Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa believes West Ham United have “improved” this season ahead of Saturday’s Premier League meeting at Elland Road, speaking to the club’s official website.
That doesn’t bode well for a Leeds side whose injury-hit defence has yet to keep a clean sheet this season.
West Ham did the double over Leeds last term too.
And, with Luke Ayling potentially joining Robin Koch, Diego Llorente and the still-suspended Pascal Struijk on the sidelines, Liam Cooper will have his work cut out stopping a Hammers side set to welcome back their ravenous tiger shark of a centre-forward Michail Antonio.
Said Benrahma and Pablo Fornals have produced their best performances in claret and blue this season too, while Manuel Lanzini scored his first goal since that last-gasp blockbuster against Tottenham Hotspur 11 months ago while knocking Manchester United out of the EFL Cup in midweek.
Can Leeds find a way to stop West Ham?
“West Ham are the same team as last season,” Bielsa said at his pre-match press conference.
“I see they have improved in their creative play. They have a very stable manner in which they play and the majority of the players are better this year than they were last year.
“Our project to play is the same as last year. I don’t see the opponents have any different antidotes to what they used last season.
“Now we’re not able to win it means our game needs to evolve. Evolve in the sense to make better what we want to do.”
The question on the lips of many Leeds supporters will be this – who on earth will partner captain Cooper when West Ham come to town?
How far can Bielsa stretch Stuart Dallas’ versatility? Should Kalvin Phillips slot in, which would only serve to open another problem in defensive midfield.
Perhaps 19-year-old Charlie Cresswell will get the nod after a confident performance in the midweek cup win at Fulham?
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
