Beren Cross
Joe Gelhardt is perhaps the only option I might consider in my Leeds United XI to set it apart from the line-up I expect Marcelo Bielsa to go with.
Diego Llorente and Robin Koch are available for selection once more and while I welcome the former back with open arms into the centre of defence, it’s harder to find a home for Koch.
I have long preferred Adam Forshaw in the deep-lying central role and that hasn’t changed for me. Koch can stay on the bench for now.
The beauty of Llorente returning is the shift of Luke Ayling out wide to right-back once more, which then releases Stuart Dallas into central midfield.
Last season’s Player of the Year was one of the few bright spots in Wednesday’s second half as he brought legs and bite to the middle of the park.
Mateusz Klich partners him because I’d like Rodrigo to play as the striker. He looked decent there last weekend and Daniel James looked good out wide against Manchester United too.
Jack Harrison is sacrificed. He has offered little to catch the eye since his hat-trick, while Gelhardt still just about looks the best bet coming off the bench to make an impact.
Rodrigo’s experience edges out the teenager, but their qualities in that striker slot are far closer than some might imagine. Every time Gelhardt is on the field he seems to lift the attack en masse.
Beren’s XI: Meslier; Ayling, Llorente, Struijk, Firpo; Forshaw; Raphinha, Dallas, Klich, James; Rodrigo.
Joe Donnohue
Marcelo Bielsa was asked in his pre-match press conference whether he felt Mateusz Klich and Rodrigo offered adequate defensive cover in light of the team conceding 10 goals in the space of a few days with both in central midfield.
Bielsa swapped his central midfielders in the 6-0 defeat at Liverpool, introducing Tyler Roberts at half-time, and moving Stuart Dallas into the number eight position alongside the Welshman.
It appeared the combination of Klich and Rodrigo had left Leeds too insecure at the back.
Some of Leeds' best football has been played with Dallas in the middle of the park and in order to get back to those days, he cannot afford to be stuck out on the wing any longer.
With Diego Llorente returning to the fold after a suspected hamstring issue, that gives Bielsa the opportunity to use Luke Ayling and Junior Firpo in their natural full-back roles, pushing Dallas forward.
Adam Forshaw should remain in defensive midfield, primarily because it is six days since Robin Koch sustained a head injury which forced him to be removed from the pitch with what appeared to be a concussion.
Protocols have been followed, but despite Marcelo Bielsa's insistence Koch will be available this weekend, FA guidelines stipulate players should remain out of action for 14 days after a suspected brain injury.
"The graduated return to play (GRTP) protocol should be followed in all cases," the guidance states. "This staged programme commences at midnight on the day of injury and stage one (initial rest period) is 14 days in all players unless they are in an enhanced care setting."
While the same guidelines are not as stringent for professional footballers due to the close medical attention they have access to at the training ground, six days appears rather soon when symptoms can still display after two weeks.
In attack, Raphinha was below his optimum level at Anfield on Wednesday, but retains the game-changing ability to turn a fixture in Leeds' favour.
Tottenham Hotspur are likely to go with three central defenders, therefore his out-to-in runs, beating the wing-back and drawing out the left-sided centre-back will be crucial to Leeds playing Daniel James in behind.
Mateusz Klich also gets the nod ahead of Rodrigo due to his defensive work rate and concentration.
Joe's XI: Meslier; Ayling, Llorente, Struijk, Firpo; Forshaw; Raphinha, Dallas, Klich, Harrison; James.
