Leeds predicted lineup vs Manchester United: Phillips starts, Junior Firpo not ready

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Leeds United open their second season back in the Premier League with a mouthwatering trip to face Manchester United at Old Trafford – and here is our predicted lineup.

Which players will Marcelo Bielsa be concerned about?

As things stand, it would appear that Leeds’s potential problems heading into the curtain-raiser involve some of their more defensive players.

Diego Llorente is set to miss out. Junior Firpo meanwhile, missed the latter stages of pre-season with a slight knock.

Bielsa did confirm that Junior will be available for Saturday.

The other key player with a question mark hanging over them may be Kalvin Phillips.

Phillips obviously returned to training later than most of his teammates after starring for England at Euro 2020.

Leeds predicted lineup: Bielsa takes one gamble, plays it safe with teammate

Leeds have a fantastic opportunity to prove a point this weekend.

Not only will they quickly quash talk of possible second season syndrome with a positive performance and result, but they would also avenge what happened at Old Trafford last season.

On that occasion, Leeds struggled to cope in the middle of the park. And that is why Bielsa may opt to gamble on Phillips.

Robin Koch was superb in his role late last term. But he did not manage to quite recapture that form in pre-season.

So it would be a huge boost if Phillips is available. Koch meanwhile, may drop back into defence alongside Pascal Struijk.

Junior may be given more time. Stuart Dallas is comfortable at left-back. So that takes some of the pressure off the former Barcelona star.

Elsewhere, Liam Cooper may be the surprise absentee. It would be a brave call to leave the captain out. But Struijk and Koch may be Bielsa’s best available partnership.

Here is the predicted lineup in full…