Leeds United have had a great start to the 2018/19 Sky Bet Championship season, sitting atop the pile and definitely looking pretty in a three-way, 22-point group that also includes Middlesbrough and Sheffield United.
Today’s opponents Brentford are sitting just inside the play-off places and will present a stern test of Marcelo Bielsa’s footballing nous today. They are an attacking side, a side that play a dangerous game of football and are led by a nine-goal leading scorer in Frenchman Neal Maupay.
Leeds United’s all-round game has improved massively under Bielsa this season. This top-spot placing has been achieved with largely the same group of players who finished in a disappointing 13th place last season after a similar, scintillating start to their campaign as this season has seen.
Leeds United players arrive at Elland Road
@LUFC players arrive v @BrentfordFC @yorkshirepost @LeedsNews @PhilHayYEP @LeonWobYP @YPSport @PJansson5 @lukeayling_8 @Samusaiz #lufc pic.twitter.com/h12A2f96dO
— Simon Hulme (@SimonHulmeYPN) October 6, 2018
Leeds United line-up vs. Brentford
📋 | #LUFC Starting XI presented by @Ladbrokes:-
Peacock-Farrell, Ayling, Dallas, Cooper (c), Jansson, Phillips, Klich, Alioski, Harrison, Saiz, Roberts pic.twitter.com/tIqz2zFKeN
— Leeds United (@LUFC) October 6, 2018
The above shows confirmation of the one enforced change with Stuart Dallas coming in to replace the injured Barry Douglas. It is Dallas’ first start in the league since April as he starts against his old club.
On the bench it is largely an unchanged set of subsitutes apart from teen striker Ryan Edmondson coming in to take the vacant spot left by Dallas’ promotion to the starting line-up.
Leeds United fans react to team news vs. Brentford
It is team news that will always draw comment from Leeds United fans on Twitter. Here’s what some of them have been saying in response to Marcelo Bielsa’s chosen matchday squad:
Literally plays every game for NI at left back I’m pretty sure
— Lucas Craxford (@CrxLucas) October 6, 2018
When we have our main players missing, but we still have that team 😍 pic.twitter.com/Jzs4sYZFrC
— Luke (@FazzLuke24) October 6, 2018
Bench full of kids! Brave or thin squad? I would love to see Clarke come on! ⚽️MOT
— Peter Wright (@Pwright111) October 6, 2018
Not his position, when he’s played there he hasn’t been great, Pearce would be so much better to play but we’ll see
— george🎆 (@georgedrez) October 6, 2018
In Bielsa we trust 👍#mot
— Dave (@daveytom66) October 6, 2018
I worry about our options off the bench today
— Mozz (@The_Mozz_) October 6, 2018
Best take some spare undies @RRHand808
— Jimjampot (@jameswalker2405) October 6, 2018