Joe Rodon has been a mainstay for Daniel Farke during his Leeds United tenure, but he will have to deal without the defender for now
Isaac Johnson Leeds United reporter
11:20, 30 Dec 2025
Joe Rodon stays on the deck after a tackle
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Leeds United look as though they will have to make-do without Joe Rodon(Image: ANDY BUCHANAN / AFP via Getty Images)
Joe Rodon has started the last 104 league games for Leeds United, but that streak will come to an end this week.
The Welsh warrior was felled by two challenges at Sunderland, the latter of which saw his ankle get trapped under the tackler's leg causing him to be withdrawn. With his foot joint swollen as a result, Rodon is set to miss the trip to Liverpool and probably the next two games.
His loss will be a real blow given what he has offered Leeds in defence throughout his time at Elland Road, and in attack, too, this season. Daniel Farke has means to deal with this and while none are ideal, there are three obvious defence set-ups he could deploy;
Bogle, Bijol, Struijk, Gudmundsson
It would not be surprising to see Farke start with a back four against Liverpool given how fluid Leeds have looked in such a system recently. The comebacks against Liverpool at home, Brentford and Sunderland all came as a result of such a change of formation.
Jaka Bijol and Pascal Struijk played well together as a duo for the first time for the majority of Sunday's showdown. Whether that can stop Liverpool's attacking vigour is another question, though.
Bogle, Bornauw, Bijol, Struijk, Gudmundsson
And so it's not beyond the realms of possibility that Leeds stick with a back five to ensure an extra body is there. Sebastiaan Bornauw did not come on against Sunderland given Farke was thinking about changing the formation structure anyway, albeit perhaps not that early.
Bornauw has only enjoyed two cameo appearances in the Premier League, and this would be his first start, and so there would be natural risks with this ploy. But in a back five, there should be enough coverage and if not for times like these, why has Bornauw been signed?
Bogle, Ampadu, Bijol, Struijk, Gudmundsson
This might be a selection some supporters would feel more comfortable with but in reality this seems less likely, against Liverpool anyway. With Sean Longstaff still out, Leeds are short on midfield alternatives with one natural midfielder on the bench at any given time at present.
Ampadu's best role is undoubtedly in midfield and while he performed brilliantly at centre-back in the Championship, the Premier League is a different matter. That said, he might be fine in the back five. But as for this week, it would be a touch surprising to see such a set-up.
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