Bet of the Day: Leeds United v Tottenham: Farke's men can put a stop to Spurs' hot streak

Recent wobble should be no cause for panic at Elland Road

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Saturday 7 Nov, 12:30
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Partway through last season, it seemed as though Daniel Farke was reaching the end of his tenure with Leeds United. The Whites were leaking goals and losing games, and the fears of relegation were growing. Farke was being pigeonholed as a man who could get a team into the Premier League, but who couldn't keep them there.

A switch to a back three partway through a 3-2 defeat at Manchester City was a turning point, and Farke hasn't looked back. Since that loss in late November, Leeds have lost just nine of 41 competitive matches. It's a squad full of players who can cope physically with English football, and the next stage of the evolution will be to find players who are perhaps more consistent than the likes of Dan James and Brenden Aaronson, who are full of energy and pace but rarely contribute goals and assists.

Summer signing Harry Wilson is in theory that type of upgrade, but the Welsh international has struggled to make an impact since arriving on loan from Fulham. He is yet to deliver a goal or assist in the Premier League for Leeds.

Despite a run of five games without a top-flight win, Leeds are competing well, and going into this weekend they have a healthy four-point lead over the bottom three. With home games against Coventry, Ipswich and Fulham on the horizon, the picture should look a lot rosier by the end of the calendar year.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin is expected to return from a foot injury, but Noah Okafor and Anton Stach are struggling to be fit. Joe Rodon hopes to soon return from a hamstring injury, and could even face his old club.

Spurs on the charge, but can it last?

The old Brentford and Barnet manager Martin Allen used to say "we don't pop the champagne corks when we're winning, and we don't pop the pills when we lose". That colourful adage can be applied to Spurs' season - they weren't one of the league's worst teams when they were in the relegation zone, but they also aren't now one of its best sides after a three-game winning streak.

Tottenham have however built themselves a platform from which to kick on. They are only three points behind fifth-placed Liverpool, and four off the Champions League spots. If Roberto De Zerbi can make the most of Tottenham not having European entanglements, it could be a swift return to continental competition.

Rodrigo Bentancur is back after suspension while Lucas Bergvall has recovered from injury. Youngster Luca Williams-Barnett is pushing for a full debut after an impressive cameo against Palace, but will surely have to settle for a sub's role.

Leeds United v Tottenham Bet Builder 1 - Fouls part of 23/103.30 treble

While Tottenham's revival has been impressive, this trip to Leeds United represents a huge test. The Yorkshire giants are unbeaten at home this season, and if you go back into last season, Daniel Farke's men have gone nine competitive games without defeat at Elland Road. If you look at the campaign as a whole, they have lost just three of 11 outings.

That leads me to think we should start this Bet Builder treble on the Sportsbook by backing Leeds/Draw on the Double Chance market. Spurs have won just once on the road in five attempts this term.

I'll back Leeds skipper Ethan Ampadu to commit two or more fouls. The combative Wales international has committed two fouls or more in seven of his last eight appearances for club and country, and he's been whistled a staggering 23 times in that spell, an average of almost three fouls per match.

Finally, I'll back something that fell short in last weekend's Spurs v Palace preview, but it's a selection I'll stick with. Jan Paul van Hecke has committed a foul in all of his Premier League appearances this season apart from last week, but it's worth bearing in mind that he was playing against ten men for almost the entire match.

That treble pays out at 23/103.30.

Leeds United v Tottenham Bet Builder 2 - Make DCL the focus

Leeds striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin is something of a force of nature, and we can make a DCL-based double here on the Bet Builder at 21/202.05. Firstly, we'll back the England international to have a shot on target, something he has managed in six of his nine Premier League matches this season.

Secondly, let's go for him to use his bulk and commit two fouls or more. He has racked up at least two fouls in six of nine top-flight games this term.

Now read our other Premier League previews here!