Academy success returns
Despite leaving Leeds United more than six years ago, Lewis Cook is only now about to make his Elland Road return. The 25-year-old was playing in the top flight with Bournemouth while his first club plugged away in the Championship until they traded places in 2020.
Cook, who was capped by England in 2018, remains one of the best players to graduate from the club’s academy in recent years. Now 25, Cook was sold by Massimo Cellino to the Cherries for an initial £6m at 19-years-old.
This will be Cook’s first appearance at Elland Road since playing for the Whites on April 30, 2016 in a 2-1 defeat to Charlton Athletic.
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Summerville to kick on again?
With Luis Sinisterra injured, Jesse Marsch is expected to name an unchanged line-up at Elland Road, seven days after that memorable Liverpool win. That should mean Crysencio Summerville gets another chance to shine from the start.
While the winner has taken all of the headlines, Summerville did not have a particularly good first half at Anfield. Marsch has not been shy in laying down the gauntlet for the winger this week and all eyes will be on whether he can kick on again with a 90-minute display against Bournemouth.
Gnonto to get another chance?
Had Summerville not stolen the headlines, Wilfried Gnonto was shaping up to be one of the stories of the night on Merseyside. The Italian teenager has been called upon to play by the supporters since his arrival and subsequent international starts, but Marsch only relented for the first time on Saturday.
Gnonto impressed from the bench and did not show any of the nervousness or errors you might normally expect from an 18-year-old debutant. If he’s not quite ready to start, Marsch has to be minded to use him from the bench this afternoon.
Break down the deep block?
It’s irrefutable United’s best performances this season have come against ambitious opponents keen to play with a high line and take risks. Wins were deserved against Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool, but Leeds have flattered to deceive when they are met with negative, deep-lying, time-wasting opposition.
Marsch and Leeds know one win over Liverpool offers short-term respite, but does not take them out of the rut they have been in. They need meaningful improvement in the matches they should be winning.
Sign off from home in style with overdue back-to-back wins?
Leeds have not won consecutive league matches since mid-March after their dramatic double-header with Norwich City and Wolverhampton Wanderers. In fact, United only achieved back-to-back wins on two occasions all season in 2021/22.
That statistic sums up just how bereft of hope and momentum Leeds fans have been since the start of last term. Signing off from Elland Road for the last time until December 28 with a win would be the ideal parting gift.
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