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Leeds v Tottenham: Key stats and talking points

Out-of-form Leeds United take on a buoyant Tottenham side that arrive at Elland Road having won their past three matches. BBC Sport takes a look at some of the key themes going into Saturday's game.

How best to judge Leeds' season so far? A glass-half-empty view of only two league wins from nine games and only nine goals scored…or a positive spin on just two defeats from nine matches and a mere eight goals conceded?

Either way, momentum for Daniel Farke's side has definitely slowed of late and their last league victory came almost two months ago when they demolished Newcastle. Since that 4-1 win on 14 September they have scored the joint fewest goals (two), have the second lowest xG - both overall (4.96) and in open play (2.61) -, plus the worst final third passing accuracy (58.4%) of any top-flight side.

Graphic showing how Leeds United have struggled for form since beating Newcastle on 14 September

How to unlock the goalscoring potential of their side remains an ongoing mission with the likes of Brenden Aaronson, Lukas Nmecha and Harry Wilson yet to find the back of the net. Their win over Newcastle is the only league game they have scored two or more goals in, and only Dominic Calvert-Lewin has netted more than once.

But losing just three of their past 18 league games is a superb achievement and Farke's side will look to continue their impressive streak of not having lost consecutive league games since February and March last season.

Five of their nine matches so far have been away so they will be delighted to return to Elland Road, where they are unbeaten in eight and last lost a league game eight months ago.

After Spurs have been and gone their next visitors are promoted sides Coventry City and Ipswich Town. Home points will be crucial given their next four away are at Chelsea, Manchester City, Liverpool and Aston Villa.

While Leeds' form has stalled, the same cannot be said for resurgent Tottenham. Without so much as a goal after four matches of the season or a win after six, three victories on the spin have propelled them from the bottom of the table and above the likes of Leeds into ninth.

Looking far more like a Roberto de Zerbi side, they were utterly dominant against 10-man Crystal Palace last weekend. The 79.4% possession they enjoyed was their second highest in a top-flight match since records began in 2003-04.

Up against the worst defence in the league, their much-maligned attack had a whopping 34 shots, which may have been their most in a top-flight game for a decade but the fact that only two of them went in again shined a light on their lack of clinical edge. They have the lowest xG per shot of any side this term of 0.08.

But they certainly seem to be benefiting from having a more settled side. De Zerbi made 24 changes to his starting XI across their first seven games of this season but has made just three since they picked up their first league win of the season against Coventry.

Graphic showing how Roberto de Zerbi has made more changes to his starting XI than any other top-flight manager this season

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