🏏 Sun, 8 Mar 2026 16:30 GMT
Leeds United
vs
Norwich
4-2-3-1 vs 4-2-3-1
Substitutes
Substitutes
Match Preview
- An FA Cup fourth-round tie between Premier League side Leeds and Championship side Norwich. For Leeds it is a match they will want to progress in safely against lower-ranked opposition, but Norwich, too, want to show the Canaries' pride.
- Leeds' Ao Tanaka starts as part of the double pivot. The Japan international midfielder, named the club's Player of the Year for 2024-25, excels at controlling the game while constantly on the ball, as shown by his figures of 90 touches per match and a pass-completion rate over 90%. Watch whether he can make his presence felt on the FA Cup stage.
- A mirror match with both teams adopting a 4-2-3-1. The dominance of the two central midfielders holds the key, and the focus is whether the pairing of Ao Tanaka and Sean Longstaff can get the better of Norwich's Sam Field and Kenny McLean.
- Leeds defender Sam Byram is a former Norwich City player. It will be a tie he is fired up for against his old club. Including a possible appearance off the bench, he draws attention as the only player among the squad with a former-club connection.
- Joel Piroe leads the Leeds line, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin stationed in the hole. The set-up, in which a centre-forward with Premier League experience at Everton and strength in the air takes on a second-striker role, looks likely to give Leeds a height advantage over Norwich's defence.
- Norwich's lone striker, Mathias Kvistgaarden, is a young Danish forward. In the cup, his momentum as an underdog is a weapon, and his counters exploiting gaps in the Leeds defence are one to watch.
- On Leeds' left, Noah Okafor is stationed. An attacker with pace and the ability to beat his man, his battle with Norwich's right flank will sway the flow of the match. Norwich field Liam Gibbs on the right, where defensive diligence is required.
- In their first season after promotion to the Premier League, Leeds are struggling to secure a settled place, so a deep cup run would feed the team's confidence. Norwich, a Championship side chasing the promotion play-off places, want to give their season momentum by beating higher-ranked opposition.