Leeds United have now lost three games in a row, but they still maintain their top spot on the Championship table. They sit two points clear of Norwich City and more importantly four clear of the third spot. The Whites would host Derby County at Elland Road next, and the last time these two sides met, Bielsa’s team ran the show as they came out 4-1 winners.
A performance similar to that might delight the Leeds fans, but the Rams have come a long way since then and are on a good run of form as they defeated high flying Norwich City recently. Moreover, they faced teams like Southampton, Middlesbrough and Norwich City in their last three games and were undefeated. So a tough game is on the cards for United.
Team News
Liam Cooper is back on the pitch, and he recently played an u-23 game. He could be in the reckoning to start. Kalvin Phillips is set to miss out due to suspension after he was shown a red card in the new year’s Eve clash against Nottingham Forest. Patrick Bamford, Gaetano Berardi and Stuart Dallas are yet to recover from their injury.
Leeds United predicted lineup Vs Derby County
Formation (4-1-4-1)
Defence
Bailey Peacock Farrell is set to continue as the no. 1 in goal. The Whites could finally be back to their full strength defence after months, as someone or the other has missed out due to injury for quite some time. With Phillips serving his suspension, Liam Cooper couldn’t have chosen a better time to make a comeback, and we believe he is likely to start in defence along with Pontus Jansson.
Luke Ayling has slowly gone back to his best, and he is expected to start from the right. Barry Douglas should be in his usual left-back role.
Midfield
Adam Forshaw is likely to continue in the defensive midfield role even though he has gone a bit off the boil of late. Bielsa would hope that he can pick up his performance. Mateusz Klich had a much-deserved breather as he wasn’t involved in the FA cup game. He should start in midfield along with the experienced Pablo Hernandez.
Ezgjan Alioksi is likely to start from the right. Bielsa has been playing a weird cat and mouse game between who to start among Jack Clarke and Jack Harrison as both of them are getting to play one half each. Hopefully, Jack Clarke would start from the left.
Attack
Kemar Roofe is expected to lead the line for the Whites in this tie.
