After a dicey brush with relegation, Leeds United are looking to kick this season off with a bang against Wolves at Elland Road.
The Whites start their campaign on Saturday, August 6, and with a raft of incoming transfers and injuries, predicting the Leeds United starting lineup is difficult. Weighing up the injuries and incomings, this is what Last Word on Football thinks Leeds’ lineup will look like.
Leeds United Predicted Starting Lineup
https://twitter.com/andrearadri/status/1553874431918964737
How Leeds United Have Lined Up Recently
The starting lineup at Elland Road has seen significant changes over the past few months. This is because Jesse Marsch has made his stamp on the side throughout the summer break. Introducing a new style of football, Marsch has a very clear tactical setup going into the first match of the season.
Every match in pre-season saw an identical tactical setup, with Leeds starting in a 4-2-3-1 shape. This comes with two holding midfielders and, whilst this formation usually includes two wingers, Marsch’s version primarily features inside forwards focusing on applying a press to the opposition, winning the ball high and getting an attack going as fast as possible.
Lineups have seen a mostly consistent side, with new signings Roca, Adams, Aaronson and Kristensen securing a place in the side alongside some of the Whites’ more familiar faces such as Patrick Bamford and Illan Meslier.
Leeds United Injuries to Consider
Whilst the injury toll of last season is behind the club, Leeds still has a selection of injuries to deal with. Utility player Stuart Dallas faces an extended period out of the side, with full-backs Junior Firpo and Luke Ayling also missing the start of the season as a result of ongoing injuries. Outside the full-back positions, new signing Luis Sinisterra is suffering from a hamstring injury whilst Dan James’ red card against Chelsea in the dying days of last season means that he remains suspended.
Not all of Leeds’ injury concerns are quite so certain. Adam Forshaw and Liam Cooper were expected in training this past week, and although they remain doubts, they may make the squad for the season opener at Elland Road.
Predicted Leeds Starting Lineup
Defence
Illan Meslier will likely be starting in between the posts. Despite conceding a raft of goals last season, Meslier put in a series of strong performances. The 22-year-old will look to start consistently throughout the season, add to his 83 league appearances for the Yorkshire club and put his name in contention for the French World Cup squad in December.
Pascal Struijk is expected to play at left-back, having appeared there in the pre-season match against Cagliari as a stop-gap solution to the missing Stuart Dallas and Junior Firpo. This leaves the club with two fit senior centre-backs, with Robin Koch and Diego Llorente seeking to start the season better defensively than last. New signing Rasmus Kristensen is expected to appear at right-back, with the Dane making bombing runs down the flank throughout pre-season.
Midfield
Throughout the pre-season, the back line has had protection from the duo of Tyler Adams and Marc Roca. The pair put impressive performances in throughout pre-season, so there is no reason for Marsch to stray from either his former Salzburg protege or his new Spanish playmaker.
Marsch has a lot of options behind the striker this season. With Sam Greenwood making a case in pre-season and Dan James waiting in the wings, the manager has a choice to make. Jack Harrison’s impeccable pre-season performances secure him a position in the side, with USMNT-international Brendan Aaronson joining his compatriot Tyler Adams in the side. Rodrigo is likely to appear on the right, playing as a wide 10 as Kristensen makes darting overlapping runs around the outside.
Attackers
The striker position this season is more difficult than the last, with Joe Gelhardt securing a new contract at the Yorkshire club. However, a fully fit Patrick Bamford is predicted to have a role in the side. Bamford’s limited appearances last season have harmed the certainty of this place in the team, but a brace against Cagliari proves that the England international is ready to make his case for a place on the plane in November. Gelhardt may not start, but an appearance from the bench is likely.
Leeds United vs Wolves Odds
Leeds United currently stand as favourites to win, with odds of 7/5. A Wolves win and a draw hold equal likelihood, with odds of 12/5 for both the sides staying level and a win for the Midlands side.
