This weekend, Leeds United hosts Ipswich Town in what is likely to be their biggest game of the season. If they defeat Kieran McKenna’s team, they will have a greater chance of finishing in the top two.
Under Daniel Farke, the Whites have defeated their two most difficult opponents away from home, but this Saturday will be a huge test.
This Saturday, Ipswich Town will visit Elland Road with a 10-point advantage over Leeds, a lead that Farke’s team really needs to close as quickly as possible.
It comes after Leeds lost at Sunderland and drew at home against Coventry City, dropping five points in their previous two games.
Leeds United team prediction v Ipswich Town
When it comes to switching around his Leeds team, Farke has been steadfast lately, so it’s unlikely that he would budge this week in the biggest match of the season.
It is anticipated that he continues to play in goal alongside Illan Meslier, who caused controversy on social media when, rooted to his goal line, he refused to run out and claim the cross that resulted in Bobby Thomas’s equalizer for Coventry. The cross floated into his six-yard box.
The defensive four ahead of him sees a tactical change as Joe Rodon and Pascal Struijk maintain their positions in the attacking duo of Djed Spence and Archie Gray, who switch sides to the right and left, respectively.
It makes much more sense to have Spence pacing down his familiar right channel and Gray more reserved on the left of Ethan Ampadu because Leeds’ contrasting roles for full-backs mean we need a high-and-wide operator on the right and someone who can invert on the left and help the midfield.
Spence will give Leif Davis, who plays on Ipswich’s left, enough to consider. Leif Davis needs to match Spence’s enthusiasm and quickness.
Leeds v Ipswich predictions?
Given their effectiveness when playing without the ball, Ethan Ampadu and Glen Kamara are Leeds’ finest options in the midfield. Joel Piroe will come up next, despite the fact that his performances haven’t shown that things should stay the same.
Piroe’s performance of late has been worrisome; at the moment, his goals are the only thing keeping him in the lineup as Farke tries to find ways to get the Dutchman into and out of possession. This will be an assessment of Piroe’s ability to show enough to warrant a spot on the team.
Dan James and Crysencio Summerville will undoubtedly continue to play wide, but Willy Gnonto, who showed promise in his little appearance the previous game, has to start or play for longer than 12 minutes in order to have an effect.
Given that every player must contribute to the team’s effort when denying the Tractor Boys possession, it is more likely that Farke will bench Piroe rather than James if he wants to unleash the Italian.
Georginio Rutter will undoubtedly start up front and will be hopeful that his extra practice on the shooting range will pay off with another goal against the team he scored his debut goal for Leeds.
