Leeds United host Brentford under the Elland Road lights tomorrow night, with the aim of getting maximum points on Daniel Farke’s mind.
United’s last eight games of the season present Daniel Farke and his side with a golden opportunity to stay in the division.
Of those eight, four are on home turf. Included are Keith Andrews’ Brentford, who come to Elland Road off the back of a 2-2 home draw with Wolves on Monday.
Leeds United team news pre-Brentford: Huge Noah Okafor boost confirmed, Gabriel Gudmundsson banned
In terms of fitness updates from Farke’s pre-match press conference on Thursday, he confirmed the one major boost on Noah Okafor.
The Swiss winger has been absent since our FA Cup win over Birmingham City with a hamstring issue. However, Farke confirmed he is fit to face the Bees this Saturday after returning to team training.
Elsewhere, Gabriel Gudmundsson sits out with a one-match suspension after his baffling red card against Crystal Palace.
Here, I predict the lineup Farke will name as Leeds take on Brentford…
Goalkeeper: Karl Darlow
A clean sheet on the road will have been a huge confidence booster for Karl Darlow between the sticks. But, the 35-year-old didn’t really have to work for it.
Palace didn’t register a single shot on target. His only registered save was a wayward Jean-Philippe Mateta ricochet that was heading wide, while his palmed save for Palace’s disallowed goal doesn’t go onto the stat sheet.
Back at home, a lot will be made of Darlow’s distribution to put Lees on the front foot. He’ll have to be wary of Michael Kayode’s truly freakish long throws, though.
Defence: Joe Rodon, Jaka Bijol, Pascal Struijk
In the middle, Jaka Bijol holds down the fort. I didn’t necessarily agree with Troy Deeney naming him in the Team of the Week over others in our defence from Palace away. However, it underlines his importance that even a shaky Bijol first-half performance can be soon forgotten by an imperious second half.
Bijol starts between Joe Rodon and Pascal Struijk. All three were superb when we went down to 10 last time out, but I expect them to be put under more pressure by Brentford’s varied attack than Palace’s limp effort.
Their aerial strength needs matching. But, these three in defence have been superb in the air and could show their mettle in the final third too if Leeds make good on set pieces.
Midfield: Jayden Bogle, Anton Stach, Ethan Ampadu, James Justin
The enforced change comes at left-wing-back. James Justin moves over from the right to the left side of the setup. Gudmundsson’s absence is hard to respond to without another natural left-footer, but Justin has been terrific wherever he’s asked to play.
That means Jayden Bogle rightly comes back into the lineup on the right. I found it odd Farke dropped him to the bench last time out, but his absence from the side wasn’t ever going to be long.
In central midfield, Germany’s Anton Stach will be looking to justify Julian Nagelsmann swallowing his words with another strong performance. Remember when the Germany boss said he was poor in the air, in duels, and was better playing in the middle of a back three? What a honking shout.
Next to him is Leeds’ imperious skipper, Ethan Ampadu. I worried I’d jinxed him when I made a TikTok saying he would walk into two thirds of Premier League teams, only to drop two shockers against Man City and Sunderland. To me, he was the best on the pitch against Palace. He was back to his best destroying attacks and keeping things tidy.
Attack: Brenden Aaronson, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Noah Okafor
England’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin. It has a great ring to it, and it’s so thoroughly deserved after a brilliant season at Leeds so far.
That penalty miss will already be behind him. And, I’m hoping he feeds off what should be a very encouraging atmosphere inside Elland Road. A goal would shake that issue right away and would send his confidence sky high.
Either side of the Three Lions star, I’m hoping Noah Okafor returns to the starting lineup. It would finally give us more bite on the left wing. Many seem to dismiss the £18million signing as a crucial player, but it’s no coincidence we’ve looked stagnant in attack during his time on the sidelines.
On the right, I’m expecting Brenden Aaronson to keep his place. He needs to recapture that brilliant form either side of Christmas to help ease the burden on our other forwards.
Full Leeds United predicted XI to face Brentford
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