Four senior Leeds United players ruled out v Manchester City after fresh blow
Sam Allardyce has provided a Leeds United team news update ahead of the Whites’ Premier League clash against Manchester City on Saturday.
Liam Cooper is the latest player to be ruled out after being substituted during the first half of the Premier League defeat against Bournemouth (Phil Hay, Twitter, 5 May).
The Scot joins Stuart Dallas, Luis Sinisterra and Tyler Adams in the treatment room at Thorp Arch. The rest of Allardyce’s squad is available.
New era
A new era begins for the third time in the 2022/23 season for Leeds United. Allardyce is the man to pull Leeds out of this mess. How he does that remains to be seen. Defence is where the issues lie, that’s abundantly clear. West Ham laid down a good blueprint on Wednesday evening and it’s something the Whites must try and replicate.
In fact, Leeds have pace on the counterattack which is vital. They can sit deep, absorb pressure and look to move the ball forward fast. Willy Gnonto and Crysencio Summerville could prove troublesome for Guardiola’s side and Leeds must look to find them at every opportunity.
Allardyce’s appointment doesn’t feel like a gamble. Javi Gracia was taking the club down. The players were disinterested. The former West Brom boss won’t allow a lack of effort. Stranger things have happened in the Premier League but the trip to the Etihad is about as daunting as it gets.
In other Leeds United news, see who our exclusive pundit would like to start against Manchester City.