Sheffield United vs Leeds Prediction: Top of the table showdown should be tight

The top two in the Championship table meet on Monday night (20:00, Sky Sports Main Event) as Leeds United visit Sheffield United looking to extend their advantage at the top to five points. The teams would be locked together in the table if not for the two-point deduction the Blades began the season with, but neither of them have much breathing space in the promotion race with Burnley and their watertight defence close up in third place.

Sheffield Utd temporarily went top of the table with their 1-0 win at Luton last weekend, which was their fourth straight victory, but Leeds climbed back to the top in dramatic fashion last Monday night with a come-from-behind 2-1 win at home to Sunderland. Leeds are in fantastic form with their last six league games bringing five wins and a goalless draw away to promotion rivals Burnley. Below you can find my Sheffield United vs Leeds predictions. 

Team news 

Oliver Arblaster (knee) is still sidelined for the hosts, but Kieffer Moore (hernia), Gustavo Hamer (hamstring) and Tom Cannon (ankle) are hoping to be passed fit after missing the Luton match due to injuries.

Leeds are still missing defender Max Wober (knee) and Patrick Bamford (hamstring), although the striker could return to training this week.

Winger Manor Solomon will be assessed after taking a knock in the Sunderland match.

Sheffield United vs Leeds Odds

Leeds are 19/20 favourites on the road, while hosts Sunderland are available at 3/1 and the draw is priced at 13/5.

Over 2.5 goals is on offer at 10/11 and under 2.5 is 4/5, while it's 4/5 that both teams score in the match and 10/11 that at least one team fails to find the net.

Draw @ 13/5

Leeds remain in impressive form as they bid to return to Premier League after two seasons in the second tier, unbeaten in 15 Championship games and they have scored 20 goals and conceded just once in their last seven league matches.

That one goal, by Sunderland's Wilson Isidor last Monday, gave their backers a sweat, but they came through with two late goals by Pascal Struijk and they look the right favourites for this tricky away game.

Even so, at odds-on prices there's not a huge amount of value in backing Daniel Farke's side, who have won only five of their last 10 league away assignments.

The Blades have a strong home record with 12 wins and two draws in 16 league games including seven wins in their last 10 Championship fixtures at Bramall Lane.

The worry for fans of Chris Wilder's team is that they have struggled against their promotion rivals, with two of their last three league defeats coming to Sunderland and Burnley, while they lost the reverse fixture 2-0 at Elland Road in October.

They're in decent form, though, so the draw offers fair value at 13/5.

Ben Brereton Diaz anytime goalscorer @ 3/1

Ben Brereton Diaz has made an excellent start to his second loan spell with Sheff Utd.

The Chile international scored six goals in 14 games for the Blades when on loan from Villarreal last season and rejoined the South Yorkshire club in January, this time on loan from Premier League Southampton.

Brereton Diaz failed to fire with the Saints, but has made a strong early impression with the Blades, scoring their winning goal at Derby on his second start and putting his new team 2-1 up in the recent 3-1 home win over Middlesbrough.

Leeds are in excellent defensive form, but the Blades have scored in nine of their last 10 league games and Brereton Diaz is an attractive price to add to his tally.

Offers

We will be Top Price on either side to win in Sheffield United v Leeds with selected bookmakers using Oddschecker for the comparison. (Available from 09:30 Monday 24/02)

Acca Flex: Place a pre-match 5+ leg Football accumulator and get a CASH bonus up to 100% if all of your selections win or your money back as CASH if one leg lets you down

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