It is 48 hours to go until Leeds United return to Elland Road and take on a Crystal Palace side that are struggling with injuries, and will be suffering fatigue on Saturday night.
Palace are starting to realise their limitations as they become victims of their own success; fighting on three fronts, with the FA Cup third round not until January. The Eagles are in European action tonight.
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Lucas Perri's distribution is becoming a problem for Leeds United
Oliver Glasner has said he will make 11 changes between Thursday night’s clash against KuPS and then Leeds on Saturday. With Palace requiring a win against KuPS to qualify, it might be a rotational side.
But Palace are also missing six first-team players through injury and AFCON, as Ismaila Sarr jets off to join his Senegal teammates. Leeds could easily go and win on Saturday night, but Leeds have issues as well.
Daniel Farke discusses Lucas Perri’s criticism in recent games
Farke says Leeds will be without Lukas Nmecha on Saturday, while Dan James and Sean Longstaff are still recovering. While most players are playing well, there are some concerns in Farke’s starting XI currently.
Lucas Perri has come in for some criticism. The Brazilian has failed to keep a clean sheet since August, and while he made good saves against Brentford and Liverpool, his kicking is coming under a lot of pressure.
Farke told reporters on Thursday afternoon: “We knew before that there are some challenges in his game that he needs to improve. The intensity of the press in the Premier League is higher than other leagues.
“For that, he has to adapt. It is his first season in English football, he has improved. We work hard on it, but in the last games he was there with some crucial saves and this is the major topic for a goalkeeper.
“He’s shown some really good performances, he’s so tall, good at saving, if he was also world-class with his feet, he wouldn’t be affordable for us. In the summer, we knew the players we signed had challenges.
“But Lucas is a very modest guy, humble, diligent, he’s putting lots of work in and he’s already improved and he will continue to do so,” Farke added, as per the club’s YouTube channel on Thursday afternoon.
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How Daniel Farke has fared against Oliver Glasner in the past…
Glasner’s success at Crystal Palace comes after impressive spells in German football with both Wolfsburg and then Frankfurt. Indeed, Glasner faced Farke on two occasions while Farke was in charge at Gladbach.
Farke only lasted a year in Germany while at Gladbach, during the 2022-23 season having joined Leeds afterwards. Glasner and Farke did battle twice that season, their first and last games against eachother.
The first saw Glasner get the better of Farke, as Frankfurt ran out 3-1 away winners over Gladbach. In the reverse fixture however, Farke managed to win a point away at Frankfurt, the two sides drawing 1-1.
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