View: Predicted Leeds United XI v Brighton – Costa out, Raphinha in
Leeds United fans are daring to dream about an improbable finish in the top seven.
With a run of super-tough fixtures out of the way, the run-in gets easier now starting with a visit to Brighton on Saturday.
They’re still fighting relegation despite calling us direct rivals over the summer when they refused to do business with us over Ben White.
There are still some fans who hope they get relegated and are forced to sell White to us in the summer, but that ship may well have sailed.
Leeds are ninth at the moment and a win won’t take us any higher but it could cut the gap to Everton in eighth to just two points.
And we think that Leeds are going to be buoyed by the return of Raphinha.
The winger has been out since a shocking tackle by Fernandinho in the 2-1 win against Man City.
However, he wasn’t categorically ruled out of the game against Man United until late on and we think he will have recovered in time for Saturday’s game.
That will see 27-year-old Helder Costa dropping out despite Jack Harrison putting in a bit of a stinker against Man United.
Meanwhile, Rodrigo will miss out with his injury seemingly worse.
The rest of the team will stay the same with Patrick Bamford looking to rediscover his scoring boots after blanking in the last four.
Robin Koch may come in with Liam Cooper suspended but it would be hugely unfair on Pascal Struijk and we don’t think Bielsa will do it.
This is the starting XI we expect Marcelo Bielsa to put out on Saturday…
In other Leeds United news, Dermot Gallagher delivers definitive verdict on controversial Leeds incident in 0-0 v Man Utd