Leeds United can take a giant stride towards Premier League safety with a win at Watford on Saturday. The Whites enter the clash at Vicarage Road in good form having picked up seven points from their last three matches and know another victory will put them within touching distance of survival.
Watford, though, are fighting for their lives at the bottom as they sit 19 th in the table and it is getting to the point of the season where it is win or bust. The Hornets can move to within five points of Leeds with a game in a hand should they secure all three points, highlighting the importance of tomorrow’s encounter.
Ahead of the game, LeedsLive have taken a look at three key battles that could go a long way to deciding who goes home with the victory.
READ MORE: Pundits predictions as nail-biting clash in store for Leeds United at Watford
Luke Ayling vs Cucho Hernandez
With three goals and one assist in his last four matches, Cucho Hernandez has established himself as Watford’s danger man in the final third in recent weeks. His performances have seen him become a staple in the starting line-up, meaning top scorer Emmanuel Dennis was forced to settle for a place on the bench in last weekend’s defeat at Anfield.
Hernandez is a direct winger who enjoys cutting inside on his stronger right foot, which has scored some wonder goals over the course of the season. Leeds right-back Luke Ayling will have to be on the top of his game from a defensive point of view, as pace isn’t always something he looks comfortable dealing with.
Kalvin Phillips vs Moussa Sissoko
Moussa Sissoko has quickly become one of the leaders in the dressing room since his summer move from Tottenham Hotspur. Sissoko is arguably Watford’s key man in midfield and has built a reputation on powerful runs from deep using his pace and strength.
The only man in Leeds’ engine room who can compete with that sort of physicality is Kalvin Phillips, who will be hoping to make his first start since December after his appearance from the bench against Southampton last week. Any sort of rustiness, though, is likely to be punished by Watford and specifically Sissoko, making this a huge game for him to come into.
Raphinha vs Hassane Kamara
Raphinha will have to ensure he is up for the physical battle when he comes up against combative Watford left-back Hassane Kamara. Kamara joined the club in January and has made a difference in defence, replacing Danny Rose as the Hornets’ first choice in that position.
The 28-year-old showed in Cote D’ivoire’s friendly against England last month that he is not afraid to put in a tackle, frequently fouling Jack Grealish in an attempt to thwart the momentum of the Three Lions’ most dangerous attacking players. Raphinha will no doubt be in for similar treatment tomorrow, and so he will needed to be prepared to accept some bumps and bruises before he is able to display his quality.
