Leeds United are taking on Southampton at Wembley this Sunday in the Championship playoff final, with both sides hoping for an instant return to the top flight.
Daniel Farke and Russell Martin have already faced off twice this season with the Saints boss coming out on top on both occasions.
However, Leeds have a chance to correct that form in the most important game of them all at Wembley in the playoff final.
Leeds team news: Bamford ruled out, Byram in contention
Farke’s pre-match press conference this week shared a less-than-ideal update on the fitness of Patrick Bamford, who has already played his last game this season.
The German confirmed that Bamford’s ongoing knee issue has kept him out for the playoff final, having missed the four previous games, including the semi-final legs.
As for Sam Byram, who missed the 4-0 Norwich win, he is back in training and is a late fitness test away from being back in the squad.
With this, we take a look at the lineup we predict Farke to name against the Saints at Wembley…
Leeds playoff final predicted XI v Southampton
There could be some justified debate that Leeds shift to the 4-3-3 setup that helped them shut out Norwich in the semi-final first leg, allowing for a better pressing structure against a Saints side that will build effectively from deep – especially if Leeds aren’t on it.
However, a 4-2-3-1 was the setup that worked in the second leg all over the park and should stay the same here.
Illan Meslier starts in goal after a huge confidence-boosting save to deny Josh Sargent, arguably one of his biggest moments in a Leeds shirt to date.
In front of him, Archie Gray will keep his place at right-back, while Joe Rodon and Ethan Ampadu led by example last Thursday. Rodon in particular was impressive in how he stepped up to deny the out-ball from Norwich’s defence, and he needs to apply the same intensity against Southampton, who were two yards quicker than him at Elland Road earlier in the month – snuff that out and Leeds are on the front foot in their press and attacking.
Junior Firpo is going to be a huge outlet for Leeds on Sunday but also someone that the Saints can get at, as they showed in their second goal in the final league game, definitely a side of the pitch where the game is likely to be won and lost.
Leeds’ first line of the press is going to be crucial
Put it simply, if the first line of Leeds’ press do their job correctly for 90 minutes, we should win this game in the same way Leicester did the double over Southampton in emphatic style.
Don’t do their jobs like some lazily avoided in the Elland Road fixture against the Saints, and we struggle.
Georginio Rutter had been struggling to look like a Championship footballer of late, but his £36million quality was restored in perfect timing against Norwich, and we need that same tenacious, skilful presence in attack on Sunday.
On either wing, there’s a case to be made for Dan James to help Leeds cope with the Southampton buildup, but you cannot drop Willy Gnonto after his efforts on Thursday, nor are you ever dropping Crysencio Summerville, let alone for the biggest game of the season.
Up front, there are justified reservations every week for seeing Joel Piroe leading the line, after what we’ve seen throughout his time here and at Swansea, but what we witnessed in that second leg was everything a number nine has to be, and if he reproduces, we are in with a shot of promotion without question.
