Southampton vs Leeds United highlights: Bamford goes off injured as Rodrigo hits double
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Leeds United got off to the perfect start last weekend picking up a valuable three points in their opening fixture of the 2022/23 season.
This weekend sees the Whites return to St Mary’s Stadium – the site of one of United’s poorest performances last campaign – with three points in their sights.
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Hide AdRalph Hasenhuttl’s Southampton are without a competitive win since April and have picked up just one victory in their last 13 league matches.
Jesse Marsch is able to call on an array of previously unavailable first-team players as Leeds are expected to name a strong but unchanged starting XI, as well as an experienced bench.
Keep up to date with all the build-up, confirmed team news, match analysis and post-game reaction here.
Southampton vs Leeds United highlights: Bamford goes off injured as Rodrigo hits double
Arrivals
Leeds players surveying the St Mary’s turf. Joel Robles here in an official capacity for the first time since signing.
Drameh and Summerville in conversation on the pitch while the rest of the squad head for shelter inside.
Mateusz Klich and international teammate Jan Bednarek having a catch-up.
Water breaks will be in place for this weekend’s Premier League fixtures due to soaring temperatures. It’s set to be 30 degrees at St Mary’s at kick-off.
High-pressing football? Rather you than me, Leeds.
Marsch on strikers
Here’s a snippet from Marsch’s pre-match press conference earlier this week.
We've said a long time that we've been evaluating for the right striker. But Patrick being fully fit obviously helps us in that area. We also have some flexibility with you know, Rodrigo can play there. And Dan can play there at times but yeah, I mean, I think that we know we have some good - again with with Mateo who we just spoke about, with Sonny Perkins - we have some good young strikers, and obviously Joffy but Joffy are considered part of the first group. We have some good young strikers so a lot of it is also trying to look at from a profile, what age do we want and that we don't want to suffocate some of them having opportunities moving forward in the next one to three years. So it's trying to find the right age profile and the right player profile and most importantly, the right person to come into the team. And as striker that's not so easy. That's not so easy. The way that I like to play the game. We ask a lot from the strikers to work hard to press, it's a very demanding position in the way that I like to play. So we're trying to find the right one.
Early team news
Jesse Marsch confirmed in his pre-match press conference on Thursday the availability of Liam Cooper, Luis Sinisterra and Adam Forshaw who missed last weekend’s win over Wolves through injury.
Dan James also returns from suspension and is expected to start on the bench.
We’re anticipating an unchanged starting XI from Marsch this afternoon. Team news released an hour before kick-off.
Welcome to St Mary’s
Good afternoon, we are at St Mary’s Stadium today for Southampton vs Leeds United.
Leeds looking to make it two wins from two - that would represent quite a start to the campaign after many predicted United to struggle this season.
Team news to follow.
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