Sunday Fulham Stuff - 23/10/22...

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Silva: 'We must show our quality'
Marco Silva believes tomorrow's trip to Leeds United gives Fulham an opportunity to show their Premier League quality in the electric Elland Road atmosphere.

The Whites moved into ninth with an easy win over Aston Villa at Craven Cottage – and travel to Yorkshire looking to make it seven points from the last three games. The Fulham head coach told his pre-match press conference:

    "We know what type of team we will play against. Even if they didn't take the best results the last few games, all of us know what it means to play at Elland Road, what type of atmosphere will be there. Everyone that loves football loves that type of environment. It's another good opportunity for us to show our quality, our personality as a team, to deal well with that type of environment."

Silva was adamant that Leeds' stuttering start to the season doesn't give him any increase in confidence ahead of this fixture.

    "Not really. Our motivation comes from ourselves, from our desire to be playing at the level we are playing, to keep improving, to learn from some mistakes. This is our own motivation. "I'm sure they want to react and we want to keep reacting as a team as well, for different circumstances. It's up to us to prepare our players well, to recover well, because it's a really short space between both games. We have to assess them, how they are, and prepare in the best way we can."



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2022/10/silva-we-must-show-our-quality/

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Leeds United v Fulham injury news with seven out and big question marks over two stars
Six players are currently out injured for Sunday's Premier League clash between Leeds United and Fulham at Elland Road for which there are question marks about two stars and another is unable to play.

Whites boss Jesse Marsch has four players currently sidelined in Adam Forshaw (hernia surgery), Archie Gray (fractured toe), Leo Hjelde (appendectomy) and longer-term absentee Stuart Dallas (femoral fracture). There are also question marks about United's current first choice left back Pascal Struijk who missed Thursday night's 2-0 defeat at Leicester City having suffered a minor injury. Marsch is "hopeful" that the 23-year-old will return to face Fulham but could give no guarantees at his pre-match press conference.

Layvin Kurzawa (calf) and longer-term absentee Manor Solomon (knee) are currently sidelined for Fulham who have also been without Dutch international defender Kenny Tete of late but Tete could be in contention to return against the Whites. The defender started Fulham's first seven Premier League games of the season but the right back suffered a hamstring injury ahead of the hosting of Newcastle United at the start of the month and has not featured since.

Tete did not make the matchday squad for Thursday night's 3-0 win at home to Aston Villa but Cottagers boss Marco Silva has said that the 27-year-old is the closest of those players injured to being involved against Leeds. Fulham's Whites loanee Dan James will be missing on Sunday as the Wales international is prevented from facing his parent side by the terms of his deal. Fulham will, though, have Nathaniel Chalobah back from suspension now that the midfielder has completed a three-match ban for his straight red card picked up in the defeat at home to Newcastle.



https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-united/leeds-united-v-fulham-injury-news-with-seven-out-and-big-question-marks-over-two-stars-3890262

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Jasper's Bristol Rovers loan ends
Sylvester Jasper's loan spell with Bristol Rovers is over – with the Fulham winger wasting no time in contradicting former manager Joey Barton as to the reasons why.

Barton told journalists after the Gas drew 2-2 with Plymouth Argyle this afternoon that Jasper had left the League One club because he was unhappy about a lack of game time – something the Bulgarian under-21 international swiftly denied via his Twitter account. The winger made just six substitute league appearances for Rovers since signing on transfer deadline day and will now be reintegrated into Steve Wigley's PL2 side after returning to Fulham.



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2022/10/jaspers-bristol-rovers-loan-ends/

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Joey Barton reveals why Bristol Rovers have sent Sylvester Jasper back to Fulham

Fulham winger Sylvester Jasper, who made just six substitute appearances for Bristol Rovers in League One, has denied Barton's reasons for his early return to west London

Joey Barton has confirmed that Bristol Rovers have sent loanee Sylvester Jasper back to Fulham after the winger declared to him he was unhappy over his lack of first-team minutes.

Jasper signed for the Gas on summer transfer deadline day and has made six substitute appearances in League One, playing 80 minutes in total, and two starts in the EFL Trophy, including against Swindon Town on Tuesday night.

In the wake of that performance the 21-year-old appears to have communicated his frustration to Barton with a lack of first–team involvement and Rovers have made the decision to send him back to west London after just seven weeks.

Bristol Live understands that the loan has not been formally terminated but there appears no way back for the winger who, in a social media post, has appeared to deny Barton's version of events.

