Leeds United v Brighton team news: Kiko Casilla starts with Illan Meslier missing and Diego Llorente on bench

SPANISH international defender Diego Llorente returns to the Leeds United bench but keeper Illan Meslier is missing for Saturday's Premier League hosting of Brighton.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

Summer signing Llorente has so far made just the one appearance for Leeds due to injury issues with the 27-year-old suffering a fresh setback in the 3-1 loss at Chelsea at the beginning of December.

The defender now returns to the bench though Leeds are without 'keeper Meslier through illness meaning Kiko Casilla starts in goal.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Meslier has posted on social media to tell fans he's 'recovering well.'

ON THE BENCH: Leeds United's Spanish international centre-back Diego Llorente, right. Picture by Bruce Rollinson.ON THE BENCH: Leeds United's Spanish international centre-back Diego Llorente, right. Picture by Bruce Rollinson.
ON THE BENCH: Leeds United's Spanish international centre-back Diego Llorente, right. Picture by Bruce Rollinson.

The 20-year-old Frenchman has been the subject of rumours over a positive Covid-19 test this week.

Skipper Liam Cooper also returns to the United league side whilst Kalvin Phillips misses out through suspension meaning two changes to the side that started United's 3-0 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur.

Tyler Roberts is also back on the bench which features 19-year-old keeper Elia Caprile plus Jack Jenkins and Leif Davis.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Former Whites loanee Ben White starts for Brighton for whom Yves Bissouma is only on the bench on his return from suspension.

Seagulls boss Graham Potter has made three changes to his side with Pascal Gross, Solly March and Neal Maupay replacing Bernardo, Davy Propper and Percy Tau.

Aaron Connolly, Adam Lallana, Tariq Lamptey, Danny Welbeck, Alireza Jahanbakhsh and Jason Steele are all out injured.

Leeds United: Casilla, Dallas, Ayling, Cooper, Alioski, Struijk, Klich, Raphinha, Harrison, Rodrigo, Bamford. Subs: Caprile, Jenkins, Davis, Llorente, Shackleton, Costa, Roberts, Hernandez, Poveda.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Brighton: Sanchez, White, Webster, Veltman, Burn, Dunk, March, Gross, Mac Allister, Trossard, Maupay. Subs: Walton, Bissouma, Alzate, Tau, Propper, Zeqiri, Sanders, Jenks, Khadra.

A message from the Editor:

Leeds has a fantastic story to tell - and the Yorkshire Evening Post has been rooted firmly at the heart of telling the stories of our city since 1890.

We believe in ourselves and hope you believe in us too. We need your support to help ensure we can continue to be at the heart of life in Leeds.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Subscribe to our website and enjoy unlimited access to local news and information online and on our app.

With a digital subscription, you can read more than 5 articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content.

Click here to subscribe.

For more details on our newspaper subscription offers click here.

Thank you Laura Collins

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.