Leeds United begin life without Georginio Rutter with a trip to West Bromwich Albion.
Despite it only being the second game of the season, Leeds could really do with a win at the Hawthorns to lift the dwindling mood that is currently surrounding the club.
Having been held to a frustrating 3-3 draw by Portsmouth last weekend, Leeds were then dismantled 3-0 at Elland Road in the first round of the Carabao Cup by Middlesbrough.
To rub salt into the wounds, news emerged just a couple of hours after full-time that Brighton & Hove Albion had activated Rutter’s £40 million release clause.
With Rutter deciding he does want to join the Seagulls, Leeds will now play their first league game without the 22-year-old since the opening day of last season. Here is our predicted XI:
Goalkeeper
Illan Meslier was dreadful against Portsmouth but Farke has continued to back him as his number one.
Defence
Leeds have conceded six goals across their two matches so far and serious improvement is needed at the back, though the lack of depth means there will be no changes to the back four from Pompey.
Jayden Bogle struggled defensively against Portsmouth but showed signs of what he can do going forward and so starts at right-back, with Junior Firpo on the other side.
Max Wober’s first competitive appearance for Leeds since May 2023 came on Wednesday night and it was very much one to forget. He is an injury doubt, meaning Joe Rodon and Pascal Struijk are at centre-back.
Midfield
Joe Rothwell actually looked pretty bright against Middlesbrough but in a difficult away game like this, Ethan Ampadu and Ilia Gruev look set to start together.
Leeds have been wide open in midfield during both matches so far with Ampadu dropping extremely deep to get the ball. That needs to change at the Hawthorns.
Attack
Not one of Leeds’ attackers against Boro proved to Farke they should be in the league team, but one of them is going to have to start today.
Wilfried Gnonto, Dan James and Mateo Joseph are all expected to return to the starting XI, leaving one of Brenden Aaronson or Joel Piroe to replace Rutter.
It is Aaronson who has showed the most across Leeds’ two matches so far, but it really wouldn’t be a surprise if Farke went for Piroe.
Predicted XI: Meslier; Bogle, Rodon, Struijk, Firpo; Ampadu, Gruev; James, Piroe, Gnonto; Joseph
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