Leeds United team news vs Crystal Palace as Daniel Farke makes huge striker call amid Jaka Bijol return
Daniel Farke’s Leeds United starting line-up vs Crystal Palace has been confirmed.
Leeds United boss Daniel Farke has made a bold decision to start with two upfront at Crystal Palace.
The Whites head to Selhurst Park looking to rebuild momentum following last week’s 3-0 FA Cup fifth-round win over Norwich City. Farke rotated heavily for that victory over Championship opposition but as expected, has returned to something more resembling his strongest possible line-up.
Doubts over the fitness of Dominic Calvert-Lewin were eased this week with the striker back in training following a minor knee issue. Farke was ‘cautiously optimistic’ his top-scorer would be available at Selhurst Park and he’s come straight back into the XI.
The role alongside Calvert-Lewin was a talking point during the week and Farke has gone bold, with Lukas Nmecha joining his fellow No.9 in a front two. The pair haven’t started together since a 3-1 win over Chelsea back in November in which they dovetailed brilliantly.
Brenden Aaronson has retained a place in an attacking line-up, seemingly dropping into midfield alongside Ethan Ampadu and Anton Stach. Ilia Gruev has dropped to the bench.
Another position up for debate was centre-back, with Jaka Bijol staking his claim for Premier League starts with a dominant FA Cup performance last weekend. The towering Slovenian has been rewarded for that showing, starting alongside Joe Rodon and Pascal Struijk in a back three.
Like Aaronson, James Justin has kept his starting place via a change of position. The versatile defender moves out to right wing-back, replacing the benched Jayden Bogle, with Gabriel Gudmundsson on the opposite side. Karl Darlow starts in goal.
Leeds starting XI: Darlow; Rodon, Bijol, Struijk; Justin, Ampadu, Stach, Aaronson, Gudmundsson; Nmecha, Calvert-Lewin
Subs: Perri, Bogle, Bornauw, Longstaff, Gruev, Tanaka, James, Gnonto, Piroe