Daniel Farke reveals new Leeds plan to deal with Joe Rodon absence vs Liverpool
Daniel Farke will be without stalwart central defender Joe Rodon as Leeds United face Liverpool at Anfield on New Year’s Day.
Rodon is expected to miss Leeds’ next three Premier League fixtures, as well as their FA Cup clash against Derby on 11 January, after picking up an ankle injury.
The 28-year-old hobbled off in the first half of the 1-1 draw with Sunderland following two separate blows to his right leg.
Before his substitution at the Stadium of Light, Rodon had played every single Premier League minute this season for the Whites, so Farke needs a new plan to deal with the Welshman’s absence.
Daniel Farke names three players who can replace Joe Rodon
Rodon has been an ever-present for Farke, not just this season in the Premier League, but for the entirety of the German’s time at Elland Road.
The back three of Rodon, Jaka Bijol, and Pascal Struijk had developed into something of a force in recent weeks, but Leeds will now be forced to come up with a new plan.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference ahead of the trip to Liverpool, Farke named James Justin, Sebastiaan Fornauw, and Sam Byram as potential options to come in at centre-half.
The Leeds boss also highlighted the flexibility his side has, with the ability to play in a back four and a back five.
Farke said: “We are flexible. We can play a three-man formation (five at the back), we can play a four-man formation (four at the back). It’s good that we have different options.”
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James Justin most likely to start for Leeds
Out of the three names that Farke mentioned, Justin is the most likely to start in a back three for Leeds.
The former Leicester City man has featured for 160 minutes in the Premier League so far this season, and neither Byram nor Fornauw have accumalated more than 10.
Justin has experience playing on the right-hand side of a back three at Leicester and would be the obvious candidate to replace Rodon if Farke decides to stick with his 5-3-2 formation.
However, there is a very real possibility that the German boss opts to switch system, packing the midfield and leaving Bijol and Struijk in a central defensive partnership.
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