Leeds United will be keen to get their season back on track when they take on QPR on Wednesday.
Leeds United will be keen to get their promotion bid back on track when they take on QPR at Elland Road on Wednesday night.
Daniel Farke’s men were abject in their capitulation against Southampton at the weekend, once again highlighting their Jekyll and Hyde persona this season. The loss leaves them in the ninth spot, 11 points off early trendsetters Leicester City.
A major reason for Leeds’s struggles have been the generalizability to put matches to bed. They have won just three of their opening nine games in the Championship, drawing four and losing just twice.
To put things into perspective, they are just five points above QPR, who are third from the bottom. The Hoops are not the most dangerous side that Farke’s men will face this season and dropping more points at home will raise serious doubts about Leeds’s ability to return to the Premier League in the first attempt.
While the visitors are once again expected to battle relegation this season, they have picked up two wins on the road against Cardiff City and Middlesbrough. Given that Leeds have been abject at Elland Road, surely Queens Park Rangers will fancy their chances. and have a go.
Leeds certainly have the quality and better options off the bench, making them favourites for the game. QPR find themselves in the relegation zone and unless they pick up points soon, could find themselves once again wary of preserving their status as a second division club. The Hard Tackle looks at how both sides could line up on Sunday and what tactics they might employ.
Team News & Tactics
Leeds United
🎙 Daniel Farke sits down with the press as his side prepares for QPR https://t.co/rwjJWtEemD
— Leeds United (@LUFC) October 3, 2023
Leeds United looked to be putting together a solid unbeaten run before the loss to Southampton brought them crashing down to earth. It was a wake-up call for the Yorkshire giants and one that Daniel Farke would be wise to heed.
The margin of error is quite small in a competitive league such as the Championship, and the Peacocks will know well enough the difficulty in gaining promotion to the top flight unless a semblance of consistency can be found.
The quartet of Junior Firpo, Djed Spence, Stuart Dallas, and Wilfried Gnonto are still out injured. But the returns of Liam Cooper and Patrick Bamford will give Farke options and experience.
The 4-2-3-1 formation is unlikely to be tinkered with as Illan Meslier is once again expected to start in goal. He is likely to be protected by the back four of Jamie Shackleton, Liam Cooper, Joe Rodon and Sam Byram.
Ethan Ampadu and Archie Gray should anchor the midfield, giving the trio of Daniel James, Joel Piroe and Crysencio Summerville freedom to push forward. Georginio Rutter is likely to retain his spot up front in the attack.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Meslier; Shackleton, Cooper, Rodon, Byram; Archie, Ampadu; James, Piroe, Summerville; Rutter
Queens Park Rangers
The Hoops are once again expected to fight relegation and sure enough, find themselves in the bottom three going into the game. However, Gareth Ainsworth’s men have surprisingly been better away from home and will hope to add to that tally at Elland Road.
QPR’s defence has not really done them any favours and against Leeds, they will once again find their backs to the wall. Jimmy Dunne is ruled out, while Morgan Fox is a doubt for the game. The visitors will be keen to continue with their 3-4-3 formation. Asmir Begovic should start in goal behind a back three of Osman Kakay, Steve Cook, and Jake Clarke-Salter.
The gaffer looks ahead to Leeds 🗣 pic.twitter.com/zMKBIAgnxa
— QPR FC (@QPR) October 3, 2023
Sam Field and Jack Colback should hold the fort in central midfield, giving Paul Smyth and Kenneth Paal the freedom to push forward. Sinclair Armstrong and Ilias Chair should form the creative duo, acting as dual number tens with Lyndon Dykes starting up front.
Probable Lineup (3-4-3): Begovic; Kakay, Cook, Clarke-Salter; Smyth, Field, Colback, Paal; Armstrong, Dykes, Chair
Key Stats
- Leeds United have won their last three league games against QPTR at Elland Road, their best-ever run of wins at home against the Hoops.
- A win on the night will see QPR win consecutive league games against Leeds United for the first time since October 1992.
- A win on the night will see Leeds United win consecutive league games for the first time since August 2022.
- Keeping a clean sheet on the night will see QPR keep three straight shutouts on the road for the first time in the league since 2013.
- Daniel Farke has lost just once to QPR in the league, all the way back in 2018 when he was manager of Norwich City.
Player to Watch
Joel Piroe
The attacker has six goals in ten appearances for Leeds this season and will be their most dangerous offensive threat against QPR. His ability to push forward and move into channels on the right makes him a difficult player to mark. Piroe has the ability to connect the midfield to the attack and as long as he has a good day, it could prove to be a long night for QPR.
Prediction
Leeds United 2-1 Queens Park Rangers
While QPR have some clout going away from home, Leeds are a far superior side with an immediate need to bounce back. Elland Road will egg on Daniel Farke’s men, and they are expected to secure all three points on the night.