Beren Cross
After two last-gasp wins in the Premier League, it’s hard to find too much wrong with Leeds United’s starting line-up. Luke Ayling remains one of those players you’d be happy to start, but Rasmus Kristensen is playing even better at right-back and I have no appetite for a back five.
The other players putting their hands in the air for a start are Wilfried Gnonto and Sam Greenwood, who each stood out in the comeback against Bournemouth last weekend. Jack Harrison’s struggled to make an impact in recent matches and would have been axed in my side this weekend anyway, but an injury doubt makes it a formality.
While Greenwood hit a beautiful goal and delivered a perfect corner for Liam Cooper last weekend, I preferred Gnonto’s dribbling, pace, acceleration, strength and vision in open play. That’s two matches now where the Italy international has had an impact from the bench.
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Crysencio Summerville comes back into the side, of course, as he looks for a fourth goal in as many matches, while Rodrigo is another going for that streak, somewhat under the radar. The last Leeds player to score in four games on the bounce was Ross McCormack in March 2014.
Beren’s XI: Meslier; Kristensen, Koch, Cooper, Struijk; Adams, Roca; Summerville, Aaronson, Gnonto; Rodrigo.
Will Jackson
Jesse Marsch rang the changes on Wednesday night and a number of fringe players stepped into the side and did well. However, I would still be making 11 changes this weekend for what is the club’s final outing before the World Cup gets underway.
Wilfried Gnonto was one of those to make the difference last time out in the Premier League against Bournemouth and, for me, he gets the nod over Jack Harrison. Harrison’s form has fallen off considerably since the start of the season and, despite his relatively promising display against Wolves in midweek, Gnonto deserves his shot in the starting XI.
The Italian replaced Harrison at half-time against the Cherries and I firmly believe his energy, direct play and confidence can cause Tottenham Hotspur problems on the break. Elsewhere, my team is unchanged from the one that beat Bournemouth.
Illan Meslier reclaims his spot in goal, while Rasmus Kristensen, Robin Koch, Liam Cooper and Pascal Struijk all get the nod at the back. Tyler Adams and Marc Roca start in the middle, while Crysencio Summerville picks up a third start in a row.
Summerville must be flying high in confidence right now and he’ll be aiming to stretch his scoring streak to four Premier League games in a row. I’d like to see Sam Greenwood have a role to play off the bench, just as he did against Gary O’Neil’s outfit, while Sonny Perkins, Mateo Joseph and Darko Gyabi must be pushing for a spot on the bench, too, following their debuts at Molineux.
Will’s XI: Meslier; Kristensen, Koch, Cooper, Struijk; Adams, Roca; Gnonto, Aaronson, Summerville; Rodrigo.
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