The Leeds United boss might feel tempted to make a change some fans have been longing him to enact
Isaac Johnson Leeds United reporter
06:00, 28 Nov 2025
Leeds United will have to cope without two key players
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Leeds United will have to cope without two key players(Image: Stu Forster/Getty Images)
The camera lenses will be trained on the Etihad Stadium dugouts throughout Leeds United’s trip to Manchester City.
Pep Guardiola is on a two-game losing streak and will be expected to sweep aside what many home fans will consider relegation fodder. Leeds will have to frustrate the hosts and stay alert if they have any chance of taking anything out of the contest.
Few, if any, are expecting Farke to walk away with points - but what he cannot do is register an annihilation. Five losses in six games will probably become six defeats in seven but Saturday will be about trying to find anything to keep the faith in Farke.
Away performances have been abysmal, that Wolves win aside. All others have ended in defeats and Leeds have barely laid a glove on their opponents. An upset would turn the ship and give Farke more grace but with that unlikely, it is about reasons to stay positive amidst a probable defeat.
Stopping Haaland and Man City
That’s the main question isn’t it. Although it is one that some teams have answered. It does seem as though that if Leeds-born Erling Haaland has an off-day, Man City are a lot less potent. However, the quality of the squad as a whole will surely be too much for Leeds anyway.
And there is an ominous cloud looming. City will be raring to amend their recent malaise having rested a number of key players against Bayer Leverkusen in midweek. There is the potential for things to get nasty for United.
Haaland does not like going games without scoring and Leeds could be the perfect punchbag. If the visitors can cut off the supply to Haaland they might have a chance. Any thoughts of a high line, too, should be ditched.
Midfield numbers
To lose Sean Longstaff for at least a month with Anton Stach out the trip to Man City with concussion - that is a big blow. This was something highlighted amid the absences of Ethan Ampadu and Ao Tanaka earlier in the season - is having five senior midfielders is enough?
Longstaff is a workhorse and to not have him available for the next three games depletes confidence in the midfield. There is a chance Stach misses the Chelsea game in midweek too if he does not pass concussion protocols.
All the while Ethan Ampadu is treading a suspension tightrope with a yellow card in the next seven games incurring a one-game ban.
The picture is not great and on Saturday at least, it means Ilia Gruev, Ampadu and Ao Tanaka playing the full 90 minutes in a 4-3-3 formation is deployed. Unless Brenden Aaronson comes centrally later on…
Setting up
It is something that Farke has been criticised for but surely the German has to alter his set-up to give Leeds any chance, especially in light of the injury news.
He recently pointed to the left flank as something he is concerned about given seven of the last eight goals have come via that wing. Should he change to a back five? That’s the question many will be asking. And perhaps hoping.
Leeds are going to be camped in their own half for long periods, so will need an outball too. It might be a case of attack versus defence but Farke also needs to ensure there is a sliver of an attacking idea once the ball is won.
The team news has given Farke a lot to think about regarding his set-up, and it’s not straight forward. It does seem like a risk to keep the status quo going, though.
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