"He wasn't happy with the minutes he was getting and he's gone back to Fulham," Barton said, following Rovers' 2-2 draw with Plymouth Argyle at the Mem. "He's obviously got disappointed and if you're not happy... crack on. We've got Scott Sinclair, we just keep moving forward. We've made the decision.

"I get when people aren't playing, they get disappointed. I mean, Josh Coburn was disappointed he's not playing today, we've probably got eight-nine lads disappointed they're not playing but you've got to channel that into performance and what you can't do is allow the outside world to see that disappointment.

"We're moving really fast here and if you want to be part of this, then you've got to buy into it absolutely. If not then you can crack on and there are 91 other professional clubs you can go and play for."

But a few minutes after the club tweeted confirmation of Jasper's exit due to a frustration over a lack of minutes, he replied on the social media platform, he replied with the message: "That's not the reason why I'm back at Fulham. However, I want to thank everyone involved at Bristol for their support during my time there, and I wish the club all the best for the future."


Sylvester Jasper's tweet, published on Saturday evening

Jasper's departure has also coincided with the arrival of Scott Sinclair on a short-term deal until January with the 33-year-old making his second debut for the Gas with an appearance off the bench in injury time against Plymouth.

That was Sinclair's first competitive game since the end of April, when he was still under contract at Preston North End, and as Barton indicated through the week, Rovers' new No7 will need time to get up to full match speed.

Sinclair effectively took Jasper's place in the matchday 18, with Barton claiming the former loanee's attitude ran contrary to the team spirit and character he's built and will continue to develop at the Gas.

"We have an ethos and principles here and if those aren't respected then we don't want you in our football club," Barton added.



https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/barton-sylvester-jasper-bristol-rovers-7736270

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Fulham winger refutes Joey Bartons's claims as Bristol Rovers end season-long loan

Bulgaria Under-21 international Sylvester Jasper has returned to Craven Cottage

Joey Barton says Bristol Rovers must 'keep moving forward' after season-long loan signing Sylvester Jasper was returned to Premier League side Fulham.

Jasper was a Deadline Day signing from the Cottagers and had made several appearances, mostly from the bench. His loan agreement was meant to have kept him at the Memorial Stadium for the entirety of the 2022/23 League One campaign.

The 21-year-old was not a first choice option for Barton, who tried varying systems to accomodate the ten signings he made in the summer. Rovers this week signed former Celtic and Aston Villa winger Scott Sinclair, which made Jasper's task of breaking into the starting eleven a tougher task.

"He wasn't happy with the minutes he was getting and he's gone back to Fulham," Barton said after his side fought back from two goals down against Plymouth Argyle.

"He's obviously got disappointed and if you're not happy here, crack on. He's gone back to Fulham and we've got Scott Sinclair. We just keep moving forward. We've made the decision, not him. If people aren't playing they get disappointed."

His only starts as a Bristol Rovers player came in the EFL Trophy, where he showed promise against Crystal Palace's Under-21's, but was unable to add to his first-half showing. Jasper's last appearance in the Blue and White quarters came against Swindon Town, playing the entirety of the match.

In total, he made eight appearances for the club and departs having played 261 minutes. His most notable contribution was two assists, both for Ryan Loft against Exeter City and Swindon respectively.

Jasper received best wishes from the ex-Manchester City and Newcastle midfielder, who wished him well for the remainder of his career.

"We have an ethos and principles here and if those aren't respected then we don't want you in our football club," the 40-year-old said.

"He's a talented boy, he'll have a decent career and he'll learn valuable lessons. "It's been explained to Fulham the reasons why and we wish him well. He had a couple of cameos for us but we have a lot of good players here and we haven't got time to waste on disappointment."

After both Barton and the club had revealed that Jasper had returned to West London, the former Colchester United and Hibernian loanee issued a response. He refuted the claims posted on the club's offical feed and wanted to add his side of his return.

"That's not the reason why I'm back at @FulhamFC," said the Bulgaria Under-21 international on Twitter. "However I want to thank everyone involved at Bristol for their support during my time there, and I wish the club all the best for the future."



https://www.bristolworld.com/sport/football/bristol-rovers/bristol-rovers-boss-joey-barton-explains-decision-to-send-fulham-loanee-back-3890297

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'Humble' Willian is fine fit for Fulham, says Silva
Eyebrows were raised in many quarters when the Premier League newcomers signed the 34 year-old veteran on a short-term deal after he had left Corinthians following death threats made against his family. But Silva insisted he had no doubts about the former Chelsea and Arsenal winger's quality, even if he struggled in a single season with the Gunners.

