Good Morning. It's Friday 28th November, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road...
Midfield crisis worsens amid Longstaff calf injury
Leeds United face a significant midfield crisis as they prepare to face Manchester City this weekend; a fixture already daunting enough without the added headache of missing key personnel. Anton Stach is unavailable due to concussion protocols, and will only resume team training on Sunday, making his involvement against Chelsea next Wednesday equally doubtful.
Thursday’s press conference saw Daniel Farke deliver more bad news, confirming that Sean Longstaff will miss 4-6 weeks with a calf injury, leaving Leeds worryingly thin in the centre of the pitch. Against one of Europe’s most formidable midfields, Farke’s options are limited. Brendan Aaronson is expected to retain his place but will be tasked with filling Longstaff’s box-to-box role, which may pave the way for Dan James to return on the right wing.
AO Tanaka appears the most likely direct replacement for Stach, though his modest 6.17 Whoscored rating suggests he will have much to prove. Alternatively, Ilea Gruev could be brought in as a midfield pivot; defensively solid and adept at breaking up play, the Bulgarian might help contain City’s attacking waves, though his skillset is less suited to creative build-up. If further flexibility is required, James Justin’s adaptability could be key. The wing-back’s capacity to operate across multiple midfield positions might offer Leeds some tactical unpredictability in a game where they’ll need every possible advantage.
Could hard running and stamina be Leeds lifeline?
Leeds head to the Etihad on Saturday staring down some grim statistical realities, and frankly, the omens couldn’t be much bleaker. Since that early-season slip-up at home to Tottenham, Manchester City have transformed their patch into a fortress, rattling off five straight league wins with a fearsome combined score-line of 16–2. Despite back to back losses Pep Guardiola look ruthless, efficient, and hungry at the Etihad, not exactly the traits you want to encounter when your own season is in freefall. Leeds, meanwhile, have tumbled into the relegation zone after losing five of their last six matches, their confidence ebbing away almost as quickly as the points are disappearing.
Daniel Farke is under mounting pressure, but the German appeared unfased in Thursday’s press conference. In fact, he even found a positive: Leeds are apparently second in the Premier League, behind only City, when it comes to “physical output” this season. “Good fitness level and mentality,” he insisted, suggesting that hard running and stamina might just be their lifeline. It’s a nice stat, but stamina alone may not be enough when you’re coming up against City’s technical precision and clinical finishing.
History doesn’t help calm the nerves either. Leeds were humiliated 7–0 at the Etihad in 2021, and although the 2–1 defeat in 2023 was more respectable, it still left them empty-handed. With City in imperious home form and Leeds so worryingly brittle, another heavy defeat feels like a very real possibility. The bigger question looms in the background: if a walloping does arrive, will it also bring the curtain down on Farke’s tenure at Elland Road? Saturday might well give us the answer!
