Leeds United face the near-impossible task of taking on Manchester City on Saturday afternoon at The Etihad and Paul Merson has given his prediction, and a strange take on Dan James.
After five losses in six league games, Farke is under huge pressure. Sources have told LeedsUnited.News that The 49ers are keen to avoid a knee-jerk decision, but are aware that supporters want Farke sacked.
Prediction for Leeds v Man City:
Indeed, results are required in the next few weeks. For Farke, that is going to be an uphill task to say the least, with Leeds scheduled to face Man City, Chelsea and Liverpool in the space of the upcoming week.
Bayer Leverkusen’s win will remind Farke and Leeds that this is not a Man City side at full pelt. Indeed, City are missing both Rodri and Mateo Kovacic, but it is still a side that will be expected to beat Leeds easily.
Dan James v Villa.
Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images
On Thursday, Paul Merson provided his usual prediction and it will come as little surprise that he expects Man City to ease to a 3-0 win on Saturday. Leeds fans will be expecting a similar result come Saturday.
But what was interesting, in his Sports Keeda column, was that he decided to take aim at Dan James. A player that has not started a Premier League game for Leeds since the 0-0 draw with Newcastle in August.
“I really worry for them this season. Five losses in the last six games, they are not an exciting team. When they were in the Championship, they had the X-factor in Dan James. That’s not the case anymore.
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“James is the type of player who is too good for the Championship but not up to the mark in the Premier League. Leeds have been poor away from home and they have a really tough run of fixtures coming up.”
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According to Farke in his press conference, Leeds could be without three players. Anton Stach is out with a concussion, and is observing protocol. Then there is Sean Longstaff, who has picked up a calf problem.
Sebastiaan Bornauw, meanwhile, is a late call due to an MCL injury. But the injuries could mean that James is finally given a start by Farke, because it could mean the German pushes Aaronson into midfield.
Farke has constantly defended Aaronson and is confident that his running stats warrant his place in the side. Aaronson is more suited to the midfield role than Ilia Gruev is, and that means James can come in.
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