The Leeds United predicted XI vs Newcastle that Daniel Farke names on Monday night will be read as a verdict on Stamford Bridge. Leeds were 2-0 up in the Carabao Cup third round on 9 September before conceding six after the break to lose 6-3, and the Yorkshire Evening Post expects the midweek strugglers to make way at Elland Road.
The Ao Tanaka decision
Tanaka is the call that splits the fanbase. Farke has leaned on the Anton Stach and Ethan Ampadu axis in the Premier League, and restoring both would push Tanaka towards the bench despite his gift for breaking lines between them.
Joe Rodon is out with the hamstring problem picked up against Brentford, so Tarik Muharemovic should continue alongside Jaka Bijol. Gabriel Gudmundsson came through 90 minutes at Brighton and keeps the left-back berth, with Jayden Bogle opposite him.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1)
Trafford; Bogle, Bijol, Muharemovic, Gudmundsson; Ampadu, Stach; Aaronson, Tanaka, James; Calvert-Lewin.
That shape keeps Brenden Aaronson attacking the box from the left half-space and gives Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who scored at Stamford Bridge and equalised against Brentford, a settled service line. Harry Wilson, Sean Longstaff, Ilia Gruev, Lukas Nmecha and Noah Okafor offer Farke plenty from the bench, while deadline-day arrivals Melvin Bard and Jean-Matteo Bahoya are still waiting on their debuts.
What Leeds are up against
Newcastle arrive under new head coach Matthias Jaissle with five points from nine, exactly level with Leeds, and the YEP report £30m signing Amar Dedic as a major doubt. Our full Leeds United vs Newcastle injuries and team news guide has the rest.
