Leeds United sit at the summit of the Championship table on 53 points from 26 games and are one of the favourites to earn automatic promotion to the Premier League. Daniel Farke is known for his consistency in selection and is not a fan of tinkering his team around too much. It is easy to predict nine or ten out of the eleven players the Leeds boss would field on any given day in the Championship. Certain players are almost undroppable and there is a real solid look to what they want to do on the pitch. However, it would be interesting to see whether the numbers back Farke’s trust in his players this season.
The Whites have 22 more games to negotiate in their pursuit of promotion to the top flight and the club are desperate to get back to the Premier League after last season’s heartache.
Leeds have the option of adding new players to their squad this month but Daniel Farke is likely to stick with what he has got and trust the current squad to get the job done.
Farke made several changes to the team in their 1-0 FA Cup win over Harrogate Town on Saturday evening but all the big guns will be back in the starting eleven on Sunday when Sheffield Wednesday come to Elland Road in the Championship.
Apart from a spot or two, one could easily predict the team that will take the pitch in the Yorkshire derby and that is down to the Leeds boss’ penchant for consistency in selection.
It remains to be seen whether overall stats for the season agree with the starting eleven Farke is likely to field on Sunday in the big Championship clash.
No surprises in the Leeds United defence except a change in goalkeeper
Some of the players pick themselves as they have clearly been the best players in their positions for Leeds and even in the Championship this season.
There is no argument against Jayden Bogle starting as the right-back in the team as Leeds do not have another player of his quality and he is the best right-back in the Championship as well.
A fit Junior Firpo will start ahead of any other option as left-back in the Leeds team despite some impressive performances from Sam Byram and Max Wober.
Joe Rodon and Pascal Struijk have been the best centre-backs in the squad based on numbers and performances on the pitch. There is no doubt that the duo will start in any best Leeds eleven this season.
The goalkeeper’s spot in the team is a conundrum as while Karl Darlow has the better numbers, it is hard to judge them as he has played just twice. However, given their current form, the Welshman will start over Illan Meslier who is under fire following a disappointing game at Hull City.
A big name goes missing from the midfield
Leeds United captain Ethan Ampadu will not make the starting eleven if we just go by cold numbers. It is a bit unfair as he missed a chunk of the season due to an injury but he would have to be content with a place on the bench.
Ao Tanaka’s staggering numbers get him a place in one of the two midfield spots in the team. He broke into the starting eleven in October and is the only player in four tiers of English football since then to complete more than 1000 passes and 50 tackles.
Joe Rothwell and Ilia Gruev are competing for the other spot in the team. While Rothwell just shades Gruev when it comes to passing, the Hungarian makes the cut because of his ability to be more progressive with his passes.
Brenden Aaronson’s stats in the number 10 role are not stunning but no other player has been tried out in that role so he gets into the team by default.
Joel Piroe is by far the highest goalscorer in the league for Leeds by some distance and gets into the team as the number 9.
Wilfried Gnonto got dropped from the team because of his dwindling performances and Manor Solomon has performed better than him in terms of impact and chance creation.
The Israeli stars as the left-winger and Dan James has been the stand-out right-winger in the squad this season despite other options in the squad.
The Leeds Eleven: Darlow, Bogle, Rodon, Struijk, Firpo, Gruev, Tanaka, Aaronson, Solomon, James, Piroe
