Leeds United - v - Manchester City ***Matchday Thread***

[BelfastAndy]

Saturday 28th February 5:30pm | Elland Road



Manchester City are the visitors to Elland Road this Saturday teatime, as Leeds look to take care of unfinished business. When the Citizens last met the Whites at the end of November, it was a day of pure heartbreak. Leeds had fought back valiantly at the Etihad, only for Phil Foden to snatch a winner in stoppage time, leaving the traveling fans gutted. Saturday represents more than just a chance for retribution; it?s a progress report on the Farke Revolution.

In retrospect, that painful defeat was actually the catalyst for Leeds? current resurgence. Trailing 2-0 at the break and losing Dan James to injury, Daniel Farke made a tactical gamble that turned out to be pure genius. He threw on Dominic Calvert-Lewin and shifted to an unfamiliar 5-3-2 formation. Ironically, that "experiment" didn't just save Farke?s job, it ignited a run of form that has seen Leeds lose only twice in all competitions since.

However, stopping the blue machine is a monumental task. City currently sit joint-second in the form guide, trailing only their neighbours, and they arrive in Yorkshire with their typical clinical edge. But if you believe in omens, the history books are firmly on Leeds? side. The Whites haven?t lost a league or play-off match at Elland Road that kicked off after 5pm in their last 25 attempts. You have to go all the way back to a bruising 6-1 defeat to Liverpool in April 2023 to find the last time they suffered defeat under the ER floodlights.

Speaking to the media ahead of the clash, Farke was upbeat about his squad?s mentality. "The players are ready and available and in a good mood and want to play," he noted. Despite the heavy-hitter status of their opponents, Farke isn't shrinking away from the challenge. "It's a big challenge for us and a big task but it's one we are looking forward to. They are in red-hot form and we have an underdog role, we have to take it."

Tactically, Farke knows his side can't afford a single lapse. He reflected on the November meeting, noting that "to give one of the best teams in the world a proper go was good for belief," but emphasised that belief alone won't beat Pep Guardiola?s side. "We need an excellent day to be successful. We have to make sure we go over the line in our physical output, spirit and mentality. We have to be spot-on with our game plan, super effective in both boxes and then we are perhaps able to make a tight game out of this."

Injury wise, Farke is expected to stick with five-at-the-back, with Joe Rodon, Jaka Bijol and Pascal Struijk retaining their spots at centre-back, with Gudmundsson (fit again after illness) and Jayden Bogle providing the width as wing-backs, pushing James Justin into more of a defensive midfield role. Noah Okafor remains Leeds only casualty following the hamstring injury sustained at Birmingham City in the Cup.

Manchester City aren't without their own issues, missing Croatian stars Josko Gvardiol and Mateo Kovacic, while Jeremy Doku remains a doubt. However, they boast the league's man-of-the-moment in O?Reilly and, of course, Leeds-born Erling Haaland. The Norwegian powerhouse is looking to become the first visiting player in history to score more than two goals in consecutive top-flight visits to the ground.

Credit: motforum.com

MOT.

[BelfastAndy]

[spaldy]

A brilliant comment from coach on pre game question on Leeds supporters prefer a proper pint over Daquaris. Have no clue how to spell that!

[ozleeds]

My brain can't fathom how we get results with a line up of 5 defenders 2 defending mids and Aaronson. Most likely other managers not woken up and don't adjust there teams. Our players work so hard for 3 quarters of the game and are knackered and he doesn't refresh them hence the late goals we cop. On one hand the statistic's work till they don't.
Lets see what happens than.

[ozleeds]

https://buffstreams.plus/premier-lea...r-city/1091566

[ozleeds]

How on earth di he miss that

[ozleeds]

can only happen in England for the entitled muslim pedo religion stop game for eat wtf .

[Billyni]

If there are any games on Easter Sunday, will they be halted to allow the players to eat an Easter egg.

[WTF11]

can only happen in England for the entitled muslim pedo religion stop game for eat wtf .

I think you will find that this is quite a regular "occurrence" across most of Europe and North Africa.

You really do need help.

[Billyni]

Fair play so far, we’re giving it a go.