'Really upset' - Crystal Palace boss on Leeds United strengths as he picks side to combat them

On Sunday Leeds travel to Selhurst Park hoping to secure what would be an impressive Premier League double over the Conference League outfit. Palace sit two places and seven points ahead of Leeds going into Sunday afternoon's clash, but they did suffer a stinging 4-1 defeat at Elland Road in December when the home side used set-piece chaos and Anton Stach's free-kick taking ability to their advantage.

Glasner, speaking after Thursday night's 0-0 draw with AEK Larnaca, still had the memory of that previous meeting fresh in his mind as he turned his attention to Leeds once again.

"[Expecting] a very physical game, like at Elland Road," he said. "It's a very physical team. I remember I was really upset because we conceded four goals from set-plays, two throw-ins, and we couldn't compete with their physicality in that game. This would be important to nominate the right players who can cope with their physicality."

Leeds can boast one of the highest physical outputs in the entire Premier League this season, collectively outrunning the vast majority of their opponents. Their summer 2025 recruitment brought in significant height and physicality, targeting players who were not only good in the air but able to cover the ground quickly. When it came to their first meeting with Palace, the height of centre-back Jaka Bijol was a factor as he made a nuisance of himself at set-pieces but he is far from alone in presenting such a threat. Joe Rodon is another 'first contact' specialist and Pascal Struijk can be dangerous in the opposition box. Dominic Calvert-Lewin is an aerial specialist and though midfielder Stach is 6ft 4ins, his set-piece threat comes from his feet as one of Farke's principle corner and free-kick takers.

Glasner is well aware of the problems a well-rested Leeds could pose his side again in that regard but also with their willingness and ability to run hard, against a Palace side that has not enjoyed a full week of training to prepare. "Great in set-plays," said the Palace boss. "I think Anton Stach, the German player, has scored three or four direct free-kicks, one against us. This is what we will face. Of course, we will face a team that could prepare the entire week and could rest. For us, it's busy again. That's what I meant before, to find the right players who can cope with the intensity and the physicality we will face."

The European game meant Glasner had not been able to start his preparations for the visit of Leeds until after Thursday night, but no matter what he sees in the videos he watches prior to Sunday, he won't be making big changes to the way Palace will operate.

"Of course, the analysts are preparing everything, so tomorrow [Friday], after the training, we will sit watching them," he said.

"They will show us how they play, how their patterns are, and especially what suits our patterns, because, of course, we don't change it, we don't have time to train a lot, and therefore we stick to the way we are playing and then try to find the right tweaks."