Leaders recalled?
We are three days short of the four-month anniversary of Kalvin Phillips and Liam Cooper’s last Leeds United appearances. Will Jesse Marsch finally end that long wait today?
After what feels like weeks of teased pictures at Thorp Arch and hopeful press conference comments before inclusions at Molineux which were never going to mean pitch time, they are finally ready for the best part of 90 minutes today. Neither has an easy route into the starting line-up because of fit and firing teammates, but one, and only one, of them could experience that magical Elland Road ovation once more from the start this afternoon.
Who gets the nod up top?
In the extended absence of Patrick Bamford this season, the debate and frustration around a suitable stand-in has raged on throughout the campaign. Rodrigo was always supposed to be the de facto number nine after his arrival from Valencia, but it’s hard to ignore his improvements as an attacking midfielder of late.
GO HERE: Rate Jesse Marsch's opening month in charge of Leeds United
Then there is the makeshift Daniel James option or the fans’ favourite Joe Gelhardt. The wildcard option is Sam Greenwood, who drew praise more than once from Marsch in his pre-match press conference for that turn from the bench at Molineux.
The former Arsenal youth scored on international duty this week too.
Premier League history?
While the drama of the late winners against Norwich City and Wolverhampton Wanderers were hard on the heart, they have put Leeds in a position to set a Premier League first. According to LUFCData, no club in the Premier League era has ever scored 90th-minute winners in three successive fixtures.
Bring on the last-minute rewrite. Again.
Marschenhuttl’s reunion
Marsch spoke at length about the special few weeks he spent with Ralph Hasenhuttl at RB Leipzig in the winter of the 2016/17 season while he was still New York Red Bulls boss. As sons of the Red Bull stable with many memories made with one another back in Germany, there is sure to be a warm welcome on the touchline as they reunite.
This will be the first time they have faced off against one another in opposing dugouts and after coming from similar footballing philosophies, the clash of styles is going to be interesting on the field.
Nosebleed territory
After what has felt like a lifetime in the bottom five and looking downwards with concern at the bottom three, a win in this 3pm kick-off would almost certainly send Leeds as high as 14th. Newcastle United do not play until tomorrow while Brentford are away at Chelsea in what looks like a mountain for them to climb at Stamford Bridge.
Psychologically, reaching lower mid-table after three straight wins would really feel like Leeds were putting survival within arm’s reach.
