Tuesday night, Leeds United will play Sunderland. Daniel Farke’s team lost their opening league match of 2024 to Coventry City on Saturday.
The Whites were among the favorites to earn promotion going into this season, and they are still in the running. However, the setback could be detrimental, so they will need to bounce back quickly to put more pressure on Leicester City and Ipswich Town.
When it comes down to it, the final stretch beginning after Easter is always the most crucial part of the season. Leeds has finished the last three games with four points, which may be unsettling to some supporters.
Farke and the players will still be optimistic, though, as Leeds has amassed 41 points out of the 48 that have been available since the start of the season. The last time the Whites lost at home this season was on December 16th, when Sunderland upset Leeds in the rematch.
Even though they lost their last match, there was some good news about injuries: players like Ilia Gruev were able to start, and Connor Roberts and Willy Gnonto returned much earlier than expected, although as substitutes.
At his pregame press conference, Ethan Ampadu revealed some unfavorable news: he has been battling illness and has missed the last two training sessions. This could mean that his impeccable record is in jeopardy and that he will be a “major doubt” going forward.
They have a chance to pass teams like Leicester and Ipswich when they play Sunderland, and losing points at this time in the season is quite important. With Farke having more options in broad regions and maybe needing some rotation owing to general energy levels, changes might be on the horizon.
Here, we examine the starting lineup that Farke might choose to pursue yet another crucial victory. What adjustments will he make in light of the previous outing’s loss?
GK: Illan Meslier
Meslier has been Farke’s preferred goalkeeper this season, starting in nearly all of the Championship games thus far. If he stays healthy, he should carry on doing so for the duration of the season.
2024 has seen the Frenchman keep a lot of clean sheets. He has only allowed eight league goals this year, albeit five of those have come in the last three games, which may worry Farke and his colleagues.
RB: Archie Gray
Before Connor Roberts completed a deadline-day deal in January, Farke was left without many options at right-back following Djed Spence’s return to Spurs and Luke Ayling’s exit to Middlesbrough.
However, Farke is forced to remain with Gray due to Roberts’ injury concerns. Farke switched Gray from his right-back position against Coventry in the second half, but it’s likely that he’ll return there since Roberts can’t yet start.
CB: Joe Rodon
Since joining Leeds on loan from Tottenham, Rodon has been a dominant force in the defense. When healthy, he will always start on the right side of the lineup. But given the latest developments regarding his injury, his partner is probably going to change.
Despite recent clean sheets and a lengthy winning streak with Ethan Ampadu at his side, Pascal Struijk has been the best pairing for the Welshman. Rodon has seen the player by his side chop and change quite a bit lately. Although he wasn’t at his best against Cov, Rodon will try to improve against Sunderland.
CB: Liam Cooper
Despite being the team captain, Cooper has not been a regular starter for Leeds. However, he deserves a chance to play in the center of the defense here, since the seasoned defender may be needed if Struijk and Ampadu are both out.
His partner at center defense will be Rodon, who can play both left and right footed to add some balance. For the remainder of the season, though, Cooper’s leadership will be crucial both on the field and in the locker room.Farke has been hesitant to choose Cooper or Charlie Cresswell because Struijk needs surgery on his adductor issue, which will keep him out of the game. Instead, he has decided to use Ampadu and Rodon at the center of his defense.
LB: Junior Firpo
Due to Leeds’ lack of options on the left side, Firpo is expected to stay in the starting lineup. He showed promise both as a substitute against Watford and as a starting player against Hull and Coventry, when he was one of the team’s top players when in possession.
Firpo is an essential player for the last stretch because of his 2024 form, particularly because he is a natural left-footer down Leeds’ left flank. As a wide holding full-back, he is vital for building up and interplay down the left, giving Farke’s team a better dynamic and connecting effectively with the left-sided midfielder and left winger.
CM: Glen Kamara
For the Whites, Kamara is a player who has recently found his niche. He has been a lock for the double-pivot because Ampadu is in the defense and Gray is stepping in at right back. He was sick over Easter and played a lot for Finland before the break. Farke replaced him against Coventry at halftime, which should have aided in his recuperation.
His value is highlighted by the fact that he is one of the most experienced players in the starting lineup week to week and that his expertise will probably be vital in the final stretch of the season. Compared to other players on the team, Kamara has played the most minutes in midfield.
CM: Ilia Gruev
Ampadu’s minutes have not been especially well handled, but Gruev will probably start with Kamara going forward due to recent center-back absences and Ampadu’s illness. Despite having a knock and swelling around his foot, he managed to play for the majority of Coventry’s weekend loss.
Gruev has been one of Leeds’ greatest players since joining the team, thus keeping him as the team’s anchoring midfielder is essential. His metronomic passing keeps Leeds moving. Leeds were short in the possession war against Hull, but after Gruev returned to the team, the score returned to 70%.
RW: Dan James
Due to Willy Gnonto’s recent injury, he will start again after mostly serving as a replacement. Even if the Italian player performed better when he entered the game late on Saturday, he wasn’t at his best. Farke stated that Gnonto is not yet prepared for the beginning minutes.
James has had a fantastic season for Leeds, contributing to or scoring 20 goals while also emerging as a vital member of Farke’s team. Against Hull, James scored an incredible goal from close to the halfway line. He will be trying to stretch Sunderland in behind them, since they are a team lacking in pace in the left-back position.
CAM: Georginio Rutter
Rutter has been outstanding for Farke in attack, skillfully establishing connections with Joel Piroe, James, Gnonto, and Crysencio Summerville through his wide passing range, keen vision, and amazing tight control. He is another important player who has made consistent contributions, especially in terms of assists and chances created.
Positions are less significant than roles, but this season he has performed best in a line of three behind the striker rather than as the starting center-forward. His relationship with Summerville has been especially important, and he also has more freedom to move defenders around as he pleases. The Frenchman is a huge threat to Leeds and might make all the difference between now and the last day against Southampton.
LW: Crysencio Summerville
Another decisive player who has performed superbly in the games since the international break, Summerville is arguably Leeds’ best player and key attacker. He’s scored 18 goals and created a further nine assists this season from the left-wing, cementing him as Farke’s go-to winger out of the four options available.
Summerville can do little wrong at the moment. He is one of the most feared wingers in the league currently and his nomination for Championship Player of the Year award cements that. Few players in the squad look like they have benefitted from the international break more than Summerville, with the Dutchman electric over Easter Weekend, as the key contributor in four potentially pivotal points, and despite not contributing to anything against Cov, he was still a nuisance at the CBS Arena.
CF: Patrick Bamford
Despite going blank in his last four games, Bamford deserves a great deal of respect for his goals and all-around offensive team performance. Leeds now has the foundation they need to grow thanks to his pushing, intensity, and hold-up play; Farke was very critical of Bamford and made the same comments during his news conference.
Although Mateo Joseph has made some excellent replacement appearances, Farke will probably continue to use him as his main attacking option even though his confidence was up after a recent purple patch. The ball sticks in attack because of his line-leading abilities, but Joseph will undoubtedly be breathing down his neck in the final five games of the season and for another strong performance against Coventry.
