Starting one Sunderland man would hand the advantage to Leeds United as one key stats emerges.
The Black Cats will face off against Leeds United this evening at Elland Road, where Sunderland will hope to close the gap on the automatic promotion spots.
It will be a tricky task for Regis Le Bris’ Sunderland side going to a ground that has seen Leeds United succumb to defeat on just one occasion in the 2024/25 Championship season.
As an attacking force, there is much to be admired about Daniel Farke’s Leeds side, who have notched 66 goals (17 more than Sunderland) this season, with their wide players often being the source of such havoc.
One statistic shows just how crucial Leeds United’s wide areas are, and it is something that Le Bris must be wary of going into the upcoming clash.
Sunderland must be wary of Leeds United wide threat as eye-opening stat appears
Looking across the Championship, no side poses a greater threat than Leeds United, particularly at Elland Road, which they have turned into a fortress this season.
As a result, Sunderland must be wary of the Leeds United danger men, who are deployed in the wide areas of Farke’s set-up, with Dan James being a notable threat.
Leeds United’s strength in creating opportunities from wide areas is shown by the fact that, per Sofa Score, the Whites’ top five chance creators are James, Manor Solomon, Wilfried Gnonto, Junior Firpo, and Jayden Bogle, all of which either play on the wing or at full-back.
- READ MORE: Sunderland agreed deal for £15m star on deadline day but sources reveal he snubbed Wearside move
Regis Le Bris must not opt for Salis Abdul Samed to deter Leeds United threat
Many Sunderland fans will have their eyes peeled for the lineup that Le Bris will deploy, with his selections verging on the sporadic at times, especially with his use of Salis Abdul Samed.
Le Bris has admitted that the Sunderland summer signing, who undergone a long-term injury until recent weeks where he has been played on occasions, that ‘it was clear that he hadn’t played for six months’ following a clash with Plymouth Argyle, where the French boss suggested that he was ‘not in rhythm for a long time’.
Whilst Samed would admittedly be better deployed in clashes against top-level opponents, as Leeds United are, Sunderland’s average position in games when the midfielder stats ends up being much more bunched, whereas Le Bris needs to ensure that his side is spread out wide to deal with Leeds United’s threat.