By Pranav Shahaney

29th Oct, 2022 | 4:00pm

Phil Hay predicts if Junior Firpo will start over Pascal Struijk for Leeds United v Liverpool

Phil Hay does not see Junior Firpo coming back into the Leeds United XI when they take on Liverpool in the Premier League.

The Athletic journalist expects the American to play Pascal Struijk as he would offer more defensive solidity against Mo Salah.

Hay responded to a Leeds fan who was fearing Firpo being asked to defend 1v1s against one of the best attackers in Europe.

Hay said on his Q&A, “I’d assume he’ll play Struijk there.”

Good move

Playing Firpo makes absolutely no sense in a game that Leeds are expected to spend more time without the ball than with it.

If they were playing a weaker team and could take the game to them, Firpo would be a good option going forward as he offers that attacking threat.

He can cross the ball well and also make overlapping runs beyond whoever plays on the left flank.

But against Salah, his defensive frailties would be shown to the entire world and the Egyptian would absolutely destroy him.

Marsch knows that he’s got to get his team selection spot on and go for damage limitation here as a big defeat could see the board make their minds up.

If they can sack Marcelo Bielsa, the American has nowhere near enough credit in the bank as the Argentine and if he was not untouchable then nobody at the club is.

In other Leeds United news, a Sky Sports pundit has delivered Jesse Marsch’s “sack” verdict after what he heard this month.