Adam Forshaw to drop out in three changes – Predicted Leeds United XI v Crystal Palace
Leeds United will be desperate to return to winning ways when they welcome Crystal Palace to Elland Road on Tuesday night.
Saturday’s 0-0 draw at Brighton means the Whites are winless in their last three games stretching back to October 31 [2-1 at Norwich City], and Marcelo Bielsa’s side currently hover precariously above the Premier League relegation zone in 17th.
Bielsa wasn’t shy in ringing the changes on the weekend as he made a double substitution at half-time, and he could be set to shuffle his pack ahead of the Eagles’s trip to West Yorkshire.
Illan Meslier will keep his place in goal as he eyes up consecutive clean sheets, but there could be some significant changes in defence.
Diego Llorente started Saturday at right-back but he should return to his more natural centre-back position alongside Liam Cooper.
There could be two fresh faces at full-back with Pascal Struijk and Jamie Shackleton introduced.
The duo were half-time arrivals at AMEX Stadium and will hope to have done enough to start against Patrick Vieira’s side.
Struijk should replace Junior Firpo at left-back after the Spaniard’s torrid display against Brighton while Shackleton could start at right-back.
Indeed, he could even be used in midfield with Stuart Dallas deployed at right-back.
But the Northern Ireland international may be more likely to play in the middle of midfield alongside Mateusz Klich, who sat out the entirety of Saturday’s game.
The Polish enforcer could come in to ease the burden on Adam Forshaw who played the full 90-plus minutes at Brighton.
That was the 30-year-old’s first completed game since his lengthy injury lay-off, and his third start in a row.
With just two days break between the fixtures, Bielsa may opt to rest him from the start with another big game against Brentford on Sunday.
Klich and Dallas should be fielded just in front of Kalvin Phillips, who was subbed off at half-time on Saturday after starting at centre-back again.
Raphinha, Rodrigo and Dan James are likely to be the attacking trio against Palace and that means no place for Jack Harrison.
Here’s how we expect the Whites to line up at Elland Road tomorrow night, with two of ftheir 11 most expensive signings [Transfermarkt] making way in three changes…
In other Leeds United news, the Whites are plotting a January move for this Spanish centre-forward as Bielsa ‘Demands’ signing.