Leeds United’s Sky Bet Championship campaign has started with spectacular victories against Stoke City (3-1) and Derby County (4-1), but eyes tonight turn to the Carabao Cup and Bolton Wanderers.
The Trotters come to Elland Road full in the knowledge that Leeds United will be considering this cup game as importantly as they do every league game. Marcelo Bielsa has a policy of ‘every game, every day’ and virtually gave his side away in the pre-match presser yesterday.
Bolton have made 10 changes to the side that played at the weekend, and Leeds United themselves have made eight changes to face the Lancashire side. What is impressive is, however, that Leeds’ selection is by no means a traditional ‘second XI’ or ‘midweek cup side’.
Leeds United players arrive at Elland Road
🚌 | The #LUFC players arrive ahead of tonight’s @Carabao_Cup tie pic.twitter.com/nF3lfu6VwQ
— Leeds United (@LUFC) August 14, 2018
Leeds United team news
📋 | Your #LUFC Starting XI presented by @Ladbrokes:
Blackman, Pearce, Jansson, Ayling (c), Shackleton, Baker, Phillips, Harrison, Saiz, Roberts, Bamford pic.twitter.com/qB2ggc56Aa
— Leeds United (@LUFC) August 14, 2018
For Leeds fans, they get the chance to see four of their five summer arrivals (Jamal Blackman, Lewis Baker, Jack Harrison and Patrick Bamford) make their starting debuts and on home ground too. Pontus Jansson also starts for his first involvement under Marcelo Bielsa. Youngsters Tom Pearce and Jamie Shackleton also get the chance to shine at Elland Road.
Despite playing on Sunday, Luke Ayling, Kalvin Phillips and Samu Saiz also start with Gaetano Berardi, Mateusz Klich, Gjanni Alioski and Kemar Roofe amongst the substitutes. The bench also sees a return for Conor Shaughnessy with Laurens De Bock also featuring despite only playing yesterday in the Under-23’s 2-1 win over Coventry city’s youngsters.
With such a strong line-up, featuring many of Sunday’s shining stars, Leeds United fans have been more than quick to pass comment over on Twitter. Here’s what some of them have to say:
Wrap Saiz up in cotton woll!!!
— LUFC Worldwide (@LUFC_WorldWide) August 14, 2018
That’s ur second squad pic.twitter.com/fjU15O86ap
— Ellis (@EllisTLUFC) August 14, 2018
I’m having that:BIELSABALL😂❤️!!!
— Mike Johnson (@MoojooMike) August 14, 2018
When everyone on Twitter moans how we’ve barely improved our squad or got depth, can anyone remember the hideous cup teams monk and Christiansen played, jeez that cup team looks strong
— Matthew Brewer (@mattbrew1992) August 14, 2018
👀👀👀👀 pic.twitter.com/LBzBSAdbEo
— Roy Lufc Woods 🇬🇧 (Dirty Leeds Scum) (@roywoods1) August 14, 2018
thats some team hahahahah announce the world cup lads
— i a n (@fallon199) August 14, 2018
Godamm even our reserve team is good
— Charlie Phillips (@charliechar) August 14, 2018
To say that’s 8 changes that’s still a decent starting 11… what a weird feeling it is being a Leeds fan at the minute
— Andy J Thompson (@AndyThompson11) August 14, 2018
That is actually a quality line up, good to see Baker, Harrison and Bamford get some minutes!
— Brentmeister (@newelly89) August 14, 2018
genuinely feel sorry for Bolton looking at that front 4 #lufc
— Armo ☀️🌙 (@Jordan_Armo) August 14, 2018
Side note: bloody hell this team is a bit good innit? Supposed to be second string in the early stages of the cup. 😂#lufc
— Tommy (@tommy_lufc) August 14, 2018