Marco Silva wasn't surprised by Willian's superb showing against Aston Villa on Thursday night – and feeling that the Brazilian veteran is the perfect fit for Fulham.

"He is top level and a top guy who still loves football and that is a great thing for me. Every single day he comes in to training he has a smile on his face and even at 34 he is still learning and wants to keep improving. I think he showed the quality to make the right decisions and he was really good, and although from a collective point of view it is hard to single out a man of the match because the team did so well, he was really good."

Once the Fulham head coach was satisfied that Willian was ready to return to England – he had no doubts about adding him to a Fulham squad that was short on Premier League experience.

"I never doubted his quality, but we had to think about his age, and in the minds of some people was his last spell at Arsenal where in the last few months he wasn't at his best. But I remember at Arsenal he had a very good impact at the start and although you can't compare the competition in Brazil to the Premier League, we watched him when we knew there was a chance we might get him.

Even there he had some really good moments, so it wasn't a trial – it was just having a conversation to see where he was at. I didn't need to see him train, or see his quality on the ball, it was just a matter of him feeling us and see how he felt about being here with us every day.

Then it was a case of me and him talking and we then took the decision together and it was the best for him and the football club. Despite all of his success, he is a humble guy, a top professional and a brilliant guy to have around."



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2022/10/humble-willian-is-fine-fit-for-fulham-says-silva/

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Leeds United: Phil Hay shares Jesse Marsch future message from Elland Road

Leeds United boss Jesse Marsch will be in charge of the Yorkshire side on Sunday for their clash at home against Fulham with the backing of the board.

This has been suggested by the reliable Whites reporter Phil Hay who has been speaking about the American's future on his latest podcast.

It has been a testing start to the campaign for the Whites who now find themselves in the relegation mix following their defeat on Thursday against Leicester City.

The Foxes were able to close the gap on Marsch's side with Leeds unable to lay a glove on Brenden Rodgers' struggling side at the King Power Stadium.

Despite the frustration among the Leeds fans, Hay believes there is no immediate concerns from Marsch over his position at the club:

"My understanding as of last night, as Thursday night, was that he would be there for the Fulham game. He was speaking afterwards as if he expected to be there. For the Fulham game. He was asked a lot about his future and support from the board.

"And he did front up to the questions, but said that, you know, as far as he was concerned, he thought the board would back him he felt that they were unified. He thought they would stick this out. And that seems to be sort of I mean, these things change, but that seems to be the message as it stands at the moment."

TIF Thoughts on Hay's comments...

It is certainly a massive call the Leeds board have to make and, for now, we do think they have made the right decision whilst the bottom of the table is so tight.

Just two wins could see Marsch's men surge up the table with eighth place Brighton & Hove Albion just six points above the struggling Yorkshire side.

The World Cup break is coming up and we think this is when the decision should be made as it will allow the club to potentially bring in a new face where they will have over a month to get a grip on the squad before the league restarts.



https://thisisfutbol.com/2022/10/podcasts/leeds-united-jesse-marsch-future-elland-road/

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Fulham prepared to pay up to €7 million to sign Luizao

Fulham are reportedly ready to fork out €6-7 million to sign 20-year-old Brazilian defensive powerhouse Luizao from Sao Paulo but will have to pay more to secure his signature.

According to South American football journalist Jorge Nicola, as relayed by Sport Witness, Fulham were prepared to shell out between €6-7 million for the services of Sao Paulo's central defensive powerhouse, Luizao, to get ahead of the competition, with West Ham and Nottingham Forest also keen on the 20-year-old.

But the Cottagers will need to match the Brazilian outfit's asking price of around €10 million to reach an agreement over a 2023 move for the defensive prodigy.

Luizao is a central defender who has broken into the Sao Paulo senior team over the last six months and has earned a decent number of minutes under his belt in recent times, making 10 Brazilian Serie A appearances so far this season.

But he has managed to impress in the Copinha tournament and subsequently has caught the eye of a host of European clubs, with Premier League sides' names in particular cropping up.

The 20-year-old has now entered the final few months of his contract with the Brazilian Serie A outfit, and with his deal expiring on January 31, he can be snapped up for nothing as part of a pre-contract arrangement.

