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

Leeds United's search for their first win of the 2021-22 Premier League season will continue on Saturday afternoon when they welcome Watford to Elland Road.

The Whites currently sit 18th in the table, having picked up just three points from six matches this term, while Watford have gathered seven points from their six fixtures to occupy 12th position.

Match preview

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Leeds were so impressive on their return to the top flight last season, ultimately finishing ninth in the table, but there is no getting away from the fact that it has been a difficult start to the 2021-22 Premier League season for Marcelo Bielsa's side, who are currently in the relegation zone.

The Whites are still waiting for their first league success of the campaign, having drawn three and lost three of their six matches, while they have conceded 14, which is the second-most in the division alongside Newcastle United.

It is not quite time to hit the panic button, as there is still so much football to play this season, but there is no downplaying the importance of this match, especially as it comes ahead of an international break.

Leeds, who will face Arsenal in the fourth round of the EFL Cup on October 26, took the lead against West Ham United last weekend through Raphinha, but an own goal from Junior Firpo levelled the scores in the 67th minute before Michail Antonio came up with a 90th-minute winner for the Hammers.

The Whites have, somewhat surprisingly, only faced Watford on two previous occasions in the Premier League, and they were victorious in both fixtures - 2-1 away and 3-1 at home in the 1999-2000 season.

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Watford, taking everything into consideration, will be pleased with their start to the campaign, having won two, drawn one and lost three of their six Premier League matches to collect seven points, which has left them in 12th spot, above 13th-placed Leicester City, heading into the next set of fixtures.

The Hornets won their opening match of the league season against Aston Villa before losing three straight games against Brighton & Hove Albion, Tottenham Hotspur and Wolverhampton Wanderers without scoring.

Xisco Munoz's side recorded a 3-1 victory at Norwich City on September 18, though, before sharing the points in a 1-1 draw with Newcastle last weekend. Like Leeds, Watford will view this as an important match, as their next two after the international break are against Liverpool and Everton.

The Hornets dropped out of the top flight after placing 19th in 2019-20, but they returned at the first time of asking, finishing second in last season's Championship, and the quality present in the squad suggests that the Hertfordshire club have more than enough to avoid relegation.

Watford are actually unbeaten in their last five away league games against Leeds, meanwhile, recording three wins and two draws, scoring 16 times in the process.

Team News

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Bielsa revealed during Thursday's pre-match press conference that Raphinha would be available for selection this weekend, but Patrick Bamford remains on the sidelines due to an ankle problem.

The news is mixed in terms of absentees, as Robin Koch, Luke Ayling and Adam Forshaw are also out, but Diego Llorente is available once again, while Pascal Struijk has now served his suspension and should start.

Rodrigo could again lead the line, while Jack Harrison might come into the team on the left, with Daniel James potentially dropping down to the bench for the home side.

Stuart Dallas is an option to start at right-back, but Jamie Shackleton could continue in defence depending on whether Llorente proves his match fitness over the next 24 hours or so.

As for Watford, midfielder Peter Etebo is facing four to five months on the sidelines with the muscular injury that he suffered against Newcastle last weekend.

Etebo is the away team's only confirmed absentee, though, with Tom Cleverley and Daniel Bachmann both being declared fit to feature at Elland Road.

Head coach Xisco could introduce Ozan Tufan into his starting XI this weekend, but it might otherwise be the same side that took to the field for the first whistle against Newcastle, with in-form Ismaila Sarr playing off the left and Joshua King operating at the tip of the attack.

Leeds United possible starting lineup:
Meslier; Shackleton, Struijk, Cooper, Firpo; Raphinha, Dallas, Phillips, Klich, Harrison; Rodrigo

Watford possible starting lineup:
Foster; Femenia, Troost-Ekong, Cathcart, Rose; Tufan, Sissoko; Sarr, Cleverley, Dennis; King

We say: Leeds United 1-1 Watford

Leeds would have earmarked this match as the perfect chance to put three points on the board, but Watford have made an encouraging start to the season. We are expecting a very close match at Elland Road and have had to settle on a low-scoring draw, which would certainly be a better result for the visitors.