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Tip of the game
Leeds’ record signing has a point to prove this season and has been in hot form in pre-season, culminating in a well-taken hat-trick against Cagliari last week. He needs to hit the ground running or he could find himself out of the team.
Back-up bet
The new midfield signing at Leeds has shown signs that he likes a tackle, but appears to be from the Paul Scholes school of defending. In a Jesse Marsch team who are notably aggressive in the tackle, this could be something to keep an eye on.
Match preview
There is an air of uncertainty, but anticipation around Elland Road with Leeds fans cautiously optimistic after a summer of change in West Yorkshire.
In Jesse Marsch’s first transfer window he has brought in five new first team players, while losing Kalvin Phillips and Raphinha, but there is a sense that the squad is much better equipped to deal with the rigours of a Premier League season than the famously small squad Marcelo Bielsa preferred to maintain.
In Marc Roca, Rasmus Kristensen, Luis Sinisterra, Brendan Aaronson and Tyler Adams, the Leeds side has a new core and it is clear the board has backed Marsch to bring in players who are comfortable playing in his style – with three of the players having played for Red Bull franchises., of whom Marsch used to managed one of.
It all points to a coherent plan, but doubts remain over the style of play – Marsch drew criticism for perceived long ball and aggressive tactics last season – while many of these players will need to hit the ground running if Leeds are to avoid a second successive relegation battle.
Liam Cooper, Sinisterra, Adam Forshaw and Junior Firpo are absentees but due back shortly, while Stuart Dallas and Luke Ayling are longer term absentees.
While it has been a summer of progression for Leeds, the same cannot be said of Wolves, who head into the season with some tipping them as an outside bet for relegation.
They struggled for goals last season and with Fabio Silva departing on loan, another injury to Raul Jimenez leaves them without a natural striker for the season opener.
There will be hopes that Pedro Neto can rediscover the form that led to him being hailed as one of the best young talents outside of the Premier League top six, and with Daniel Podence he will need to carry the burden of Wolves’ attacking intent in Jimenez’s absence.
With rumours over Conor Coady’s future circulating prior to the game, it looks as though it could be a pivotal season for the midlands club and one in which they could easily find themselves lower down the table than they have previously been.
