Premier League action rolls on on Saturday, starting with a mid-table showdown. Leeds and Tottenham have both built up respectable results so far, and a strong run could put them in the conversation for European football before the winter transfer window. Now they’ll clash at Elland Road to see who can take the points and climb up the table.
On DraftKings Sportsbook, Leeds are +160 favorites to win within 90 minutes, with a draw priced at +240. Tottenham’s moneyline is set at +175.
Leeds vs. Tottenham Pick, Best Bet
Leeds have had a tough couple of weeks. They’re winless in their last five matches, drawing Crystal Palace, Man United, and Sunderland while losing to Arsenal and Bournemouth. It’s not the end of the world, but they’ll likely feel they left points on the pitch, especially after their 2-2-0 start to the competitive season.
To pick things back up, they need to improve their attack. They’ve scored only two goals during their five-game skid, and the counterattack has abandoned them entirely. Dominic Calvert-Lewin has been a solid finisher so far, but the service hasn’t been there. No player on their roster has created more than 10 chances this season, and their leader in expected assists per 90 minutes is Lukas Nmecha at a paltry 0.15. If the creation doesn’t shape up, they’re in for a trying season.
Tottenham, meanwhile, are the hottest they’ve been all year. After a pitiful 0-3-3 start, they’ve ripped off three straight wins, surging from the relegation zone to the top half of the table. At long last, things are clicking for Spurs in unison; they beat Coventry, Chelsea, and Crystal Palace by a combined 7-1 margin.
At long last, the players they’ve invested big money in look like they’re paying off. Mohammed Kudus provided two assists during the winning streak, and Omar Marmoush finally scored his first goal. The back line is playing extremely well, with Jan Paul van Hecke at the center and Antonín Kinský playing well in goal. They have the talent to put together a run, and have shown they can; it’s time for Spurs to find consistency.
It’ll be interesting to see how Spurs handle all this possession against Leeds. Leeds’ back line remains awfully stout and has done a strong job avoiding big chances and keeping things manageable in front of goal. Once again, Leeds will be dared to beat opponents on the counter, and they’ll have to deliver on a fast break to pick up all three points. Tottenham have finally shown they can defend at a high level, and will be confident in containing this struggling Leeds attack.
I’m predicting a very frustrating afternoon for Spurs. Leeds will be content to sit back and keep things in front; given Spurs’ lack of set-piece coordination and distance shooting ability, it’s a good formula for a clean sheet. But I can’t count on Leeds to get it going the other way; this one will end up aggravating for all involved. Let’s take a correct score stab here on the double clean sheet.
