Leeds United managed to bag just one point against Sunderland at Elland Road in their last league fixture as the game ended in a 1-1 draw. The Whites are now due to make a trip to Deepdale on Tuesday to face Preston North End in their next Championship fixture.
Alex Neil’s side have lost three league games on the trot and thus, Paul Heckingbottom’s troops must fancy themselves to bag all three points from the fixture. Here is how we expect Leeds United to start against the Lilywhites.
Goalkeeper
Bailey Peacock-Farrell is going from strength to strength under the tutelage of Heckingbottom and it seems that the manager has put a lot of faith in the custodian. He is expected to keep his place between the sticks in the midweek fixture.
Defence
What Gaetano Berardi did against Sunderland was completely unacceptable. Competent defending instead of rash tackling would have saved him from getting sent off and being a senior player in the ranks of Leeds United, better things are expected from him.
Besides, Stuart Dallas was terrible against Coleman’s men from the right-back slot and it would not be wise to play the winger out of his natural position yet again. With Berardi out of the upcoming fixture, Tyler Denton might get the nod to start from the right-back. Meanwhile, Vurnon Anita could be seen operating from the left-back position.
Paudie O’Connor engineered a commendable debut against the Black Cats and he had done enough to bag yet another start. He is seemingly likely to be pencilled alongside Pontus Jansson at the heart of the back line of the Yorkshire based outfit.
Midfield
Ronaldo Vieira was more than decent in the weekend fixture and he deserves to be one of the first names in Heckingbottom’s starting line-up. Heckingbottom is still sweating over the fitness of Eunan O’Kane which implies that Kalvin Phillips might get the nod to start once again.
Meanwhile, Samuel Saiz is anticipated to ply his trade as the central attacking midfielder. He has to present himself as the main creative engine of the Peacocks and he has to keep trying to manoeuvre those killer passes to help his side in their pursuits.
Attack
Pablo Hernandez found the back of the net against Sunderland, which took his tally to 7 goals in the Championship this season. Besides, he has also collected 8 assists and has been one of the best players of Leeds United this season.
Hernandez is seemingly likely to operate from the left-wing, with Ezgjan Alioski set to start from the right-wing. Meanwhile, Caleb Ekuban should is expected to replace Pierre-Michel Lasogga up top after the latter flattered to deceive against Sunderland.
