Leeds United will finish their pre-season friendlies in America with Sunday’s clash against Liverpool in Chicago - and this is how we think the Whites will line up.
Boss Daniel Farke shuffled his pack for Thursday night’s second friendly against Sunderland for which the headline act was £34m summer signing Tarik Muharemovic making his debut at the heart of the defence.
Upon recovering from a minor setback, Sebastiaan Bornauw was also handed a start in defence alongside Muharemovic and Joe Rodon who wore the captain’s armband as club captain Ethan Ampadu dropped to the bench. Leeds were still without Jaka Bijol who has taken a knock to his knee.
Fellow centre midfield star Anton Stach also dropped to the bench as Ao Tanaka was given a start in centre midfield alongside Sean Lonsgstaff, flanked by wing backs Jayden Bogle and the returning Gabi Gudmundsson.
Gudmundsson was the latest Leeds World Cup player to return to action, leaving only Brenden Aaronson and Noah Okafor as yet to feature. Leeds said upon leaving for the States that Okafor had been given extended leave following Switzerland’s progress to the World Cup quarter-finals and would not feature in America.
But Sunday’s final friendly in the States presents a possible chance for Aaronson and perhaps Whites no 9 Dominic Calvert-Lewin who returned to training on Tuesday having had a small set back in pre season which prevented him from completing his individual programme.
As Calvert-Lewin and Aaronson sat out the friendly against Sunderland, Lukas Nmecha started up front as Joel Piroe was benched, Nmecha backed up by summer signing Harry Wilson and youngster Callum Mills in the final third.
But Farke might now have more options at his disposal to face Liverpool and this is the XI that we think will line up against the Reds.
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7. CM: Ethan Ampadu
The skipper dropped to the bench against Sunderland but it appears likely that the club captain will now be back in the midfield against the Reds. | Getty Images

8. CM: Anton Stach
The German was another star who dropped to the bench against Sunderland but it appears likely that he too will now come back into the XI. | Getty Images

9. RW: Harry Wilson
The summer signing got a first star against Sunderland and perhaps Wilson will get another one against Liverpool. | Getty Images

10. LW: Dan James
Young Callum Mills has started United's first two friendlies in the States and showed loads of promise but perhaps now he will be back on the bench with either James or Willy Gnonto given a start. | Getty Images

11. ST: Lukas Nmecha
Calvert-Lewin is now back in training but he's probably playing catch up a bit and it would be a surprise if he started so it's probably either Nmecha or Piroe upfront. | AFP via Getty Images

