MOT View: Duo dropped & Hernandez to start in two changes – Leeds predicted XI v West Brom
Marcelo Bielsa has not been a fan of making unforced changes to his team while in charge of Leeds United but with two games within 48 hours of each other could change that.
Leeds beat Burnley 1-0 at Elland Road on Sunday afternoon but take on West Brom at The Hawthorns on Tuesday evening in a 6pm kick-off.
With such a short turnaround in between games, we’re predicting that the Leeds manager will make two changes to his starting line-up for the trip to the West Midlands.
Ezgjan Alioski and Rodrigo could be the two players who are dropped with Leif Davis starting at left-back and Pablo Hernandez coming back into the midfield to replace fellow Spaniard Rodrigo.
We also expect Bielsa to stick with a system that utilises a back-three again with Kalvin Phillips playing in the defence as he did at Burnley to nullify Sean Dyche’s two strikers. West Brom have played with two up front in recent games so Biela could stick with a similar strategy that secured all three points versus the Clarets.
Illan Meslier is pretty much nailed on to start in goals with Luke Ayling and Pascal Struijk alongside Phillips in a back-three. According to LeedsLive, Diego Llorente will miss the match while Liam Cooper might not be back in time.
Stuart Dallas is predicted to start as the right-sided wing-back with Davis, 20, potentially earning his first Premier League on the opposite flank.
Mateusz Klich could partner Hernandez in the middle of the park with Raphinha out wide on the right and Jack Harrison on the left.
After scoring his ninth goal of the season in the win over Burnley, Patrick Bamford is bound to get the nod to start up front as the lone striker.
Bielsa loves consistency but he’s not had to face such a hectic turnaround in between matches like this while in charge at Elland Road.
Alioski’s form has not been the most amazing and Hernandez has looked sharp off the bench in his last few appearances so could be handed a start over Rodrigo.
In other Leeds United news, Stephen Warnock was wowed by this one player in the win against Burnley.