Is Meslier retained?
The Leeds United agenda has been dominated by chatter about Illan Meslier’s performance between the sticks. The last 11 goals conceded, from the last 11 shots on target faced, has taken the tally to a league-high 60 and that has led fingers to point at the Frenchman.
Javi Gracia was fairly effusive in his backing of the 23-year-old in his pre-match press conference, but there will be intrigue in whether the goalkeeper is dropped out of the blue this afternoon.
Defensive changes?
Max Wober is the name many people want to see make the cut and get his chance from the start this lunchtime. The defence has been run ragged in recent games and the Austrian’s stock has only soared in his absence.
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The bigger question might be who makes way for him. Pascal Struijk or Junior Firpo seems to be the toss-up Gracia must get right. Meanwhile, Liam Cooper’s own designs on a return to the starting line-up will also play their part in how Wober is accommodated on that left side.
Forshaw to get his chance?
Gracia made a point of stressing Adam Forshaw is ready in his pre-match press conference, but could this be his chance to return to the starting line-up? There is a lot on the line for the Whites, but Weston McKennie and Marc Roca have not performed well as a double pivot in the last two games.
With Tyler Adams injured, Gracia’s options are limited in the middle. Sam Greenwood and Darko Gyabi are leftfield picks, but Forshaw at least has the experience, if not sharpness, to keep his head above water.
A system switch?
The one clue we do have on what Gracia could do this afternoon comes from the February FA Cup visit to Fulham in his second match at the helm. A 4-3-3 was used on that night in what were evidently different circumstances.
The personnel will be different today, but the hosts are still likely to go for a 4-2-3-1 formation, so will Gracia repeat his cup plan? The aforementioned Adams is out, but Jack Harrison could well be shuffled into a midfield three as he was, with some success, at Arsenal three weeks ago.
A response and an edge off the week ahead?
It had been hoped the response would come in the Liverpool game, but it’s proved the response needed is now even bigger off the back of an 11-2 aggregate hiding. Fulham, six points clear of 12th and five points behind eighth, have won one of their last six matches and should, in theory, be heading for the beach.
It’s never that simple when it comes to the Whites, as we know, but this could be an opportunity for the visitors. A win, or even a point, would go a long way to taking the edge off the coming, monumental week Leeds have at their door.
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