Proper football…
Few decisions on this. Injury permitting…
Back 5 as last time out.
Fabinho, Hendo and this is made for Thiago, Leeds are not a team for sitting so he can open them up.
Jota, Mane, Salah to benefit.
Elliot may be a sub, sent home from England U21s but maybe precautionary. Naby probably won’t be back in time?
A win here is another statement of intent…
Fingers crossed that all our players are ok after the midweek games.
At last some football to talk about.
I think this will be harder than one might think. Leeds have had the time to correct their shortfalls from there 1st match against United. Bielsa is very good at this.
We need to beat them physically in midfield with good pressing, technically we are far superieur but without the pressing that won’t count much against a team that works as hard as Leeds (particularly if they have sorted out their marking and tactics).
So I’d get Millie in the midfield with Fabs and Hendo.
Should win this 1-3 would love another clean sheet though.
We brought Thiago in because he is one of the best midfielders in world football.
He wasn’t bought with a handful of games in mind.
Leeds dont set up deep, so a player with his nous would potentially have a field day.
With Bobby potentially out and with how Leeds play, I’d consider going 4-2-3-1, but with a bit of an unorthadox defensive midfielder playing in the middle of the 3, so line up like
Allisson
TAA Gomez Virgil Robbo
Hendo Thiago
Mane Fabino Jota
Salah
This should be quite an experience , both for our foreign players and fans , who might not remember just what an unwelcoming experience a top flight game at Elland Rd. can be. Their lot will have been on the piss all day and we can expect ninety minutes of pure abuse from a notoriously rowdy bunch.
… which will make it all the more satisfying when we batter these Yorkshire puddings 0-3.