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Leeds United’s excellent win over Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday has left the club sitting pretty going into the November break – but it has also left Daniel Farke with a major headache.
After five Premier League games without a win, Leeds went into Saturday’s clash needing to secure three points. They did just that, with Farke bringing on Noah Okafor just at the right time to score the only goal.
A third Premier League win of the season takes Leeds into eighth place in the table, with 14 points from 10 games so far. Concern about being slung into a relegation battle has faded, with Leeds well-placed.
TalkingPoints
After losing to Arsenal, and with Man United up next, where do you think Leeds will finish in the Premier League and why? 🤔
While Farke was clearly delighted with the win, punching the air as Okafor scored the only goal of the game, it has left the manager with two selection headaches ahead of a trip to Chelsea on November 21.
On Saturday, Farke made a tweak to his starting XI, bringing in Sean Longstaff and Lukas Nmecha. Melvin Bard replaced Gabi Gudmundsson at half-time, and the Frenchman was excellent on the left of defence.
Longstaff was impressive in what was his first League start in 346 days, while Okafor got the all-important goal. Tarik Muharemovic was man of the match, but Bard and Longstaff were praised on Talking Points.
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jordan.harris
What a massive win!! Bard, Longstaff, Tarik all absolutely outstanding
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When the trip to Chelsea comes around in 12 days, Farke has plenty of selection headaches in front of him. If Anton Stach is fit, does Longstaff start? Stach has been playing with a broken finger and little toe.
It is a crying shame that Longstaff has been sidelined for so long; he deserves a lot better, and he proved that against Spurs. Okafor has had some injury problems, but when he is fit, he absolutely has to start.
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freddie
He’s such an underrated player player Okafor! Also Muharemovic is a BEAST 🔥
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Before Saturday, Gudmundsson’s form had dipped but no-one was calling for Nice loanee Bard to start over him. After Saturday’s win, the majority of Leeds fans want Bard to start; such was his performance.
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dantowen81951
Fully deserved. Leeds just have such a solid base level. Tanaka excellent, and what a cameo from Bard
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Farke has three major selection headaches. If he starts Longstaff, it could well be at the expense of Stach and possibly Wilson, both of whom on paper are up there among the best players on Leeds’ books.
Gudmundsson has been first choice ever since his £10m arrival from Lille; Bard was only ever signed as cover, but could Farke take the plunge and start with Bard? Leeds could look very different at Chelsea.
The switch to bring in Lukas Nmecha along with Dominic Calvert-Lewin helped Leeds nullify an in-form Spurs side. Is Okafor better off the bench, allowing him to explode against tired defenders for Leeds?
Farke has a series of headaches to sort out, with Bard, Okafor and Longstaff all pushing to start. Below, we deliver an early predicted XI to take on the Blues when the November international break is at an end.
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