Leeds United host Brighton and Hove Albion at Elland Road this Saturday, looking for wins in back to back Premier League home games to ease their fear of relegation.
Brighton are currently 8th in the table and in the hunt for crucial points in their pursuit of European football under Roberto De Zerbi.
Meanwhile, the Whites are in desperate need of crucial points in their bid to survive the drop. Gracia won his previous home game 1-0 against Southampton, but has lost his last two games to Fulham (FA Cup) and Chelsea 2-0 and 1-0 respectively.
The previous encounter at the AMEX stadium ended 1-0, but there has been a change in the dugout for both teams, with Jesse Marsch and Graham Potter in charge of the two sides back in August.
Here, we take a look at TWO players surely facing the axe for Leeds for the upcoming game.
Time for Leeds to axe Jack Harrison?
Harrison’s days starting for Leeds look to be numbered, especially after his previous performance against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
The 26-year-old has perennially struggled with consistency as a Leeds player, and often goes on streaks of form. He plays well for a few games before dipping into a bad spell of form again, which seems to be the case currently.
He was frustrating last weekend and ought to be dropped. The winger was breaking down the Whites’ attacks and presenting the ball back to Chelsea in good forward positions.
Leeds have a wealth of attacking options out wide and should look to their other options for a game or two to take Harrison out of the firing line for a bit.
Quiz: Can you remember Leeds United’s last 15 results v Brighton and Hove Albion?
Could Luke Ayling miss out v Brighton?
The right-back had come into some good form of late but struggled in the game against Chelsea, and perhaps warrants a change there for the upcoming Brighton game.
Ayling’s recent resurgence has rewarded him with an improved deal, but the Stamford Brdige fixture showed up the clear weaknesses in his game: mobility and athleticism.
He has never had pace but his lack of agility and speed were particularly highlighted in that game, and Rasmus Kristensen is far stronger in that department. Leeds have two options there and should continue to test out both and rotate between now and the end of the season.
Kristensen has had a while out of the starting XI now and deserves a chance to impress again.
Predictions for the Brighton game?
Leeds win
Brighton win
Draw