It was recently reported that West Ham had an offer on the table for the player, but he rejected the proposal. This is because of additional demands he made to the Hammers were not fulfilled, including a substantial fee to be paid to his current club, Sao Paulo.

Despite the chance to sign a pre-agreement with any overseas club, it's said Luizao's camp are thought to be unwilling to do so. Furthermore, the defender would rather provide Sao Paulo with some form of financial incentive for his departure than leave for nothing.

This stance has left his potential European transfer at a crossroads, with several clubs only interested in signing him as a free agent next year as a Bosman transfer will negate the risks. Fulham, for one, are not one of them but will have to up their valuation to come to an agreement with the Brazilian club to acquire the defender in 2023.

Fulham boss Marco Silva will undoubtedly be looking for a new centre-half in the January transfer window. The Cottagers have shipped a whopping 20 goals from their 11 league games, with only three sides boasting a worse defensive record in the division.

The summer acquisitions of Shane Duffy and Issa Diop haven't gone according to plan, with Tim Ream oddly the only defender performing at the Premier League level. Despite this, Fulham are currently sitting in the top half of the Premier League table thanks to their firing attack.

Luizao is a tenacious and combative young defender with a battle-hardened South American mindset. Standing at 6ft 1in, he is commanding in the air and a very good tackler. He possesses all of the athleticism and qualities required to thrive in English football and could prove to be a clever signing for the Cottagers in the long term.

With both West Ham and Nottingham Forest watching the defender's situation closely, it remains to be seen whether Marco Silva's side can secure his signature ahead of the competition.



https://thehardtackle.com/transfer-news/2022/10/23/fulham-prepared-to-pay-up-to-e7-million-to-sign-luizao/

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Full Leeds United squad revealed for Fulham as Marsch 'hopeful' of welcoming key defender back

A look at the 20 players likely to be in Jesse Marsch's squad this afternoon

Jesse Marsch is 'hopeful' of welcoming defender Pascal Struijk back into the squad for Leeds United's huge clash with Fulham this afternoon. Struijk missed the 2-0 defeat at Leicester City with a minor injury but could make an immediate return for what many see as a must-win for Leeds.

Should the Dutchman be fit, he is likely to come straight back into the starting XI at left back in place of Junior Firpo, who was disappointing on his first start of the season at the King Power Stadium. Marsch has no other fresh injury concerns to deal with and so someone will have to drop out of the squad to makeway for Struijk.

Against Arsenal last Sunday, it was Wilfried Gnonto who was omitted from the 20-man matchday squad and given that Crysencio Summerville and Joe Gelhardt were both utilised at Leicester ahead of him suggests he could be the one to be left out. Midfielder Adam Forshaw is continuing his recovery from injury meaning Sam Greenwood is likely to retain his place on the bench.

Marsch is set to face a number of huge selection calls on Sunday afternoon. He made four changes on Thursday night and a similar number could be made again with Liam Cooper, Jack Harrison and the aforementioned Struijk all potentially coming back in.

Luke Ayling will also be pushing for his first start of the season at right back, while it is unclear who will be leading the line amid the lack of goals from all of Leeds' current strikers. Here is what the full squad is likely to look like.

Full squad: Meslier, Klaesson, Ayling, Kristensen, Koch, Llorente, Cooper, Struijk, Firpo, Adams, Roca, Klich, Greenwood, Summerville, Sinisterra, Harrison, Aaronson, Rodrigo, Bamford, Gelhardt



https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/sport/leeds-united/full-leeds-united-squad-revealed-25329112

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Elland Road could take matters out of the Leeds United board's hands vs Fulham

Leeds United host Marco Silva's Fulham at Elland Road in the Premier League on Sunday and here are five things to look out for around the match

Jesse Marsch
All eyes will be on Leeds United's embattled head coach today. The boardroom and dressing room remain firmly behind him coming into today's match, but events on the pitch surely influence what comes next.

The American talked up the unity in the immediate aftermath of Thursday's loss, but he has to know today's game is effectively a must-win for him. Leeds have already made a worse start than last season and Fulham represent one of two remaining, realistic opportunities to find a win before the World Cup.

Should the winless run stretch out to eight matches, Leeds would then be left with Liverpool, Bournemouth and Tottenham Hotspur before the pause. Even beating the Cherries might realistically leave them with one win from 11 matches.

