Leeds United take on Crystal Palace this weekend with the Eagles facing a significantly congested fixture list and availability issues plaguing Oliver Glasner.
United’s form since defeat to Aston Villa has taken a huge upturn. A spirited display at Manchester City has been followed by five points from tough games against Chelsea, Liverpool and Brentford most recently.
To round out 2025, Leeds return to Elland Road to face Crystal Palace, before travelling up to Sunderland just after Christmas.
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Crystal Palace juggling European and EFL Cup commitments either side of Leeds United clash
You’d argue that Leeds couldn’t have asked for a better time to be playing Oliver Glasner’s Eagles.
Yes, Palace are top of the away table in the Premier League and fifth in the actual table. However, they are facing an extremely challenging schedule this week.
Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner has selection issues this week before Leeds United. (REUTERS/David Klein)
First, they host KuPS in the Conference League on Thursday with their qualification already assured. But, their trip to West Yorkshire comes just 48 hours later with an already thin squad. So, if Glasner sticks to his word with 11 changes in Europe, he still might find himself short of options.
After Leeds, his Palace side face Arsenal at the Emirates in the EFL Cup on Tuesday. That makes it three games in the space of six days.
Crystal Palace add Daichi Kamada injury blow to growing list of headaches pre-Leeds United
Not only are Palace having to deal with three competitions in a matter of days, but Glasner is also facing fitness issues too.
After losing 3-0 at home to Manchester City on Sunday, Japan international Daichi Kamada has been confirmed to be ruled out for Leeds with a hamstring issue.
Daichi Kamada will miss Leeds United v Crystal Palace through injury. (REUTERS/David Klein)
“It looks like his hamstring,” Glasner told CPFC. “When he landed, he over-stretched his knee, and that means the hamstring got the full stretch because he never had any muscle injury before. It was just an incident and he can hardly walk.
“It looks pretty bad. But he will have a scan tomorrow, then we will know more. I think we will lose him for a couple of weeks. But, it’s a chance for other players to step up.”
Not only is Kamada out, but star wing-back Daniel Munoz has already been confirmed as absent after knee surgery. Meanwhile, Jean-Philippe Mateta’s match fitness continues to be a burden following November’s international break.
Key winger Ismaili Sarr is set to fly out to begin Senegal duty for AFCON too, ruling him out.
Can Leeds United take advantage of depleted Crystal Palace this week?
As I mention previously, this game is still one where Leeds are underdogs given Palace’s unquestionable quality across the pitch.
That being said, we couldn’t be playing them at a better time in terms of their energy levels and fixture congestion.
This could play a huge part in how they shape up against us, and how vulnerable they are under the lights at Elland Road.
Add to that the late change to the fixture and you’d imagine that Palace won’t take a bumper away following, further playing into our hopes of unsettling them.
Read more: I expect this Leeds United player to leave in January after what happened at Brentford.