Here are your Leeds United evening headlines on Wednesday, February 16.
Phillips on Bielsa future
Former Sunderland striker Kevin Phillips believes that Leeds United should look for another experienced manager if Marcelo Bielsa leaves the club in the summer.
The Argentinian has signed one-year rolling contracts since first joining the Whites in 2018 and guided them back to the Premier League in his second season at Elland Road.
However, there are fears that Bielsa could depart at the end of the campaign given his previous record and Huddersfield Town boss Carlos Corberan has been linked with a return to the club.
Corberan worked as Bielsa's assistant during the 2018/19 season but made the move to the Terriers to replace Jan Siewart, who was sacked in August 2019.
Phillips told Football Insider: "I would go for someone more experienced. Yes, Corberan has done a decent job at Huddersfield but it is a massive jump to go from Huddersfield to the Premier League, especially when Leeds want to go on to the next level.
"For me, that appointment would be an eyebrow raiser.
"Leeds are a huge club and if they want to challenge the top eight then you need a high profile manager. They need someone top class, not one of these merry-go-round managers.
"I think they need someone more experienced than Corberan and that is me being totally honest."
Deane on Leeds vs Man Utd rivalry
Brian Deane has picked out where his former Leeds United side can take advantage of Manchester United in Sunday’s huge encounter.
Leeds are set to host the Red Devils in front of a crowd at Elland Road in the league for the first time since 2003.
Both sides have endured struggles of their own so far this season, with Leeds currently on the periphery of a relegation battle and Man United failing to live up to expectations following an expensive summer window.
Man United, though, have frustrated in recent weeks with disappointing draws against the likes of Burnley and Southampton, where they had taken early leads.
Ralf Rangnick’s men have often tailed off in the second 45 minutes of matches following impressive first half performances.
And that is where Deane believes Man United can be got at, as if they ever drop their intensity, then Leeds can swarm all over them if they are at their best.
Via quotes from BETDAQ, he said: “When I look at Manchester United, they’ve got some exceptional players and are very quick on the counter-attack. But it depends who is going to be controlling the tempo of the game for them.
“Sometimes I think United don’t play at a high enough tempo to take advantage of the talents they have. This is where Leeds can have an advantage, if they play at a high tempo.
“Though the issue in this fixture in the past is Leeds have been done on the counter-attack, so they have to make sure the gaps between the midfield and defence are not too big or they’ll get punished.
“If you don’t play with that discipline, you’ll get hurt. The 3-3 draw with Aston Villa was a brilliant game to watch but it did highlight some of the problems Leeds have behind their midfield – there’s a lot of space.”
Leeds fixture change
Postponements and rescheduled games have been par for the course this season as positive COVID-19 tests, injury worries, broadcast requests and fixture clashes have carved up the original Premier League calendar.
Leeds United are yet to receive a new date for their top flight tie with Aston Villa which was postponed late last year due to positive COVID-19 cases within the Whites' squad.
Boxing Day's rescheduled fixture away to Liverpool takes place a week today on February 23, 2022, but word on the Villa game remains in the wind.
Leeds United have been issued a new date for one of their U23 fixtures, though.
In the last few weeks, broadcasters have selected and announced the Premier League matches they will be showing in March.
Leeds United's game with Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux has been chosen and as a result moved back to Friday March 18, at 8pm.
Originally, Leeds' U23 side were scheduled to play that evening against Chelsea's development squad.
The game, set to take place at Stamford Bridge, will now be played on Sunday March 20 at 1pm instead.
However, this does mean Leeds may be prevented from televising that fixture live on their in-house LUTV platform due to Premier League broadcast restrictions.
