As we lose Crysencio Summerville and Adam Forshaw from Leeds United’s rotation, and the clean sheet count stretches out one more, the dilemmas and debates in the line-up are resolving themselves. Mateusz Klich is the clear option to play alongside Kalvin Phillips in the double pivot, with Robin Koch better suited in defence and Stuart Dallas required at left-back.
Summerville, meanwhile, just as he was coming into some form again, is robbed of the chance to pressure Jack Harrison. The former Manchester City winger’s goals have been flowing, but overall performance has not been there.
Diego Llorente was solid, if shaky in the first half, at Crystal Palace, but he would still be someone I drop out of the side for Koch alongside Liam Cooper. Even in attack, where Daniel James has failed to score in 11 games for the Whites, there is reason to stick rather than twist.
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Joe Gelhardt and Sam Greenwood had little impact on affairs from the bench at Selhurst Park, while James was praised for applying enough pressure it stunted the hosts’ attacking play. If you envisage City camping in the Leeds half on Saturday, dominant in possession and territory, you can only see the hosts scoring via one route: on the counter.
How many times have you seen a lapse in the City backline pounced upon and countered with a pacy attacker who slots past Ederson, one vs one, entirely against the run of play? It has to be James.
Beren’s XI: Meslier; Ayling, Koch, Cooper, Dallas; Phillips, Klich; Raphinha, Rodrigo, Harrison; James.
