Leeds United quite simply must beat Sunday’s visitors Tottenham Hotspur to stand any chance whatsoever of staying up – and this is how we think the Whites will line up.
Leeds approached last weekend’s hosting of West Ham with their survival destiny back in their own hands and knowing that two wins from their final two games would secure their Premier League status. Leeds, though, limped to a 3-1 defeat against the Irons and also lost striker Patrick Bamford to injury midway through the first half. Rodrigo subsequently went upfront but was then suffering with a foot problem (plantar fascia) through which he soldiered on to complete the duration of the game.
Whites boss Sam Allardyce had made two changes to his team for the contest as Pascal Struijk replaced the suspended Junior Firpo at left back and Adam Forshaw came in for Sam Greenwood in midfield. Willy Gnonto was then sent on to replace the injured Bamford.
Firpo is now back from suspension but there are obvious doubts about Bamford and Rodrigo and this is the XI that we think will start out for the must-win clash against Spurs.
Spurs.
1. GK – Joel Robles
Allardyce brought in the experienced Spaniard straight away to replace a struggling Illan Meslier in goal and Robles looks all set to stay between the sticks for Sunday’s Spurs visit. Photo: Alex Livesey
2. RB – Luke Ayling
Chief alternative Rasmus Kristensen is being deployed as a centre-back by Allardyce so Ayling looks an automatic pick at right back unless the Whites boss suddenly switches things up which is not impossible, much depending on Liam Cooper’s condition.
3. CB – Rasmus Kristensen
Captain Liam Cooper returned from a recent glute issue to make the bench at West Ham but stayed there as an unused sub. It wouldn’t be the biggest surprise in the world if Cooper now came back into a struggling defence but Allardyce has gone with Kristensen as a centre-back for all three games in charge so the percentage call is that he will stay there, especially with Cooper having not played a single minute since the 4-1 loss at Bournemouth.
4. CB – Max Wober
Wober is also an option at left back but the Austrian looks fairly sure to stay at the heart of the defence.
5. LB – Junior Firpo
Firpo is back available after serving the one-match ban for his sending off in the closing stages against Newcastle and appears likely to come back into the side as a more natural left back option to main alternative Pascal Struijk. The first change, in for Struijk.
6. CM – Robin Koch
There is the option for Allardyce to move Koch back into defence but the German has been deployed as a centre-midfielder under the new Whites boss and that may well continue.
7. CM – Adam Forshaw
Forshaw came back into the side at West Ham and had only come out of it due to Allardyce being careful with the midfielder upon his recent return from a hip issue. Forshaw lasted 62 minutes against the Irons and would seem likely to start once more.
8. CM – Weston McKennie
Marc Roca and/or Sam Greenwood are centre midfield alternatives but McKennie has been virtually ever present under Allardyce, only making way for Greenwood with six minutes left at West Ham. Same again very likely.
9. RW – Willy Gnonto
Allardyce looked to Gnonto when forced to make an attacking change upon Bamford’s injury at West Ham and the Italian international teenager is surely now an obvious call to come back into the side although Leeds could do with him recapturing his Autumn brilliance. A second change, in for Bamford if Bamford is ruled out.
10. LW – Jack Harrison
Harrison continued his run of starts at West Ham but was hooked in the 62nd minute as both Crysencio Summerville and Brenden Aaronson were introduced with Forshaw also making way. Summerville and Aaronson are now options to start but none of United’s subs offered much at West Ham and Harrison would seem a likely a starter once more.
11. ST – Rodrigo
Bamford has been Allardyce’s choice as a lone centre-forward supported by two men either side but the Whites no 9 was forced off with a hamstring injury at West Ham which usually require a bit of time. Rodrigo, though, was still able to come through the full match despite struggling with a plantar fascia problem and the hope would be that the top scorer can come through one final push. If not, Leeds really are struggling for options if Georginio Rutter is not deemed the answer and clearly not upon being an unused sub at West Ham. Gnonto or Summerville up front or possibly Harrison or Aaronson as 9s are probably the next options unless Allardyce starts looking at the 23s and options such as Mateo Joseph and Sonny Perkins.
