Leeds United take on Sunderland at Elland Road on Tuesday night, which is set to be a big encounter for both sides.
Leeds and Sunderland played each other back in December with the result ending 1-1 at the Stadium of Light.
Coming into the game, Leeds have lost just three of their last 15 Premier League games, whilst Sunderland have only won just four of their last 19 Premier League games.
Here, Sport, Just Sport writer Tyler Cooke looks at five key players who could be deciding factors during the match.
Granit Xhaka
Granit Xhaka has been a crucial player for Sunderland ever since the Black Cats signed him back in August 2025 for around £13million.
Xhaka has been an integral part of Sunderland’s success in the Premier League this season, with one goal and five assists, Xhaka has become a really important player in such a short amount of time.
Xhaka got injured back in January and since then Sunderland have only won one game – a 3-0 victory at home against Burnley, showing that without Xhaka, Sunderland don’t play at their best.
Sunderland have slowly dropped down the table, now sitting in 12th place with 37 points, but with Xhaka back, Sunderland will be looking to get back into the form they had at the beginning of the season.
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Robin Roefs
Another player that has quickly become a crucial player for Sunderland is Robin Roefs.
Sunderland signed the Dutch goalkeeper for around £8.3million and like Xhaka, he has become one of Sunderland’s best players.
He has eight clean sheets this season and a save percentage of 71.4% which is the third best in the league.
And with Sunderland not in the best form, Roefs could be the difference maker when it comes to the Black Cats getting something out of this game.
Ethan Ampadu
Ever since Daniel Farke changed the system at Leeds United, Ethan Ampadu has been one of the most underrated midfielders in the league.
Ampadu’s stats may not look impressive with only one goal and one assist all season but its his leadership and qualities off the ball that has helped Leeds have a chance to stay up this season.
Ampadu has also been one of Leeds’ key defensive contributors this season as well. He has consistently been involved in breaking up play and protecting Leeds’ midfield.
His record of 16 tackles in the last 10 league matches shows his willingness to engage the opposition and regain possession, which could give Leeds the edge over Sunderland.
Anton Stach
Arguably Leeds’ best signing this season, Anton Stach has been one of Leeds United’s standout midfield performers in the Premier League.
With him featuring regularly with 22-plus appearances, getting four goals and three assists, Stach has shown that he can impact the game both offensively and defensively.
Stach has shown that he can be important for Leeds when it comes to set-pieces as well, with him scoring an incredible free-kick against Aston Villa at Villa Park, which in the end earned him player of the match.
His tackling numbers are strong for a central midfielder, with around 45 tackles so far.
Leeds boss Daniel Farke has praised his ability to “run the game” from midfield, showing that he’s one of the best signings the club have made this season.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin
Dominic Calvert-Lewin has enjoyed a strong first season with Leeds United since joining in the summer of 2025, quickly becoming a key attacking figure at the club.
He’s scored 10 Premier League goals in around 25 league appearances, making him one of Leeds’ top scorers and also placing him among the league’s double-figure goalscorers in Erling Haaland and Igor Thiago.
Calvert-Lewin’s form peaked in December when he won the Premier League Player of the Month award after finding the net six times in five matches.
Calvert-Lewin’s form has since dropped off, but he will be eager to get back on the scoresheet.
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