Marsch's demeanour, his tactical choices and how he interacts with the home support will be intriguing.

Elland Road's acid test
If a core, loyal away following is an accurate barometer for fan feeling, the tens of thousands packing into Elland Road today will be the ultimate acid test for where this experiment stands. As we saw in pockets of last season down the final stretch, the home support is not afraid to let the board and head coach know how they feel.

If Sunday's match disintegrates around them in the meek manner we saw on too many occasions last season, they are sure to air their grievances. A head coach's position can swiftly become untenable if the terraces become too loud for the directors to ignore.

On the flip side, Elland Road will be fully behind Marsch and the players from kick-off and provide the kind of atmosphere the team needs to overwhelm Fulham.

Marsch to reverse his changes?
The head coach may have had his reasons for making the changes he did at Leicester, but in the days after what he called the best performance of his tenure, Marsch lost the momentum of the Arsenal display. The smart money has to be on him reversing all but one of those switches.

If Pascal Struijk is fit to come back, Patrick Bamford should be the only one of the four changes to stick around for the visit of the Cottagers. If the American doesn't change his mind or doubles down with even odder selections, he's only making a rod for his own back.

Mitrovic to be nullified?
Aleksandar Mitrovic has developed a fearsome reputation with Fulham since his initial arrival in January 2018. The only blots on his copybook at Craven Cottage came in the previous tries at top-flight football.

Those two campaigns, which ended in relegation, have been the only chapters to slow down the Serbian striker's goalscoring record. However, this third attempt at the top flight has been different.

Mitrovic already has eight goals in 10 appearances and he seems to be carrying that outrageous Championship form into the Premier League at last. Robin Koch and, probably, Liam Cooper will have to keep him quiet to have any chance of winning the match.

Avoid unwanted record?
Leeds may have already beaten last season for a worse set of results from the opening 10 matches, but avoid victory today and they will equal the worst run of last year entirely. The Whites went eight matches without a win in a run which included Marcelo Bielsa's sacking between January 22 and March 10.

If Leeds really do want to dispense with any notion of being in another relegation scrap, they have to avoid repeating the more worrying statistics of last season's desperate, 17th-placed campaign.



https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/sport/leeds-united/elland-road-leeds-united-fulham-25328446

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Up next: Leeds United (a)
Fulham travel to Yorkshire full of confidence following the complete performance that both dismantled an abject Aston Villa side and cost Steven Gerrard his job on Thursday. Nothing will be easier than brushing the Villains aside this season, certainly not a crunch encounter at Elland Road – as Marco Silva eluded to on Friday. Jesse Marsch is under pressure following a third successive Premier League defeat at Leicester three days ago that stretched Leeds United's winless streak to seven games. The the travelling support made their disapproval clear at the King Power Stadium and, although the coach has been given vote of confidence ahead of this game, that backing is conditional on the Lilywhites moving up the table.

Leeds are currently above the drop zone on goal difference and Marsch's start to the season is worse than Marcelo Bielsa's last term. The axing of the Argentinian – whose name was sung by the travelling fans in the Midlands – was painful, but was supposed to help United avoid the unthinkable – a swift return to the Championship. Marsch's troops rather stumbled over the safety line at Brentford last year, but there was optimism in the summer that Leeds wouldn't need to worry about the wrong end of the table. Chairman Andrea Radrizzani talked of finishing tenth to fourteenth in the table – something Marsch had to endorse again during his pre-match press conference.

The under-boss has assured the Leeds fans that his side will do 'all it takes' to secure their first league win since August and Silva is certainly right that Elland Road will be electric at kick off and throughout the ninety minutes: it always is. They will need to repeat the intensity of their strong showing against Arsenal – where they were desperately unlucky not to come away with even a point having done everything but score – and you know that Marsch's all-action style will prove a sterner test of Fulham's fortitude than Villa did in midweek. The hosts should benefit from the return of Pascal Strujik to solidify a defence that Leicester looked able to penetrate at will on Thursday, but the American might go back to something more tried and tested after making four changes for the Foxes. His decision to substitute the lively Luis Sinisterra didn't go down well and the Colombian winger could give stand-in right Bobby Decordova-Reid a real test today.

