Predicted Leeds starting XI v Fulham
Leeds United will be looking to put the London curse behind them when they travel to Craven Cottage on Friday night.
Incredibly, Leeds haven’t won in the capital since December 2017 but this represents a big opportunity to put it behind them.
It won’t be easy. Fulham are in good form and battling for their lives.
And Leeds have issues, with Patrick Bamford a doubt for the game after limping off against Chelsea on Saturday.
We’re assuming the worst and that Bamford will miss the game, along with Liam Cooper who was ruled out of the Chelsea game through illness.
There were Covid-related rumours about Cooper before he was ruled out and if true he would be out until after the international break.
The loss of Bamford would be a major setback but the international break will give him ample time to recover for the season run-in.
Tyler Roberts put in a man-of-the-match performance in the game against Chelsea and he’s said that he wants to play as a striker for Leeds.
This game will give him a chance to stake his claim for the back-up striker spot, with Rodrigo coming in and playing the no.10 position.
It would be a huge call for Bielsa, with Rodrigo playing as a striker for Spain. We don’t think Bielsa sees him as a number nine, though.
Pascal Struijk and Diego Llorente will play as the two centre-backs with Robin Koch likely to be on the bench again.
This is the side that we expect Bielsa to put out on Friday and, even without Bamford, we think we’ll have enough to explode the London curse.
In other Leeds United news, ‘Liability’ – BBC pundit slams Leeds ace who is ‘not the best’ despite battling 0-0 v Chelsea