Leeds United will make the trip to the Stadium of Light this Sunday aiming to get back on track in the Premier League against Sunderland. Daniel Farke and his squad were genuinely frustrated to walk away with only a point from their intense 1-1 draw against Manchester United at Elland Road. Following a competitive, narrow loss away at Arsenal, that frustration at home highlights just how rapidly Leeds have raised their own standards.
Their upcoming encounter offers a prime opportunity on paper. Sunderland currently occupy the bottom spot in the table, having endured a sluggish start to the campaign. Nevertheless, Leeds cannot afford to underestimate their hosts, and tweaking the lineup could provide the exact spark required to secure three points.
Stability remains the watchword for the defensive unit. James Trafford was completely blameless for Bryan Mbeumo’s strike last weekend and should comfortably retain his position between the posts in the North East. Ahead of him, Jayden Bogle and James Justin worked effectively in tandem down the right flank against Manchester United, seeing plenty of the ball and creating sustained pressure. In central defense, the partnership of Tarik Muharemovic and Nico Elvedi continues to look dependable. Even with Joe Rodon edging closer to a return, neither defender deserves to lose his place. Gabriel Gudmundsson completes the back five on the left, where he will hope to find more space to push forward into the final third.
The midfield contest will serve as the engine room of this fixture. Ethan Ampadu and Ao Tanaka never shy away from a physical scrap, and they will need to be sharp from the opening whistle. Sunderland may be struggling in the standings, but they still boast genuine pedigree in the center of the pitch with Granit Xhaka and Noah Sadiki. That duo proved to be one of the division’s most formidable pairings last season, and their quality cannot be overlooked. Anton Stach should line up ahead of Ampadu and Tanaka, offering a creative outlet while regularly dropping back into the pocket to ensure Leeds are not outnumbered in central areas.
The most pressing tactical question surrounds the attacking unit. Dominic Calvert-Lewin remains an automatic starter as long as he is healthy, serving as the focal point up front. The dilemma lies with Noah Okafor. The winger has endured a noticeable dip in form over recent weeks, with his pace and dribble-heavy style looking disconnected from the team’s patient build-up play. Against Manchester United, Leeds dominated possession and repeatedly filtered the ball wide, yet the final delivery rarely troubled the opposition defense.
If Farke wants to persist with this possession-based, crossing strategy, he requires higher quality service from wide zones. Introducing Harry Wilson for just his second league start of the campaign could resolve that issue. Wilson possesses the delivery and set-piece ability to feed Calvert-Lewin effectively. Giving Wilson the nod on the right would allow Stach to shift wider toward the left, providing Leeds with the precision and balance needed to break Sunderland down.