Fulham's form had been patchy before the stroll past the Villains as Silva's side stuttered rather than surged following the dramatic comeback at Nottingham Forest. The Whites have a dreadful recent record at Elland Road: Leeds are unbeaten in their last five home games against Fulham, who have eight of their last nine top flight fixtures in Yorkshire, conceding 23 goals. Thursday's clean sheet was welcome – as it was Fulham's first since August – but both Marsch and the fanatical home faithful will demand that United test a Cottagers' back line that has looked shaky in recent weeks. Patrick Bamford, who has scored on all four times he has faced Fulham, has been waiting to bring a century of career goals for eleven matches. What odds on the forward Bielsa transformed finally reaching the landmark and ease the pressure on the magician's successor?

Fulham were rampant from the off against Villa, but they set the tone through an energetic start and the hassling and harrying prompted by the persistence of Joao Palhinha and Harrison Reed in central midfield. That battle will be pivotal this afternoon, with the hosts still sorely missing Kalvin Phillips in the engine room. If Tyler Adams can replicate some of his latter Bundesliga form, then there will plenty of supply from the likes of Rodrigo, Jack Harrison and Sinisterra for Bamford. But if the Whites can quieten the crowd and avoid another gift like against Bournemouth, then there would be potential to profit. It's a lot easier said than done.

Silva will have to decide on what to do defensively should Kenny Tete fail his late fitness test again. Decordova-Reid, who looked like Cafu at right back on Thursday largely because of a pitiful performance from Leon Bailey, is likely to get the nod again and I might be tempted to make a change at the heart of the defence. As we've talked about before, Fulham's strongest central defensive pairing is clearly Tosin Adarabioyo alongside Issa Diop – and they need to develop an understanding with one another. It will be interesting to see whether Harry Wilson starts on the right flank after three encouraging cameos off the bench, but the betting must be on Silva sticking with the side that did him so proud under the Craven Cottage lights on Thursday.

MY FULHAM XI (4-2-3-1): Leno; Decordova-Reid, A. Robinson, Adarabioyo, Diop; Palhinha, Reed; Willian, Kebano, Pereira; Mitrovic. Subs: Rodak, Mbabu, Ream, Duffy, Onomah, Cairney, Wilson, Harris, Vinicius.



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2022/10/up-next-leeds-united-a-4/

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2 key battles that will decide Leeds United v Fulham at Elland Road

Leeds United host Fulham at Elland Road on Sunday without a win in seven league games.

Leeds last played Fulham in the Premier League in the 20/21 season, where the Whites did the double over their hosts. They won 2-1 thanks to goals from Patrick Bamford and Raphinha at Craven Cottage after a 4-3 thriller at Elland Road earlier in the season.

Leeds are aiming to get back on track after a disappointing 2-0 defeat against Leicester on Thursday night, with the pressure now starting to mount on Jesse Marsch and his team. Their last win came in August in a 3-0 win against Chelsea.

Fulham, a newly promoted side, meanwhile sit impressively ninth in the table following their 3-0 win over Aston Villa on Thursday night, which saw Steven Gerrard sacked from his job.

They will provide a stern test for Marsch who is in desperate need of a victory, but who will the key battles be for Leeds on Sunday? We take a look at TWO ahead of the clash...

Patrick Bamford vs Tosin Adarabioyo
Bamford showed how useful he is to Leeds in his recent games against Crystal Palace and Arsenal, despite losing both.

His hold up play and work back-to-goal give Leeds the platform to build and sustain attacks, as he gives his side a focal point to play off. His movement and incessant running in behind helps to pin and stretch defences back, too.

Adarabioyo was in the PFA Championship Team of the Season last term for Fulham, as he starred on their way to winning the league.

The 6'5 centre-back is a key man at the heart of the Fulham defence, and will have his work cut out if Bamford plays as well as he has recently in all ways except in front of goal.

Tyler Adams vs Andreas Pereira
Despite Aleksandar Mitrović being the obvious key man for the Cottagers, he is not a player who will do something out of nothing on his own.

The task for the Whites is if they can cut off the supply line to the Serbian, and the chief creator for Fulham has been Pereira, who has already assisted two this season, but who takes all the corners and free-kicks for Mitrović to thrive off.

Tyler Adams is the primary ball-winner for Leeds, and if he can stop Pereira from dictating, then perhaps Fulham will struggle to score.

The American international has been a revelation in Leeds' midfield with his destructive qualities and athleticism, combined with his engine and pressing, proving far too much to handle for even some of the better technical midfielders in the Premier League.



https://www.leedsallover.com/2-key-battles-that-will-decide-leeds-united-v-fulham-at-elland-road/