Daniel Farke Shakes Up Leeds United XI Ahead of Crucial Middlesbrough Clash
Alright, so here we go—big night for Leeds United as they take on Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium, and there’s already a buzz in the air with Daniel Farke making some bold moves in his team selection. This game’s massive for both sides, and the pressure’s definitely on as we head deeper into the promotion race.
Let’s talk lineups. Farke’s made a couple of changes for this one, notably bringing back Brenden Aaronson into the starting eleven and giving Ilia Gruev a spot in midfield. That means Wilfried Gnonto, who started in the last outing against Luton, is now back on the bench after struggling to find his rhythm in that game. It’s a tactical tweak—Farke clearly wants more control and composure in the middle of the park, and Gruev paired with Ao Tanaka could provide that stability.
At the back, Karl Darlow keeps his place between the sticks, and it’s the return of the trusted “Welsh Wall” with Ethan Ampadu and Joe Rodon forming that centre-back pairing again. Ampadu’s back after a knock and it’s great to see that solid partnership restored—they’ve been instrumental in keeping things tight at the back throughout the season.
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Jayden Bogle continues his ever-reliable run at right-back, making his 21st straight league start, while Junior Firpo lines up on the left, just one assist away from hitting double digits—impressive stuff from a fullback. The midfield duo of Tanaka and Gruev should offer both grit and tempo, something Leeds will need to match Boro’s intensity.
Up front, it's a mix of pace and creativity. Daniel James, fresh off another goal contribution against Luton, lines up on the right, while Manor Solomon takes the left, still looking to break his scoring drought. Joel Piroe leads the line once again, even though he’s had a quiet spell in front of goal lately—just one in his last eight. Still, Farke is sticking with him, hoping he finds his scoring touch tonight.
The bench looks solid too—Meslier, Bamford, Gnonto, Ramazani, Byram, Wober, Schmidt, Guilavogui, and Mateo Joseph, who’s just returned from illness. Bamford’s not quite ready to start yet, but his presence on the bench is a positive sign.
Middlesbrough, meanwhile, aren’t coming into this lightly. Michael Carrick’s side are treating this as a make-or-break moment in their season. With players like Dael Fry returning from injury and the home crowd behind them, it’s bound to be a fiery clash.
Farke knows what’s at stake. One win in six for Leeds hasn’t exactly screamed promotion form, and he’s looking to re-ignite momentum tonight. The Championship is brutal—fine margins decide everything—but with the talent Leeds have and the tweaks made to the lineup, there’s reason for optimism.
Kick-off’s at 8pm, live on Sky Sports, but if you’re not tuning in there, the club’s live blog is covering every minute. Let’s see if Farke’s changes spark something special tonight.
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