Whites boss Jesse Marsch made six changes to his team for last weekend’s home clash against Fulham as Luke Ayling, captain Liam Cooper, Sam Greenwood, Jack Harrison, Rodrigo and the fit-again Pascal Struijk all started. Rasmus Kristensen, Diego Llorente, Junior Firpo, Crysencio Summerville and Patrick Bamford all dropped to the bench whilst Tyler Adams missed out altogether with a calf injury.
Marsch’s side then fell to a 3-2 defeat which marked a fourth loss in succession and a sixth defeat from United’s last eight games which have yielded just two points. The Whites boss then provided a rather brutal injuries update at Thursday’s pre-match press conference, at which he revealed that there were doubts about Luis Sinisterra, Rodrigo, Cooper, Adams and Joe Gelhardt for Saturday’s clash at Anfield. Adam Forshaw and longer-term absentee Stuart Dallas also remain sidelined whilst there are question marks about Leo Hjelde meaning Marsch has eight injuries to contend with. After Marsch’s updates, this is the Whites XI that we think will step out against the Reds.
1. GK - Illan Meslier
At least he's not injured. Miles clear as United's first choice keeper and the Iceman is all set to continue an amazing run of starting every single Leeds league game since the start of last season. Saturday will be 50 in a row. Photo: George Wood
2. RB - Luke Ayling
Marsch made a big call in preferring Ayling to Rasmus Kristensen at right back against Fulham and it's hard to know what the American will opt for this time around. At the risk of making too many changes, he might keep the right side of defence as it is with one of his natural established leaders in Ayling. Photo: George Wood
3. CB - Robin Koch
Koch has started all 11 of United's league games so far this season and the German international has been ever-present apart from being hooked at half-time at Leicester. All set for another start at the heart of the defence, it's probably just a question of who partners him. Photo: Stu Forster
4. CB - Diego Llorente
Llorente dropped to the bench for last weekend's Fulham clash but if Cooper doesn't make it then it will be either Llorente or Pascal Struijk alongside Robin Koch at centre-back. Struijk has been decent at left back and whilst Junior Firpo could always return there, Struijk at left back and Llorente at centre-back looks most likely if Cooper misses out. Photo: Alex Pantling
5. LB - Pascal Struijk
Struijk's return from a minor injury was a welcome boost for Leeds against Fulham, even though it couldn't help the Whites back to winning ways. With doubts about Cooper, the conundrum now concerns whether to keep Struijk at left back or shift him into his more natural centre-back position and bring back Firpo at left back. The former probably. Photo: Michael Regan
6. CM - Marc Roca
The Roca-Adams midfield axis was broken for the first time this season last weekend as Adams missed out injured against Fulham. It remains to be seen whether Adams makes it at Liverpool but Roca looks destined to maintain his run of starting every league game so far this term. But who partners him? Photo: George Wood