Predicted Leeds XI for Hull: Nine changes with Bielsa focused on the league

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Leeds kick off their EFL Cup campaign against recently-relegated Hull at Elland Road tonight.

This was a Championship fixture last season, before both clubs exited the second tier in opposite directions.

Leeds won both meetings with the Tigers last season, 2-0 at home and 4-0 away.

But the side Marcelo Bielsa sends out tonight will likely look very different to either of the ones he deployed in those two fixtures.

Bielsa is expected to ring the changes, given his small squad and the fact that the Premier League takes priority this season.

Backup stopper Kiko Casilla and young defender Leif Davis played both EFL Cup fixtures last season and should get a game here.

Gaetano Berardi likely would have played at right back, but in his absence, Luke Ayling could continue there.

Pascal Struijk is the only other Anfield starter who we expect to see tonight, as Liam Cooper continues his recovery from injury.

It could be a youthful midfield, and the fact that Ian Poveda has been interviewed by the club website about the match indicates he might get a start.

“We won’t know the starting 11 until the teamsheet goes up, there might be changes, there might not be,” said Poveda.

“I just focus on every game, do my best in training and work on my recovery. That’s all I can do, then once the opportunity arrives, I have make sure that I take it.”

We’ve got Gianni Alioski playing one wing with Poveda on the other here, either side of record signing Rodrigo.

He needs matches to get up to speed and get used to Bielsa’s style of play. The match tonight offers a perfect opportunity and he will hope to open his Leeds account.

Predicting the thinking of a manager like Bielsa can be tricky, especially when a host of changes could be on the cards.