Marcelo Bielsa has the makings of a selection dilemma heading into tomorrow night’s clash between Leeds United and Newcastle United.
It’s easy to assume the starting line-up will remain unchanged, even with Ezgjan Alioski’s and Jack Harrison’s recent struggles. It’s just the way Bielsa rolls.
However, when you consider the Magpies are likely to line up with two out and out strikers in Callum Wilson and Joelinton, you have to remember Bielsa’s standard approach to that.
You have to think he will be going into this match with a 3-3-1-3 formation, which casts light on a series of decisions throughout the spine of the team.
Naturally, Illan Meslier, Luke Ayling and Liam Cooper will remain in that central defensive unit, but who would the third centre-back be?
Kalvin Phillips or Pascal Struijk look like the stand-out options, but including either there brings pros and cons.
It is difficult to see how Struijk and Rodrigo can be in the same line-up. If the former plays, that keeps Stuart Dallas, Phillips and Alioski across the second row of three.
Mateusz Klich would move forward as the attacking midfielder with Raphinha, Patrick Bamford and Harrison across the front three.
Unless Bielsa tests Rodrigo as the wide option he could be at Valencia and slips Harrison out of this shape.
Moving Phillips into that back three seems to provoke the least disruption to everyone else, which looks like Bielsa’s way.
Unfortunately, that would force Klich further back into the defensive role in front of the back three, which he did with mixed success while Phillips was injured.
Predicted XI: Meslier; Ayling, Phillips, Cooper; Dallas, Klich, Alioski; Rodrigo; Raphinha, Bamford, Harrison.
