Leeds United will take on fellow Championship side Norwich City in the fourth round of the League Cup on Tuesday. The Whites have had a decent start to life under Garry Monk. They have performed well in patches but need to add more consistency to their game to challenge for at least a playoff spot.
Norwich city, on the other hand, have been in the promotion battle since the start of the season and look like realistic candidates for going up. They got to this stage of the competition after a 0-2 away victory against Everton at Goodison Park and will be favourites against Leeds at Elland Road.
Leeds got a crucial 0-1 win against Wolves in the weekend to enter the top ten. The Whites’ still are struggling for goals, though. Monk’s side have managed to score just five goals in their last six games but their defending has been top-notch. They have conceded just five in their last nine games.
Leeds will undoubtedly start as the underdogs against Norwich but in a Cup competition, you cannot count anyone off.
Here is the predicted Leeds United lineup against Norwich City.
Defence
Veteran stopper Robert Green will line up between the sticks for the Whites. We expect Monk to stick to the centre-back pairing of Kyle Bartley and Pontus Jansson who have done a brilliant job this season. Liam Cooper will once again sit out.
Luke Ayling should keep his place at right-back whereas Charlie Taylor is likely to start on the opposite flank. If not for the excellent form of the back four, Leeds’ position could have been much worse. The backline needs to keep up their game at this level in order to stop Norwich.
Midfield
Kalvin Phillips and Eunan O’Kane are likely to keep their respective places in the middle of the park. Phillips is having his best spell in the first team right now filling in the void created by the injury to Liam Bridcutt. Leeds have a serious talent in the 20-year-old tenacious central midfielder.
O’Kane, with his experience, has done so well at Elland Road this season after his switch from Premier League side Bournemouth this summer and will be looking to impress again. Another promising youngster, 18-year-old Ronaldo Vieira, will start as the number ten.
Attack
Youngster Hadi Sacko will keep his place on the right flank. Leeds’ goalscorer against Wolves on Saturday, Kemar Roofe should keep his place on the left flank. Chris Wood’s form in front of the goal has improved this season and the Kiwi international should keep his place up front.
