For Sunday’s match against Portsmouth at Fratton Park, Daniel Farke has made one alteration to his Leeds United starting lineup.
Leeds, who were beaten to a 1-1 draw by West Brom at Elland Road on Saturday (1 March), will be eager to go back to winning ways when they play on March 9.
With Sheffield United’s 1-0 victory over Preston on Saturday, March 8, bringing them level on points with the Whites, Daniel Farke’s team must defeat John Mousinho’s team to regain their three-point advantage at the top of the table.
Farke and company must be playing at their best to win all three points since, despite being ranked 17th in the Championship, they have won 10 of their past 11 league games at home.
Farke’s only substitution for the game is Ilia Gruev, who will start alongside Ao Tanaka in lieu of Joe Rothwell.
The German tactician may have made a huge mistake with this one, and Leeds supporters will not be pleased if they lose to Portsmouth and lose all three points.
With 32 Championship appearances this season, Rothwell and Tanaka have established a strong alliance.
Farke benefited greatly from the midfield combination of the Japan international and the Bournemouth loanee during the season’s first half while Gruev and Ethan Ampadu were out.
It is needless to bench Rothwell after just one game, even though he was unable to assist the Whites in defeating West Brom in what was his first Championship start in four games.
Considering the entire lineup, Illan Meslier is still in goal as usual, with the back four consisting of Jayden Bogle, Joe Rodon, Pascal Struijk, and Junior Firpo, who scored the goal last Saturday.
Rothwell is benched and Ampadu is once again left out as Tanaka and Gruev play together as a double pivot in midfield.
Joel Piroe leads the line, while Brenden Aaronson is flanked by Dan James and Manor Solomon, so there are no surprises in the attack.
