The Leeds United staff have a big task on their hands this week as they prepare to host Premier League high-flyers Brighton.
Leeds United will have to put their 1-0 defeat to mid-table Chelsea behind them as they prepare to host high-flying Brighton next weekend.
With one side deep in a fight for survival while the other challenges for a top four place, the two campaigns of both sides couldn’t be more juxtaposed.
Following on from their 4-0 win over the Whites‘ relegation rivals West Ham over the weekend, the Seagulls are a scary opponent for Javi Gracia and there are certain targets that he must prepare for if his side want the best chance of earning three vital points.
Alexis Mac Allister
The World Cup winner might’ve lagged behind the rest of his team slightly since returning from Qatar over the winter but his performance against West Ham over the weekend was arguably his best of the season so far.
A well-executed move leading up to his penalty was converted without nerves by the Scottish-Argentinian midfielder before his header across the six-yard box from a corner was poked in by Joel Veltman.
But it’s not just his play in the final third that makes him so deadly – his ability to track back and make vital tackles, interceptions and blocks mean he’ll be a threat to Leeds all over the pitch.
In fact, his 2.63 tackles per game over the last year is the second highest of any players in his position across Europe’s top five leagues according to Opta Stats, and with 31 of his 51 tackles so far this season coming in the middle third of the pitch, it means players like Tyler Adams and West McKennie will have their work cut out for them when the Seagulls come to Elland Road.
Kaoru Mitoma
After spending the first two months of the season as a rotational player, Kaoru Mitoma has burst onto the Premier League scene in a flash and could be seen as the main reason Brighton are challenging for a top-four place this season.
His six goals in his last 10 league matches, and the 92nd-minute winner over Liverpool in the FA Cup are the obvious standouts but his underlying stats are also an indication of why the Japanese international is so highly regarded.
Mitoma is eighth in the entire league in Progressive Carries (70), ninth in Goal-Creating Actions per 90 minutes (0.65), fifth in Shots on Target Percentage (60%) and third in Goals per Shot with 0.30.
Moises Caicedo
Moises Caicedo might not have been a Brighton player at this point in the season had other teams had their way but he’s still currently a part of Roberto De Zerbi’s side – and a major one at that.
The Ecuadorian had an outstanding showing against West Ham on Saturday afternoon and Gracia’s men will do well to stop him having any impact when they travel to Elland Road.
Evan Ferguson
The young forward has sprung onto the scene this season but hasn’t been in fantastic form in recent weeks. At just 18 years old, he’s managed three goals from his eight appearances this season and will be desperate to recapture that rich vein of form he was in throughout January.
Despite his lack of goals since then for the senior side, his five goals in six games earlier this season for the Seagulls’ youth side are a good indication of the damage he can do if he’s given the chances.
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