Javi Gracia won’t use last weekend’s heavy defeat as an excuse to make wholesale changes to his Leeds United side to face Liverpool on Monday night. Leeds collapsed in alarming fashion at Elland Road last Sunday, losing 5-1 against Crystal Palace, despite leading for a large chunk of the first half.
It was one of United’s lowest moments of the season and it left them sitting just two points above the Premier League relegation zone with eight games remaining. As such, Gracia has had the unenviable task of trying to pick his squad up emotionally at Thorp Arch this week while preparing them for the visit of Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool.
There is an expectation that Gracia will make alterations to his starting line-up on Monday and it seems some of those could be forced with the head coach revealing in his pre-match press conference that players have missed training due to issues this week. He didn’t go as far as to mention names, but he will be checking in with his fitness staff in the coming days.
Read more: Every word Javi Gracia said on Leeds United Thorp Arch progress, Wober, injuries, Liverpool, changes
When it comes to finalising his selection, though, the Spaniard insists he will consider more than just his players’ performances during the second half of Sunday’s clash with Palace.
“Before we choose the players for the next game or before we prepare the plan, I always try to evaluate all my players, all the games, all the training sessions and after I decide,” he said when asked about the possibility of wholesale changes. “In this case, it will not be different.
“Not because we are coming from this defeat or maybe we are coming from a good result but I always try to choose, I did changes coming after a good result as well, it doesn't depend on the last result.”
Gracia still has a couple of days to mull things over and performances at Thorp Arch over the weekend could have a big say on his thought process. It’s been a tough week of training for the Whites, reliving Sunday’s calamities and attempting to learn from them before turning to their attentions to Liverpool.
The Spaniard believes such a process was a necessary one and he’s been pleased with the reaction he has seen.
“What I can tell you is all of them have done hard work this week,” Gracia added. “Trying to pay attention to the details, the little details because after all these things make the difference and change a game like we suffer against Palace.
“They work very well this week. I'm sure they learn from our mistakes.”
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