Leeds United and Daniel Farke will be desperate to build on the momentum earned from the last three games with a result at Brentford on Sunday, but the odds are stacked against Leeds.
They go to a Brentford side that are fourth-best at home in the Premier League, winning 16 points from a possible 21 this season. However, Brentford do come into the game having dipped in form recently.
Who starts up front with Dominic Calvert-Lewin? 📈
Daniel Farke has confirmed Lukas Nmecha will miss Brentford.
The Bees have lost four out of their last six matches and have not scored a goal in their last two. However, the last two fixtures came against Arsenal and Tottenham, hardly matches they were expecting to win.
Leeds, meanwhile, come into the game having scored eight goals in their last two and a half matches. Ever since the half-time break against Man City, Daniel Farke’s side have looked a lot more competitive.
Ao Tanaka or Ilia Gruev? Daniel Farke has a big decision
In terms of Farke’s starting line-up at Brentford, he is expected to stick with the 3-5-2 system. Lucas Perri will remain between the sticks, and both the defence and wing-backs will not change come Sunday.
Jayden Bogle, Joe Rodon, Jaka Bijol, Pascal Struijk and Gabi Gudmundsson will all start. In midfield, Ethan Ampadu will continue, and Troy Deeney said Anton Stach was Leeds’ best. The German will start again.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin has to start, with Lukas Nmecha confirmed as missing Sunday. It leaves Farke with two decisions to make. Who starts up top with Calvert-Lewin, and who is alongside Stach and Ampadu.
How many points can Leeds get from the next five games? 🔮
Graham Smyth picked Tanaka over Gruev on TSB: “Stach has just put in one of his best displays for Leeds, I’d go with him. I’d have Tanaka. I just would. For what he gives you going forward and on the ball.
“Gruev is very safe and reliable on the ball, he doesn’t give it away often. Tidy, he’s nipped in and won it high. It’s not as if Gruev has done anything wrong, but Tanaka has that impetus to go and win a game.”
Why Ilia Gruev might be given new away-from-home role
Last season, Farke would switch up his midfield when Leeds went away from home. For example, it would be Joe Rothwell at Elland Road, with Leeds controlling the ball and boasting the most chances to score.
Then, away from home, Gruev would come in and start with Ampadu or Tanaka, whoever was fit, with Ampadu picking up a second knee injury towards the end of 2024-25. Gruev could earn the same role.
Gruev performed superbly, especially in the second half, against Man City. While it was Tanaka who was in the starting line-up against Chelsea, Gruev started against Liverpool and put in another very solid shift.
So, come Sunday, Farke has a decision to make. Does he push the boat out and try and win the game with Tanaka, or does he look to avoid defeat and go with Gruev? A big decision Farke will have to make.
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