Leeds United fans have urged Jesse Marsch to make four changes for tonight’s clash with Chelsea at Elland Road. Perhaps the most significant of those is handing midfielder Lewis Bate his first Premier League start against the club he left for Elland Road in the summer.
The Whites know that a result of any kind this evening is imperative after sliding into the bottom three over the weekend due to their 2-1 defeat at Arsenal. With Burnley not playing until the weekend, Leeds will move back out of the drop zone if they are able to avoid defeat against the European champions.
And after his positive second half cameo against Arsenal, Leeds fans have called for Bate to replace Mateusz Klich as just reward for his display. He would be joined by Kalvin Phillips and the returning Rodrigo Moreno in a midfield three, who started on the bench at the Emirates.
READ MORE: Marsch may make Leeds United rod for his own back while fans may see midfield future vs Chelsea
The other changes for the Whites come at the back, and to some extent it is a little surprising, with four centre backs making up the entirety of the defence. Fans would like to see an immediate return for Liam Cooper in place of the suspended Luke Ayling, which means Diego Llorente is the man tasked with playing right back.
Pascal Struijk, who came on in the first half as a result of Ayling’s red card, has been given the nod ahead of Junior Firpo. Raphinha, Jack Harrison and Joe Gelhardt – the man who was sacrificed on Sunday – start in attack.
Leeds fans’ XI (4-5-1): Meslier; Llorente, Koch, Cooper, Struijk; Phillips, Bate, Rodrigo, Raphinha, Harrison; Gelhardt
