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Leeds United will be in search of a win in London for the first time since December 2017 when they travel to Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday, in a clash that sees Jose Mourinho face Leeds for the first time ever, writes @jonnychick__.
United go into this game off the back of their third win in four games and what was arguably their best performance of the season. The 5-0 hammering of West Bromwich Albion on Tuesday night was Leeds' seventh win and a sixth clean sheet of the season.
Strikes from Gjanni Alioski, Jack Harrison, Rodrigo, and Raphinha ensured Leeds left the Midlands with all three points, making it back-to-back wins and back-to-back clean sheets. It was also the first time ever Leeds have scored five goals in a single game at the Hawthorns.
Leeds are now 11th in the Premier League table on 23 points, and a win on Saturday would take them level on points with Spurs. And Marcelo Bielsa's side looks likely to secure top-flight football for next season as they now sit 12 points above the relegation zone.
Meanwhile, Tottenham Hotspur have been labeled as title contenders this season, however, they've picked up just two points from their last four league games.
Spurs looked on track to take all three points from Molineux last Sunday but Romain Saiss headed home late on to cancel out Tanguy Ndombele's early strike and secure a point for Wolves.
Tottenham's most recent fixture against Fulham was postponed because of COVID-19. That gives Jose Mourinho's side an extra four days' rest before this weekend's game.
Leeds will need to be wary of red hot Spurs duo Heung Min Son and Harry Kane as the attacking pair have 20 goals and 14 assists between them in the Premier League so far this season.
TEAM NEWS
Tottenham Hotspur could welcome back attacking duo Lucas Maura and Carlos Vinicius to the matchday squad. However, they will be without Gareth Bale (calf strain) and Giovani Lo Celso (hamstring) who are still sidelined through injury.
On the injuries, Jose Mourinho said: “You know that in this moment, you go day by day. In relation to the previous matches, Lucas and Vinicius should be back, and Bale and Gio, they are still out with their injuries.”
Leeds midfielder Mateusz Klich is a doubt for the game after sustaining a thigh injury during the 5-0 win at West Brom. This could mean a rare start for 21-year-old Jamie Shackleton who has only started once this season.
Club captain Liam Cooper is also still a doubt with an abdominal strain, while fellow center-back Diego Llorente is showing no signs of returning from a muscle problem.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS
Tottenham are unbeaten on the last four occasions that they have hosted Leeds (3W, 1D).
However, Leeds won 2-1 in the most recent encounter, an FA Cup fourth-round tie at Elland Road in January 2013. Luke Varney and Ross McCormack were on target for Neil Warnock's side while Clint Dempsey added what was only a consolation goal for the away side that day.
The last league meeting between Leeds and Spurs was, again at Elland Road, in January 2004. Tottenham Hotspur ran out 1-0 winners in West Yorkshire thanks to a goal from ex-Leeds striker Robbie Keane. Spurs did the double over Leeds in that 2003/04 Premier League season.
MATCH INFORMATION
Tottenham Hotspur vs Leeds United
English Premier League
12:30 Saturday 2nd January 2021
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
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