Leeds United are off to a rollicking start as they have gone past a solid Stoke City side smoothly in their first encounter of the season. They will be tested again as they will head to Pride Park to take on Derby County, managed by a relatively inexperienced Frank Lampard. On the other end of the spectrum would be Marcelo Bielsa, who took his first managerial role when his counterpart Lampard was just 12.
Regarding experience, the former Chelsea midfielder will be no match for the veteran manager, but a manager can do only that much, as it’s the players who have to go on the pitch and execute their gaffers plans. Execute they did in the first game, as the Whites movement up and down the field was refreshing to see against the much fancied Stoke City.
Bielsa didn’t opt for his famous 3-3-1-3 but instead went for a more modern 4-3-3 formation. The front three and midfielder’s movement were too tough to handle for the Potters, and and the same can be expected this weekend as well.
Bielsa was asked about the lineup in the press conference, and he said,”If everything goes well it will be the same team.” So there will be minimal changes, if any, in this game. If the Whites manage to pull off this victory away from home, one can certainly say that the Whites have indeed arrived and it will confirm that the win against Stoke wasn’t just a flash in the pan.
Team news
Stuart Dallas has been ruled out due to injury. Swedish centre-back Pontus Jansson is making good progress in terms of gaining full fitness. Bielsa recently said,”He is improving every day. He’s getting closer to his best fitness condition. It’s a possibility for him to play right centre-back or left centre-back.” Apart from the Dallas injury, there are no concerns for the manager.
Formation (4-3-3)
Defence
Bailey Peacock Farrell looked assured between the sticks, though he wasn’t tested that much against the Potters. We expect him to start in goal. The centre-back pairing is where we might see the only change this weekend as fullback Gaetano Berardi was filling in the centre back role. He looked shaky, to begin with, but later went on to improve as the match progressed. It can be touch and go with Jansson, but we are going in with him as the Swede is the best centre-half the Whites have currently. Liam Cooper put in a right shift last time around, and he should partner the Swedish international.
Luke Ayling will play in his usual right-back role, and new signing Barry Douglas would be expected to continue the excellent work from the left. It will be a busy evening for the fullback as he would be up against the incredibly talented Harry Wilson.
Midfield
Kalvin Phillips’ job will be to keep his defence watertight, and he will sit back and shield them. Mateusz Klich was one of the stand out performers from the last game as he worked like a maniac in midfield. He got his reward too as he scored the season’s opener. Samuel Saiz put in a decent shift and Bielsa would expect more of the same from him.
Attack
Ezgjan Alioski would play in the left wing role, and the Macedonian did a decent job down the left flank where he combined well with Barry Douglas. The experienced Pablo Hernandez will start down the right. Kemar Roofe did well up front in the first game, and that would mean that Patrick Bamford would have to wait for his first start of the season.
