Daniel Farke has to roll the dice for Leeds United’s trip to Burnley and use an unfamiliar system after Noah Okafor became the latest doubt in his forward line.
Leeds United suffered a broadly unremarkable defeat away to Fulham under Javi Gracia in 2023 as they slipped towards relegation from the Premier League.
However, that game holds a certain significance for current Leeds boss Daniel Farke, as it was the last time Brenden Aaronson and Jack Harrison started a game together, according to TransferMarkt.
With doubts over the fitness of Noah Okafor, and Leeds’ alternative wingers Dan James and Willy Gnonto both ruled out, Farke could be forced to pair Aaronson and Harrison on the wings again, as the only two fit senior options in his squad.
But with Jaka Bijol impressing on international duty, now is the perfect time for Farke to shake up his system to help Leeds compensate for his lack of options on the wing.
Daniel Farke should make Leeds United system change for Burnley
Bijol is yet to make his Premier League debut for Leeds, having missed the first game of the season through injury and fallen behind Pascal Struijk in the pecking order.
The Slovenia international impressed during the international break at the heart of a back five, helping to steer his side to two consecutive clean sheets.
With limited options on the flanks, Farke could choose to start the crucial game against Burnley as he finished the defeat against Tottenham, with Joel Piroe partnering Dominic Calvert-Lewin in attack.
Farke has praised Piroe’s finishing ability in the past, and partnering him with Calvert-Lewin would take some of the pressure off the England international. The pair showed a flash of what they could do as a partnership when Calvert-Lewin set up a late Piroe chance against Spurs.
By slotting Bijol into the heart of the Leeds defence, alongside Struijk and Joe Rodon, and putting Piroe in attack alongside Calvert-Lewin, Farke will maintain stability in defence without sacrificing too much threat in attack.
Aaronson and Harrison are diligent workers, but lack the end product of the likes of Okafor, James and Gnonto. By changing his system, Farke can give Scott Parker and his Burnley side a new problem to consider.
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Jayden Bogle would be key in new-look Leeds system
Leeds have the luxury of two high-quality full-backs to call upon, with Gabriel Gudmundsson settling straight into life with Leeds on the left and Jayden Bogle enjoying a strong start to the Premier League season on the right.
Bogle provided the template for how Leeds can get the best out of Calvert-Lewin against Wolves as he whipped a pinpoint early cross onto the striker’s head for him to open his account at Leeds.
The flaw of switching to a 5-3-2 is that Leeds would lose the width that Farke likes to use as he would usually have two wingers cutting inside, with his full-backs overlapping.
However, having the extra cover of another centre-back and the tactically astute Ampadu in midfield would give Bogle licence to push forward more. His attacking talents can be the key that helps Farke unlock a new style of play with his Leeds side.
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