Leeds United v Stoke City: Matchday Thread plus lineups

Leeds United host Stoke City today in the only Championship match of the day. This will be the debut match for both clubs, and it’s not an understatement to say that this will be one of the most anticipated matches in Leeds, if not England, in recent memory.

For all of the new additions and all of the hype surrounding Marcelo Bielsa’s revolutionary formation, Leeds will lineup with an extremely similar lineup to the one that was only able to limp to a midtable finish last season. No Patrick Bamford, Jack Harrison, Lewis Baker or Jamal Blackman in the starting XI, although all of them feature on the bench.

The only player making his Leeds debut today is Barry Douglas, and the formation certainly looks as if it will be a 4-1-4-1 with Phillips playing as a defensive midfielder in front of the back four, although once on the attack the formation is sure to be fluid.

Will Bielsa’s high press make the difference for Leeds? Or does Stoke City have enough quality from their Premier League days to take all the points on their travels?

Let us know what you think in the comments.