Michael Owen makes worrying prediction for Leeds at Brighton

Former Liverpool and England striker Michael Owen believes tiredness could play a crucial part as Leeds travel to Brighton in the Premier League this afternoon
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Brighton are seven points above the relegation places with five matches remaining and victory for Graham Potter's men would just about see them safe.

Brighton defender Ben White is back from suspension to play against Leeds, the club he helped win promotion to the Premier League last season when on loan at Elland Road.

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Midfielder Adam Lallana has been troubled by a tight calf but should be fit to take his place in Graham Potter’s matchday squad.

Michael Owen has concerns for Leeds ahead of their trip to the south coastMichael Owen has concerns for Leeds ahead of their trip to the south coast
Michael Owen has concerns for Leeds ahead of their trip to the south coast

Forward Percy Tau has recovered from a hamstring injury, but defender Tariq Lamptey (hamstring) and winger Solly March (knee) remain out.

"Leeds travel to Brighton after taking a point against Manchester United last Sunday," wrote Owen in his Bet Victor predictions blog." As I’ve mentioned previously, it’s either feast or famine with Leeds, but if you offered Marcelo Bielsa a point before kick-off, he’d probably have taken it.

"It’s been difficult to get a handle on Brighton all season long. I think most would agree that they’re better than their league position would suggest, however, last week’s defeat against Sheffield United was typical of how it’s gone.

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"The visitors have had a string of extremely difficult matches. To be undefeated after playing City, Liverpool and Manchester United is a great effort. However, the dynamic slightly changes when you go into a match where fans will be expecting a result.

"That combined with fatigue, makes me think we could see a home win here. It’s 1-0 Brighton for me."

Leeds’ record signing Rodrigo is back in contention, but Raphinha remains unavailable.

Rodrigo has made just one appearance since mid-March due to a troublesome muscle strain and is not expected to start, while Raphinha has still not recovered from a bruised thigh, which has kept him out of the home draws against Liverpool and Manchester United.

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Skipper Liam Cooper serves the last game of his three-match ban, but head coach Marcelo Bielsa has no new injury concerns as his side bid to extend their unbeaten league run to seven matches.

Brighton provisional squad: Sanchez, Steele, Webster, Dunk, Burn, Veltman, Karbownik, Moder, White, Propper, Bissouma, Mac Allister, Gross, Lallana, Caicedo, Alzate, Trossard, Jahanbakhsh, Izquierdo, Welbeck, Maupay, Zeqiri, Connolly, Tau.

Leeds provisional squad: Meslier, Casilla, Alioski, Llorente, Koch, Struijk, Ayling, Berardi, Phillips, Dallas, Shackleton, Klich, Roberts, Rodrigo, Harrison, Hernandez, Poveda, Costa, Bamford.