Crack the Potter stranglehold?
Graham Potter’s Brighton & Hove Albion have definitely been Leeds United’s bogey team since their return to the Premier League. Four matches, two losses and two draws, one of which saw the Brighton fans boo because they were so dominant.
The majesty of Joe Gelhardt’s assist in injury time on the penultimate weekend of last season does at least add some kind of silver lining to what’s been a grey cloud over clashes with the Seagulls. It’s going to be very tough for Leeds in East Sussex today.
After finishing last season with one defeat in their last nine matches, Potter’s outfit have begun 22/23 just as strongly with the same seven points the Whites have picked up in three games. Pascal Gross, Danny Welbeck and Moises Caicedo have caught the eye in a side which was supposed to struggle after the exits of Marc Cucurella and Yves Bissouma.
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Does Marsch dare change anything?
After a display as emphatic as Sunday’s, Jesse Marsch will surely resist any temptation to change too much. Of course, it would be ignorant to assume the same players should play exactly the same system against a different opponent.
Therefore, there may be slight nuances in the way Marsch sets them up. Personnel switches should be a step too far though, given there were no new injuries mentioned on Thursday.
Too soon for restless natives?
When Leeds last visited Falmer, they came away with a 0-0 draw, but it proved to be one of the worst displays of Marcelo Bielsa’s era. It was one of those nights you came away wondering how on earth they had scraped a point from the onslaught.
It was largely down to Brighton’s wasteful finishing. It proved to be the eighth match on the bounce without a win for the Seagulls and there was audible frustration in the crowd as the final whistle blew.
Potter would come out swinging in the post-match press conference rather than bowing to the fans’ passion. He questioned the booing and the short-sightedness given where Brighton had come from and how well they were generally doing as a club.
Rodrigo to continue his Golden Boot assault?
It’s the story that keeps rolling and Leeds will be hoping Rodrigo can add to the four league goals he already has this term. The Premier League’s top scorer is in danger of delivering the best season of his career.
The longer he can keep scoring for, the longer it keeps the pressure off Patrick Bamford and his rehabilitation. Everything the Spain international touches turns to goals and he will need that knack to breach Brighton’s defence today.
Shackle the Chelsea momentum?
While it’s just as important everyone does not overreact if Leeds fail to match the level they reached against Chelsea, wouldn’t it be nice if they kept it rolling? The feel-good factor is booming at Elland Road right now and if the players can turn in anything like their masterclass last weekend then Brighton are in for an afternoon.
If Illan Meslier and the centre-backs can be as unbeatable, if Tyler Adams can be as smothering, if Brenden Aaronson and Jack Harrison can be as potent, then the optimism for this Marsch revolution is only going to grow. Ten points from the opening four games would be United's best start to a top-flight season since 1995.
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