Leeds United next face Brighton and Hove Albion on their Premier League travels this weekend, looking to extend their unbeaten run to seven games.
The Whites are currently in the midst of their best run of form this season, having avoided defeat against Liverpool and Manchester United, whilst defeating Man City in the last three games.
Leeds captain Liam Cooper was shown a red card in the 2-1 win at the Etihad Stadium three games ago and will serve the final game of his three-match suspension this weekend as his teammates take on the Seagulls.
This will allow Pascal Struijk to remain in the team alongside Diego Llorente, both hoping to start the game for varying reasons.
Struijk will want to strengthen his claim to Cooper's place in the team, while Llorente is on the verge of starting ten club matches in-a-row for the first time since 2017.
Premier League referee Chris Kavanagh will be the man in the middle this weekend, officiating proceedings at the Amex Stadium.
Liam Cooper called out the referee on Twitter for the decision to send West Ham United defender Fabian Balbuena for an early bath in the London derby between the Hammers and Chelsea.
Cooper wrote: "I tell you what.. Scrap tackling because every single week something is getting slowed down to make it look 100% worse. Chilwell has the right to go down as it’s a sore one. But that’s it! Red card? Never in a million years."
The Leeds captain was expressing his frustration at the decision to send Balbuena off. The Paraguayan was dismissed as his foot followed through onto Ben Chilwell's thigh as he made an innocuous clearance.
Debate raged online with some in the referee's camp suggesting the stud-raking action which occurred as a result of the clearance was dangerous play. Meanwhile others claimed Balbuena had effectively been sent off for making a clearance.
Cooper was certainly in the latter camp, especially following his tackle on Gabriel Jesus earlier this month, for which he saw red.
Like Balbuena's Cooper's challenge was referred to the Video Assistant Referee and following consultation at the pitchside monitor, Andre Marriner sent the Whites' captain down the tunnel.
While Leeds United did not contest the decision at the Etihad, West Ham have successfully appealed the Balbuena red, with the decision now overturned.
This weekend, it is Kavanagh in the spotlight as Leeds take on Brighton. With Cooper likely watching on from the stands, conscious of what he may perceive as the referee's latest gaffe, it will make for an interesting dynamic if there are to be any contentious VAR or refereeing calls made.
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