Championship leaders Leeds United will put their unbeaten record on the line when they welcome Preston North End to Elland Road on Tuesday.
The Whites entered the 2018-19 campaign as something of an unknown quantity after handing their managerial reins to the unpredictable Marcelo Bielsa.
That appointment appears to have been a masterstroke, with the enigmatic Argentine having quickly implemented an attractive brand of football which has a sleeping giant daring to dream once more.
There is, however, still a long way to go in what will be a testing promotion bid, with Preston set to make their way to West Yorkshire in midweek seeking to kick-start their season by securing a notable scalp.
| Game | Leeds United vs Preston North End |
| Date | Tuesday, September 18 |
| Time | 7:45pm BST / 2:45pm ET |
TV Channel, Live Stream & How To Watch
In the United States (US) the game will not be available to watch live on television.
| US TV channel | Online stream |
|---|---|
| - | - |
The game can be watched live on television in the United Kingdom (UK) on Sky Sports Football and can be streamed live online using the Sky Go app.
| UK TV channel | Online stream |
|---|---|
| Sky Sports Football | Sky Go |
Squads & Team News
| Position | Leeds squad |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Peacock-Farrell, Blackman, Huffer |
| Defenders | Ayling, Douglas, Cooper, Jansson, Pearce, Shaughnessy, Diaz, Struijk |
| Midfielders | Forshaw, Alioski, Saiz, Dallas, Harrison, Phillips, Baker, Nicell, Klich, Stevens |
| Forwards | Roberts, Edmondson, Dalby, Clarke |
Bielsa has several injury issues to contend with, especially up front where Patrick Bamford has damaged knee ligaments and Kemar Roofe is nursing a calf complaint.
Gaetano Berardi is another suffering with knee problems, Jamie Shackleton has an ankle ailment, Pablo Hernandez has a hamstring issue, Eunan O’Kane a broken leg and loan star Izzy Brown is not yet ready to make his debut.
Potential Leeds XI: Peacock-Farrell; Ayling, Jansson, Cooper, Douglas; Phillips; Harrison, Forshaw, Saiz, Alioski; Roberts.
| Position | Preston squad |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Rudd, Crowe, Maxwell |
| Defenders | Fisher, Earl, Clarke, Davies, Storey, Hughes, Boyle, Huntington, O'Connor, Stead, Vermijl |
| Midfielders | Johnson, Gallagher, Baxter, O'Reilly, Pringle |
| Forwards | Robinson, Moult, Harrop, Burke, Barker, Howard, Simpson, Barkhuizen, Nmecha |
Ben Pearson and Ryan Ledson are serving suspensions for the Lilywhites, while Alan Browne is unlikely to be risked after suffering a calf strain on international duty with the Republic of Ireland.
Calum Woods also has a calf problem, Sean Maguire is not ready for a return to first-team action and Billy Bodin has a knee injury.
Potential Preston XI: Rudd; Clarke, Huntington, Davies; Fisher, Gallagher, Johnson, Earl; Barkhuizen, Robinson, Moult.
Betting & Match Odds
Leeds are strong favourites to win, with bet365 pricing them at 10/11 to secure all three points. Preston’s chances of victory are rated at 7/2 and a draw is available at 13/5.
Match Preview
Getty ImagesWhile Leeds are yet to come unstuck in the Championship this season, they have gone three games without a win in all competitions.
A late leveller was required to salvage a point at Millwall last time out, while Middlesbrough held Bielsa’s side to a goalless draw before the international break.
Prior to that, Preston paid a visit to Elland Road in the Carabao Cup and left with a 2-0 triumph.
Leeds fielded a much-changed side for that contest and will be confident of faring considerably better when reunited with the Lilywhites on Tuesday.
Alex Neil’s side have endured a difficult start to their 2018-19 campaign, collecting just five points to date.
Their solitary success came on the opening weekend against Queens Park Rangers, with four defeats suffered in their last six to sit second-from-bottom in the table.