Farke backed to name shock Leeds XI v Plymouth with controversial star in
Daniel Farke remains in the hunt to win the Championship title despite speculation surrounding his future as the Leeds United manager.
The Whites will compete in their final game of the season, and their last in the Championship for at least a year, when they make the trip to face Plymouth Argyle on Saturday, 3 May.
The Yorkshire giants have already confirmed their promotion to the Premier League and are just three points away from potentially winning the league.
Leeds and Burnley are locked on 97 points, but the superior goal difference that Leeds boasts makes it almost impossible for the Clarets to catch as long as they win.
That’s exactly what Farke’s squad will be attempting to do, with Ethan Ampadu having made it clear that they want to win the title to wrap up the season.
Daniel Farke should start Illan Meslier
Farke might look to hand some opportunities to fringe members of the squad against Plymouth, and that should include a rare start for controversial goalkeeper Illan Meslier.
The 25-year-old spent the majority of this season as the first-choice goalkeeper for Leeds, but due to a buildup of costly mistakes, he ended up being dropped for the past six games.
That period has guaranteed Leeds’ promotion and has seen the team concede just a single goal, but Meslier deserves an opportunity to start.
| Leeds | Games | Goals conceded | Clean sheets |
| Meslier | 39 | 27 | 21 |
Plymouth are already relegated and pose a low risk to them, while Meslier is set to leave Leeds at the end of the season, meaning this would be his final chance to play for the club.
While he might have been contentious at times, he has brought plenty of brilliant performances since joining them in 2020, and having the chance to thank the fans would be a classy move.
Farke might be joining Meslier at the exit door
While it’s widely expected that Meslier will be moving on from Elland Road this summer, there is a chance that Farke could be following him out of the exit door.
In what would be a surprising and controversial move, Leeds’ owners are considering sacking Farke at the end of this season, despite the success he’s brought the Whites during his time in charge.
Sacking a manager who has gained a team promotion is incredibly rare in football across the entire world, but Leeds are contemplating that call due to Farke’s Premier League record.
The Leeds boss has struggled during his previous experiences in the top flight, and there’s a chance that the Yorkshire giants don’t put their faith in him to keep them up and cut ties before the end of the season.