AliousLeeds United are preparing to face Watford in a Championship fixture, with Daniel Farke’s squad continuing their impressive start to the season. The Whites currently occupy third place in the league table after 10 matches, sitting just three points off the summit despite dealing with significant injury concerns.
The team has shown remarkable resilience in midfield, where the absences of Ethan Ampadu and Ilia Gruev have been effectively mitigated by the outstanding performances of new arrivals Joe Rothwell and Ao Tanaka. The duo has integrated exceptionally well into the squad’s midfield operations in recent matches.
The team’s current form is particularly encouraging, with Leeds maintaining an unbeaten run stretching across their last five fixtures, accumulating 11 points during this period. Their opponents, Watford, managed by Tom Cleverley, enter the match following a disappointing 3-0 defeat to their rivals Luton Town. While Watford’s season has started promisingly overall, they face a significant challenge at Elland Road.
Regarding team news, there’s positive development concerning Wilfried Gnonto, who has been cleared to participate despite earlier concerns about a shoulder injury sustained during the Sheffield United match. Manager Daniel Farke confirmed in his press conference that no new injuries emerged from their previous game, though he acknowledged some players are dealing with seasonal colds, but nothing severe enough to impact team selection.
The team continues to manage several long-term injuries: Ampadu isn’t expected back until after the new year, Gruev’s return timeline remains uncertain, and Max Wober is projected to be unavailable until mid-December at the earliest.
The anticipated starting lineup is expected to feature:
Formation: 4-2-3-1
– Goalkeeper: Meslier
– Defense: Bogle, Rodon, Struijk, Firpo
– Defensive Midfield: Tanaka, Rothwell
– Attacking Midfield: Gnonto, Piroe, Ramazani
– Striker: Joseph
A notable tactical adjustment may see Mateo Joseph replace Brenden Aaronson in the starting eleven, following Joseph’s impressive goal against Sheffield United. The 19-year-old Spanish forward has been in fine form this season, contributing two goals and three assists. Joel Piroe is likely to shift into the attacking midfield role, a position he assumed when Joseph replaced Aaronson in their previous match. The defensive unit and holding midfield partnership are expected to remain unchanged following their strong performance in the last fixture.
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