXnCdgA
What a start for Wolves! Andersen OG!
Ruben Neves swung in a corner towards the middle of the box, but Johnstone chose not to come and claim.
Instead, the ball clattered off Andersen’s outstretched leg and went into the back of the net off the bar.
What a start, but can they hold on?
Just a few seconds from kick-off at Molineux and it’s a pretty raucous noise from the home fans to say the least.
Massive night that could see them put themselves in a good position for survival.
Here we go, the visitors get us going!
It’s an undeniably huge night for both Leeds and Leicester, with both teetering on teh edge of Championship football next term.
But how have we got to this point?
Leicester have Premier League and FA Cup winners medals from the last few years, while Leeds set the league alight under Marcelo Bielsa just two seasons ago.
Now we’re at risk of losing both teams to the second-tier.
For more on that one, check the link below.
The Foxes are in the building already tonight, and they’ll be in for quite the welcome from the Leeds fans tonight, with Elland Road one of the country’s most atmospheric grounds going.
But the hosts on paper have it all to do, having kept just one clean sheet in the last 10 Premier League meetings between these two – we touched on their recent defensive record, will tonight be another goal fest?
Reporting for #LEELEI 👋 pic.twitter.com/bJ0apJKBPq
About 15 minutes to go until kick-off between Wolves and Crystal Palace – a reminder that we’ll be focusing on the match between Leeds and Leicester that gets going at 8pm, but providing you with updates from Molineux as well as Aston Villa’s meeting with Fulham at Villa Park.
And speaking of Molineux – the Wolves ground looks like quite the carpet tonight!
How does tonight go?
Give us your predictions 👇#CPFC | #WOLCRY pic.twitter.com/HZbKMlfV9Q
And talking of bad records – there’s plenty to come from the other games too!
For Roy Hodgson’s side in the early-ish game it’s almost the one team they wouldn’t have wanted to face as they look to reach the magic 40-point mark.
In seven attempts, the former England boss is without a win against the hosts this evening – hardly a record that Eagles fans will want to be reminded of, I’m sure.
And for Villa, we saw that they are without a win in midweek league games since 2020, but Fulham have won all of their midweek clashes this season.
In fact, only Man City have won more – 5/5 vs 4/4 – this season, so it could be a long night for Unai Emery’s Villans.
It’s not a great omen for Leeds tonight that they’ve only beaten Leicester once in the league in their last eight – with that sole victory (3D, 4L) coming back in January 2021.
Worse still, they come into this one having shipped 13 goals in their last three outings, after a brilliant Palace comeback saw them defeated 5-1 at home, and Liverpool put them to the sword in a 6-1 thumping.
A more sedate 2-1 loss on the road to Fulham made for slightly better reading, but it has been a rotten run of form for tonight’s home side right when they didn’t need it.
Leeds do edge the overall head to head record – 48 wins, 46 losses, 34 draws – but the Foxes have won five of their last 10.
English pair Maddison and Barnes are back into the attack for the visitors, with Daka and Vardy – who picked up a knock in the 2-1 win over Wolves last time out – missing out.
Leeds make twice the changes, and we’ll be hoping for twice the impact, with Wober, Nissen, Summerville and Aaronson replaced by Ayling, Firpo, Sinisterra and Bamford.
Leicester aren’t in action until Monday, while Leeds are playing again on Sunday – will that prove a factor in the clash tonight?
And here is the third and final round of team news for the evening!
For Leeds there are four changes, while Leicester make just the two!
📋 Your #LUFC Starting XI… pic.twitter.com/pmq7h5ClkO
Our XI, one hour until kick-off! 🦊#LEELEI pic.twitter.com/kB9YoZzUMH
Here’s what the Leeds boss had to say about his side’s prospects this term.
‘We are living through tough moments at the most important part of the season.
‘When I arrived five games ago, we were second bottom. We were able to change that dynamic. We did it and we can do it again.
‘They have the desire and belief to stay up. Nobody doubts their commitment, but now is the moment to show it.
‘The key is to take our work in training into the matches. We have to change something to compete better.’
Three games at three different times this evening – we’ve got more team news coming in just a few minutes for our focus match tonight.
But down at Villa Park, there’s a striker playing themselves into contention for an international call-up in Ollie Watkins.
For more info on that one, take a look at the link below.
Aston Villa have the unfortunate record of being without a win in their last NINE home midweek clashes in the Premier League, since beating Arsenal in 2020, although this is not a Villa side that we’ve seen in recent years.
Unai Emery has made himself a contender for manager of the season with the work that he’s done at Villa Park since inheriting from Steven Gerrard, and his side are in with a shout of Europa League football next season.
However, despite a little dip in form, Fulham are the side standing in their way this evening, with a 2-1 win over Leeds last time out sure to have set them on the right path back to the heights they’ve shown this season with eyes on a European spot for themselves.
A win tonight for either side will surely put them firmly in the race for those continental competitions, while Ollie Watkins could make it a staggering 12 goals in 14 games if he can get on the scoresheet tonight!
And here are the sides to face off at Villa Park.
The hosts are unchanged, while the visitors welcome back Dan James for Bobby Decordova-Reid
1️⃣ change, as we welcome back @Daniel_James_97. 🏴 #AVLFUL pic.twitter.com/hSKwX4QxH0
Your Aston Villa tonight. 👊 #AVLFUL pic.twitter.com/uMPf1uMbrK
We’ve got team news for Aston Villa vs Fulham coming up shortly, but for those of you looking to stay with Palace vs Wolves, sink your teeth into these two stories.
Palace are hoping to keep a hold of Wilfried Zaha this summer – even if it does mean breaking the bank – while Wolves’ talisman in midfield could be set for the exit this term with both Arsenal and Man United reportedly interested.
For more on those, check out the links below.
Of course, we have two games kicking off beforehand, but once it gets underway we’ll be focusing on the later kick-off between the Whites and the Foxes.
It’s a game with so much on the line, with Leicester only above the drop zone on goal difference as things stand, while Leeds are just the one point above and – perhaps crucially – with a worse goal difference.
It’s been an almost unbelievably tight race to beat the drop this term, and there are still arguably nine teams in that race, but tonight could be a huge game in the survival prospects of either Leicester or Leeds.
A draw suits neither team really, so expect both sides to be properly going for it.
We’ve got team news for the early kick-off between Wolves and Palace!
The hosts make three changes, while Roy Hodgson’s visitors make four!
Your Palace XI to take on Wolves 💪@shophumm 📲#CPFC | #WOLCRY
3️⃣ Three changes from #LEIWOL.
➡️ Bueno, Neves & Hwang into the XI.
How we line-up to face @CPFC.
🐺📋 @AstroPay_OK pic.twitter.com/G8fVtu18Sh
Good evening everyone, and welcome to tonight’s live Premier League coverage, brought to you by Mail Sport!
We’ve got three games on the menu, all getting underway at different times – first up, Wolves host Crystal Palace at 7.30 in a clash between two sides that have begun to put a little bit of daylight between themselves and the bottom three, although they aren’t quite safe yet.
Then at 7.45 Aston Villa get underway against Fulham, with both teams looking to rack up some points in bids to qualify for Europe, with Unai Emery’s side starting the day six points clear of the Cottagers in ninth.
And last but not least, it’s a HUGE game at the bottom of the table, with Leeds hosting Leicester at 8pm at Elland Road, with just a point separating the two in 17th and 16th places.
It’s sure to be a thrilling evening of Premier League midweek action, so make sure you stick with us throughout as we bring you all the latest news, stories and build-up ahead of the games!
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