Leeds United new best XI and bench after January window as Daniel Farke faces big defence and midfield calls

Add as preferred source on Google

Daniel Farke is now spoilt for choice in his Leeds United squad moving forward into the rest of the season.

Despite having only signed one new player in January, it feels as though Leeds’ squad is all of a sudden packed with options after the emergence of numerous fringe players in 2024.

Farke had seemingly found a settled starting XI between October and December but a poor run of results over the festive period has seen the likes of Patrick Bamford, Junior Firpo and Ilia Gruev integrated into the side.

Those players have now practically made themselves undroppable due to their recent performances, but once everyone is fit and available, there will be some big names left out of the side.

So, with that in mind, here is our best attempt at picking a new strongest XI and bench.

Goalkeeper

Illan Meslier is one of only a handful of players whose place in the starting line-up seems safe and secure.

Defence

However, the same most certainly cannot be said in defence as there is 50/50 calls to make in pretty much every position across the back four.

Archie Gray has been phenomenal at right-back this season but Connor Roberts certainly has not been signed to sit on the bench, and has promotion experience under his belt.

When fit, there is not much to separate Sam Byram and Junior Firpo on the other side, either, but just because of what he can offer going forward, the latter gets the nod here. Byram may be better in matches where Leeds, perhaps, have more defending to do.

Joe Rodon and Pascal Struijk has been Farke’s centre-back partnership of choice this season, but Ethan Ampadu has stood in admirably during the latter’s injury absence. However, it would be a mistake to keep Struijk out of the side when fit.

Midfield

The decision to bring Struijk back into the side has a knock-on effect in midfield. Ilia Gruev and Glen Kamara have formed a brilliant partnership in 2024, but Ampadu is quite simply undroppable.

A bit like at left-back, some matches may well suit the strengths Gruev and Kamara differently, but it is the former who is currently in better form. Gray is also another phenomenal option in the centre of the park.

Attack

Joel Piroe started 21 league matches in a row after his arrival from Swansea City, but has had to settle for a place on the bench in the last five, and it will have to stay that way.

Patrick Bamford is currently Leeds’ best option to lead the line, though Mateo Joseph is knocking on the door after his display at Plymouth Argyle. Georginio Rutter, of course, is in behind him.

Crysencio Summerville is another shoo-in on the left and despite the recent resurgence of Willy Gnonto, Dan James just about gets the nod on the right. However, Farke has to start rotating that position more effectively, as Gnonto has shown what he can do with a run of starts in recent weeks.

Best XI: Meslier; Roberts, Rodon, Struijk, Firpo; Ampadu, Gruev, James, Rutter, Summerville, Bamford

Bench: Darlow, Gray, Cooper, Byram, Kamara, Gnonto, Anthony, Piroe, Joseph