MOT View: 3 key players out, Bielsa to axe 21y/o in major change – Predicted Leeds XI v Palace
Leeds United play Crystal Palace on Saturday and will be looking to get their season back on track after a blip against Leicester.
There are injury problems and a case of Covid-19 to deal with.
Kalvin Phillips is expected to miss the game, along with Diego Llorente, while Rodrigo has tested positive for Coronavirus and will be watching the game from self-isolation. The bad news for him is that he’ll have to pay £14.95 to watch the game on pay-per-view.
With Llorente out, it means Robin Koch will start at centre-back, and we think Marcelo Bielsa will continue his game of “In out, shake it all about” by bringing Pascal Struijk back into the starting XI.
That means 21-year-old Jamie Shackleton will be dropped to the bench after getting hauled off at half-time against Leicester.
Pablo Hernandez should start again with Rodrigo out.
The rest of the side should pick itself.
Illan Meslier, Stuart Dallas, Robin Koch, Liam Cooper and Luke Ayling will be the men tasked to keep Wilfried Zaha quiet.
Jack Harrison and Helder Costa will play on the wings, despite a big shout from some fans for Ian Poveda to get a start. He’s the first choice of impact sub from Bielsa at the moment and we don’t think that’s going to change.
Mateusz Klich can move back into the more advanced role where he’s most comfortable and Patrick Bamford can try and get the pundits back onside after a misfiring display at Elland Road on Monday.
In other Leeds United news, ‘We are having discussions’ – Radrizzani in Leeds talks after £300m claim