FRIDAY PREMIER LEAGUE: The Striker previews Friday’s Premier League game between NEWCASTLE v LEEDS with a recommended BETDAQ bet and extended match stats.

NEWCASTLE V LEEDS

8pm Friday Night Football returns to the Premier League and we have a fascinating market on BETDAQ Betting Exchange as Newcastle host Leeds. Both sides suffered big losses last weekend with Newcastle losing 4-1 to Manchester United on Ronaldo’s return and Leeds losing 3-0 to Liverpool. They both sit in the bottom four having started the season slowly, and it’s fair to say that this is a big game for both sides. They will both view it as a good chance to pick up points, and I’m sure we will have some big opinions in the market too.

After an impressive opening season in the Premier League, Leeds have started this campaign a little sluggish. They haven’t solved their issues at the back during the summer, but they haven’t created much either in their opening four games. If they aren’t in form going forward, that’s obviously a major issue because they can’t rely on keeping teams out. They just concede too many chances – as Gary Neville said on Sky Sports; if you’re a striker you’re looking forward to playing Leeds.

Their issues at the back might not be exposed by Newcastle, because Newcastle are a pretty limited side but you’d certainly be worried if you were a Leeds fan. It doesn’t look like they will progress this season, and they will likely finish lower in the table. Newcastle have only managed one point from their four games, and they sit in 19th with only Norwich below them. You have to fancy Newcastle will be involved in another relegation battle, but they should have enough to stay up. The main worry for Newcastle is they have conceded xG figures of 3.15, 1.35, 3.42 and 2.89. That’s simply too many chances to be conceding.

Of course it all comes down to the odds here. The reality is we have two teams who have started the season in poor form, both conceding high chances and not creating a lot. Over the longer term, you’d have to say that Leeds are the better side but that’s reflected in the market as they are trading 2.34. I feel that price is pretty much bang on, and I’m happy to look to the goals market for some value. With both sides so poor at the back, you want to be on overs here. The 1.7 on over 2.5 goals is too big and I’m happy to get on overs given the lack of defence from both sides.

The Striker Says:
Two points win Over 2.5 goals at 1.7 with BETDAQ BETTING EXCHANGE

You can view all markets here -> https://bit.ly/BDQNewlee

MATCH STATS

● Newcastle lost both league meetings with Leeds last season, having lost just one of their previous 11 against the Whites (W7 D3).
● Leeds are looking to win three consecutive league games against Newcastle for the first time since October 1967, while they haven’t won back-to-back away league games against the Magpies since April 1958.
● Newcastle have only failed to score in one of their last 15 league meetings with Leeds (W8 D3 L4), going down 0-2 at home in September 2002.
● Leeds have alternated between defeat (3) and victory (3) in each of their six Premier League away games played on Fridays, with the Whites beating Fulham 2-1 in their last such match.
● Newcastle have conceded more goals than any other side in the Premier League this season (12), while the Magpies also have the highest xG against figure in the competition this term (10.5).
● Leeds haven’t failed to win any of their first five league games in a top-flight campaign since 1946-47, when they finished bottom with their lowest points total in a single league season (24, converting to three points per win).
● Leeds have faced 28 shots on target in the Premier League this season (more than any other side), including nine against Liverpool last time out. Their average of seven shots on target faced per game is the highest on record in a single Premier League campaign (since 2003-04).
● Only Southampton (3) have kept fewer clean sheets than Newcastle in the Premier League so far in 2021 (4, excluding the promoted sides). Three of the Magpies’ four shutouts this calendar year came against the three teams to be relegated last season, with the other coming against Everton in January.
● After winning seven of his first nine games as a manager against Leeds (L2), Newcastle’s Steve Bruce has won just one of his last nine against the Whites in all competitions (D3 L5).
● Newcastle’s Freddie Woodman has conceded 12 goals in his four Premier League games so far – the most goals conceded by a goalkeeper in their first five starts in the competition is 14 (Swindon’s Fraser Digby in 1993-94).