Leeds Utd v Southampton Match Thread - Llorente replaces injured Shackleton

[Ellandback1]

Tuesday 23rd February 2021 18:00 | Elland Road


After suffering back to back defeats at the hands of Arsenal and Wolves, Leeds will be hoping to get back to winning ways at the expense of a Southampton side in free fall. Before their 1-1 draw against Chelsea at St Mary's, the Saints have lost six games in a row including a 9-0 drubbing at the hands of Manchester Utd. Leeds currently lie in 12th place on 32 points, one place and two points above their South Coast opponents.

Leeds Manager Marcelo Bielsa had some big decisions to make. With Kalvin Phillips probably still sidelined, Diego Llorente comes into the side in place of Jamie Shackleton who misses out with a minor injury.. Tyler Roberts looked lively without any real end product against Wolves but will keep his place in the attacking midfield role ahead of veteran Pablo Hernandez. Record signing Rodrigo returned to training last Monday, but was not fit to participate on Friday night and is said not to be fit enough for tonights game. Bielsa gave this update regarding Phillips and Rodrigo prior to the Wolves game...

I could not give you a certain, answer. If I tell you that no they won’t play, one of them could perhaps make it for one of those games. And if I tell you yes, they will return, I can’t tell you this with certainty. Sometimes a response that seems like it's a formality is the only way I can answer because it’s actually subject to how they evolve.

Diego Llorente was fit enough to take the bench against Wolves and may still be a risk starting tonight, but Bielsa has no choice. Robin Koch is currently being assessed on a 'week-to-week' basis, but is not expected to play any part in proceedings for another month. Berardi is earmarked to start for the U23's against Crystal Palace on March 1st. Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl says midfielder Stuart Armstrong has a "50-50" chance of recovering from a muscle problem in time to play on Tuesday. Kyle Walker-Peters, Theo Walcott and Ibrahima Diallo are still sidelined. Danny Ings is named on the bench.





This is their first meeting in any competition since October 2012, when Leeds won 3-0 at home in a League Cup tie. Southampton are on a run of three straight league victories in this fixture, with the most recent being a 1-0 away win in March 2012. However, Leeds have lost just one of their 12 home games against Southampton in the Premier League, keeping nine clean sheets (W6, D5). Leeds have lost consecutive league matches for the fourth time this season. They haven't lost three in a row since November 2017. Leeds are one victory shy of 200 in the Premier League.

Saints' total of four points in 2021 is the lowest in the Premier League, as is their tally of six goals scored. Southampton ended a club record run of six consecutive league defeats by drawing against Chelsea on Saturday. Their solitary victory in 12 top-flight matches came against Liverpool in January (D4, L7). Saints have won nine of their past 10 league games against promoted sides, with the exception being a goalless draw with Fulham on Boxing Day this season. Ralph Hasenhuttl's side have dropped a league-high 18 points from winning positions this season. They have conceded 21 goals in their eight league fixtures this year, having let in just 19 in their 16 matches in 2020.


Leeds Starting XI
Meslier, Ayling, Struijk, Cooper, Dallas, Llorente, Klich, Harrison, Roberts, Raphinha, Bamford

Subs: Casilla, Alioski, Cresswell, Casey, Costa, Jenkins, Huggins, Hernandez, Gelhardt

[Chilli D]

Shackleton impressed me.

[Ellandback1]

Shackleton impressed me.

https://onefootball.com/en/news/jamie-s ... s-32422371

[Chilli D]

https://onefootball.com/en/news/jamie-s ... s-32422371

The number of touches a player has doesn't necessarily define a player's performance.
What's better - a player who has 33 good touches or a player that has 50 bad ones?

[Cjay]

The number of touches a player has doesn't necessarily define a player's performance.
What's better - a player who has 33 good touches or a player that has 50 bad ones?

He also made no tackles, no blocks and no interceptions.

Definitely isnt a dm imo.

Passing was accurate tbf but not convinced by him myself.

[The Subhuman]

He didn't play DMF to be fair ..

[Irish Ian]

We didn't really play a DMF in Fridays game which kind of worked because they didnt try and come through the middle

Not sure what to expect this game, SH have good players but have t been great, but they will be confident after their last game.

[1964white]

A must win game imo!

[Carrick Dave]

Southampton were looking very tasty not so long ago, with Ings and Adams on fire up front. We could lose by three or win by three, let's hope it's the latter. A win takes us back to 10th, a loss and it's 13th.

No reason why we can't extend their recent poor run, but football has very little to do with reason.

Narrow 1-0 win for me however.

[WhiteRose]

3rd game in a row playing a team directly below us who can leapfrog us in the table, already happened twice, can't lose 3 out of 3.

We are down to bare bones a bit at the moment but if
rodrigo isn't fit would rather have alioski start and play dallas in midfield than have roberts start again.

[Chilli D]

He also made no tackles, no blocks and no interceptions.

Definitely isnt a dm imo.

Passing was accurate tbf but not convinced by him myself.

He got the 6th highest score in our MOTM ratings so others saw his performance differently obviously

[Leeds1000]

Only a few weeks ago when they lost 9-0 to MU they had a seriously depleted squad. I take from the draw with Chelsea most of the players must be back? Another team that can produce the goods on their day like us. Other than their better known players i don't know too much about their quality. They are the Brentford of the PL, their players sales were relentless a few years back but they don't seem to have lost too many i can recall of late.

Much like Palace without Zaha we need to step up and show its not all about Phillips.

[CHAPELALLMAN]

Southampton play with two forwards, so MB will probably change our 4-1-4-1 and most likely bring Llorente into the backline with Cooper and Struijk.

[Chilli D]

Danny Ings is obviously their danger man.

[Byebyegeegee]

If Phillips wasn't playing I predicted a loss against Wolves which turned out to be the case unfortunately. But as it turned out we played well enough to deserve at least a draw if not a win, even without Phillips.

So on the supposition that we can't be so unlucky twice in a row (or can we?), I'm going for a narrow win and 3 needed points in this one. Here's hoping

[1964white]

Team news

Phillips & Rodrigo unavailable.

But Llorente is back. Berardi is evolving, the same as Poveda. Forshaw is in a process which is a lot slower.

[Cjay]

Really miss Rodrigo imo, despite not being perfect in midfield he is the only other player on Raph's wavelength

[Scoobychief]

A must win game imo!

Too true

[Irish Ian]

Interesting listening to one of the pre game pod casts today. The Southampton guy mentioned that Ralph Hasenhüttl is a bit like Bielsa in that he has plan A plan A or plan A. A very rigid system when either works well or the wheels come off... they have been missing a few key players so have been using the square peg round hole philosophy so well known by us.

They play 4-2-2-2 with their wing backs bombing down the outside and their two No10s pulling the oppos back line out of shape.
They are missing their RWB so Harrison should have some freedom.


Their new signing Takumi Minamino has started well with two goals in two and boy he looks hot!

They have an even more porous defence than us.
Though Ralph Hasenhüttl is as safe in his job as Bielsa despite two 9-0 thrashings!

This could be a real good tactical battle. They love the middle of the pitch and we er... would like to as well...

0-0 written all over it

[Lumiukko]

Had a dream last night that Che Adams scored a 50yard rocket/screamer. I'm hoping I wasn't looking in the crystal ball