Leeds United face a significant test of their early-season form with a Premier League trip to face Brighton & Hove Albion at the American Express Stadium on Saturday. The Whites, currently 8th in the table, are aiming to extend their unbeaten start to the 2026/27 campaign but must do so without the injured Joe Rodon.
Defender Joe Rodon will be a long-term absentee after suffering a hamstring injury. The Leeds United boss confirmed the bad news this week, stating, "Joe has a hamstring injury. He will be out for, at the moment, an assessment of eight to 10 weeks so he will definitely not play before the next international break." Rodon joins Ilia Gruev and Mateo Joseph on the club's injuries list. His absence forces a reshuffle, with James Justin having already filled in centrally and Melvin Bard a potential option at wing-back.
Leeds United's solid start sees them sit 8th with four points from two games, having scored twice and conceded just once. They are two points behind leaders Manchester City. A draw with Brentford last weekend, where Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored his first goal of the season, followed a cup and league double over Nottingham Forest. Brighton, under Fabian Hürzeler, are 9th with an identical record of four points. They opened with a 4-0 win over Aston Villa and a 4-0 victory against Tromso in Europe, but lost 4-3 to Chelsea last time out. Seven different Seagulls players have found the net this term, with Jack Hinshelwood their top scorer on two goals.
This fixture presents a notable challenge for Leeds United on the south coast. According to the preview on the club's official website, Leeds have not won at the American Express Stadium. Their last away victory against Brighton came all the way back in 2009. Striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who scored against Brentford with an assist from Lukas Nmecha, will look to continue his good form against Brighton after netting against them towards the end of last season.
With Rodon out, the defensive organisation of players like Jaka Bijol will be vital. Bijol acknowledged the difficulty of the task ahead, saying, "It is going to be one really hard game again and we have to be at our best level to bring the fight to them to get the result." In attack, Calvert-Lewin and Anton Stach are Leeds's joint top scorers with one goal each. For Brighton, their goals have been spread throughout the team, posing a varied threat. The match officials are led by referee Stuart Attwell, with Constantine Hatzidakis and Nick Hopton as assistants, John Busby as fourth official, and James Bell on VAR duties.
Supporters can listen to live audio commentary of the 3pm kick-off on LUTV, with monthly subscribers hearing commentary from Bryn Law and Tony Dorigo. The pre-match studio build-up will feature appearances from Jermaine Beckford and Dominic Matteo. Newcastle currently sit 7th in the standings, setting up another tight contest.
