EFL preview: Leeds v Sheffield United among key promotion clashes

A mouth-watering clash between two Championship heavyweights will kick us off on Friday night as in-form Sheffield United travel to Leeds United for a big Yorkshire derby.

Leeds went into the international break on a somewhat downbeat note after goalkeeper Illan Meslier’s extraordinary blunder gifted Sunderland a 97th-minute equaliser at the Stadium of Light.

It means the Whites have now drawn their past two games and will be desperate to return to winning ways in what will likely be a thunderous Elland Road atmosphere under the lights.

The unbeaten Blades, meanwhile, have won five of their past six and are level on points with leaders Sunderland – they would be top if not for a two-point deduction for defaulted transfer payments.

Chris Wilder’s side boast the best defence in the league, having conceded only three times this season, and head into the game on the back of six successive clean sheets – they last let a goal in on 24 August in a 1-1 draw at Norwich.

Both sides will have the chance to go top before Sunderland visit Hull City on Sunday, although even with victory, Daniel Farke’s team would be heavily relying on results elsewhere to fall their way to stay at the summit.