November 26, 2024

Leeds United v Leicester City: Early team news and predicted XI ft Patrick Bamford dilemma.

Leeds have been in good form in 2024, winning all but one of their 11 games in all competitions, including eight consecutive league victories.

Their incredible record has helped them overtake Ipswich Town and Southampton in the fight for automatic promotion, and they are now second in the Championship standings.

The game against Leicester gives them the opportunity to put further pressure on those chasing them while also closing the distance to the table-toppers to just six points with 12 games remaining.

Although the Foxes have done well this season, they lost to Middlesbrough last weekend. Interestingly, Leicester has only lost two games in a row this season, and the latest one began with a loss to Boro before facing Leeds.

The Whites won 1-0 on that occasion and are aiming for a league double against Enzo Maresca. Leeds are unbeaten at Elland Road this season and have won 12 of their past 13 league games at home, underscoring the scale of the challenge for the visiting team.

Farke may be without crucial players like Sam Byram and Patrick Bamford, while Pascal Struijk and Stuart Dallas are long-term absentees. Bamford, however, is giving the most concern, having missed the warm-up ahead of a 4-0 victory over Swansea City. Prior to the calf ailment, the one-cap England international had been a frequent starter ahead of Joel Piroe.
Here’s a look at the starting lineup that Farke could field in quest of his eighth consecutive win. Could he make some changes after beating Plymouth Argyle last time out?
Meslier has been Farke’s go-to goalkeeper this season, appearing in nearly every Championship game, and should continue to do so if he stays fit.

He received a ban during the holidays, but has now returned to the pitch, and his recent clean sheets have propelled him to the top of the overall league rankings.

Djed Spence’s return to Spurs, Luke Ayling’s exit to Middlesbrough, and Sam Byram’s recent injury left Farke with little choices at right-back until Connor Roberts signed on deadline day.

However, Roberts is likely to be incorporated gradually and has just appeared on the bench thus far, so Gray should retain the right-back position ahead of the ex-Swansea man. However, it may not continue much longer, as Roberts is expected to make his full debut soon and eventually start games there on a regular basis.

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