Preview: Leeds United v Brighton

Today Leeds welcome Brighton to Elland Road as we look to recover from last week’s FA Cup defeat to Crawley.

The game was far from our finest hour but it wasn’t unexpected with our recent history in the competition. However this gives us time to concentrate on the Premier League and making sure we are still there when fans are all finally allowed back.

Much of the talk around this game has been the return of Ben White. You can imagine the atmosphere and the noise if we were allowed in today. Whilst we have brought in Robin Koch and Diego Llorente, it still feels like White is a Leeds player, just on loan at Brighton. It is rare for a player to achieve that in just one season but he will be forever associated with this team. Today we just need him to have an off day at Elland Road!

Leeds will make changes from last week with Ilan Meslier, Luke Ayling, Mateusz Klich and Patrick Bamford all returning. Kalvin Phillips misses the game through suspension and we may see Pascal Struijk deputise for him with Liam Cooper back to partner Ayling in central defence.

This feels like a game we need a result from, to get the first win of 2021 and keep climbing the table. I don’t think it will be an easy game as Brighton are looking to stay out of the relegation zone.

They have Yves Bissouma back from his suspension and may also welcome Steven Alzate and Alireza Jahanbakhsh to the side.

It is games like this that I am missing. The 3pm kick off on a Saturday and games where there is something for the crowd to get involved with from the start.

We will be back soon and none of us will ever complain about the parking, the price of drinks or the cold ever again.. well at least for the first few months anyway!!

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