Phillips, Bamford And Cooper To Miss Out | Predicted 4-1-4-1 Leeds United Lineup Vs Manchester City

After falling to a narrow defeat to Chelsea, Leeds United must soon get back to winning ways if they are to avoid getting sucked into the relegation scrap. But things won’t be made any easier as they take on Manchester City at the Etihad on Tuesday. The reigning English champions are in sublime form and will be keen on maintaining their run up against the Whites, who have won just one of their last six matches in the Premier League.

Predicted Leeds United Lineup Vs Manchester City

Defence

With captain Liam Cooper suffering a fresh injury, Marcelo Bielsa had to improvise on the weekend by deploying Luke Ayling at centre-back. With Robin Koch still yet to recover and Pascal Struijk not being fully fit, he may have to maintain a similar formula against Man City.

Ayling forming the central defensive partnership alongside Diego Llorente means the onus will be on Stuart Dallas to deputise for him in the right-back position.

Junior Firpo, on the other hand, remains a guaranteed starter in the left-back position. The former Barcelona man will be entrusted with the job of providing the attacking support from the left.

Illan Meslier is another guaranteed starter in the Leeds United defensive setup. The Frenchman is hoping for his first clean sheet in three matches, after conceding five in his last two.

Midfield

Due to the absence of injured Kalvin Phillips, Bielsa employed quite an unconventional midfield setup on the weekend, with Adam Forshaw playing alongside Jamie Shackleton in a situational double-pivot.

The Argentine may have no option but to continue with a similar system, as Forshaw continues to feature in the number six slot, just behind Shackleton, and the other attacking midfielder in Jack Harrison.

Attack

As for the attacking department, Patrick Bamford remains out with a hamstring problem he picked up against Brentford. The star striker wasn’t able to make the squad on the weekend and he is likely to miss out against Man City as well.

Bamford’s continued absence should see Tyler Roberts continue to spearhead the Leeds United attack, with additional assistance from the two dynamic wingers in Raphinha and Daniel James.

Bielsa has no shortage of alternatives, though, with Joe Gelhardt making a case for a start after scoring in the game against Chelsea.