Preview | Leeds United (A)
The Game
Leeds United v Argyle. Elland Road. Saturday, 2 November. 3pm. Sky Bet Championship.
The Opposition
Leeds United are currently third in the Championship table, with 23 points from their 12 games so far.
The Whites began with two draws – against Portsmouth and West Bromwich Albion – before finding their stride with victories against Sheffield Wednesday and Hull City. Next came Leeds’ only league loss of the season so far, 1-0 at home to Burnley, before another pair of wins, away to Cardiff City and at home to Coventry City.
Trips to Norwich City and Sunderland each yielded draws, before another pair of home victories, 2-0 against Sheffield United, and 2-1 against Watford. Most recently, Leeds drew 0-0 at Bristol City.
Notably, Leeds have conceded just eight goals from their 12 games thus far; and three of them were on the opening day against Portsmouth.
The Gaffer
Daniel Farke began his managerial career at SV Lippstadt, a club he featured for during his playing career. He lifted Lippstadt from the sixth tier of German football to the fourth, and eventually took the job as the manager of Borussia Dortmund's second team.
In 2017, he joined Norwich City as manager, in the Championship, and won the second-tier title in his second season at Carrow Road. They were relegated straight away, but the following season topped the Championship once again. However, after a poor start, Farke was dismissed.
After leaving Norwich, he signed a deal to take over at Krasnodar in Russia, but left before a game was played, because of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. In 2022/23, with Borussia Monchengladbach, Farke led the side to a mid-table finish, but was sacked in the summer, taking over at Leeds soon after. Last season, his side finished third in the Championship, losing in the play-off final against Southampton.
The Squad
Leeds’ leading goalscorer this season, despite not being a permanent fixture in the team, is Joel Piroe (below). His first three goals of the Championship season, scored in wins over Hull, Cardiff and Coventry, all came as a sub, but he has started the last four games, scoring in the 2-2 draw with Sunderland. Dutch forward Piroe, 24, is in his second season with Leeds, having previously played for PSV Eindhoven and Swansea City.
Leeds’ back four, plus their goalkeeper, this season has been largely unchanged. Goalie Ilian Meslier has typically been guarded by Junior Firpo, Pascal Struijk, Joe Rodon and Jayden Bogle. Firpo missed out on the last game, serving a one-game suspension, and is expected to come back into the side on Saturday. Bogle, however, will miss the match after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season against Bristol City last weekend.
Welsh international centre-back Rodon was on loan at Leeds last season but became a permanent signing in the summer just gone. He is usually partnered by 25-year-old Belgian defender Struijk, who began his career in the Netherlands, but whose professional career has been entirely at Leeds.
Firpo is a Dominican Republic international left-back, formerly of Barcelona and Real Betis.
Last Season’s Meetings
The sides met four times in 2023/24. In the league, Leeds won both encounters: 2-1 at Elland Road in November, and 2-0 at Home Park in February. They also met in the Emirates FA Cup, with an Adam Randell goal earning a 1-1 draw away from home, before Leeds won 4-1 in the replay.
Tickets
Saturday’s match is all-ticket, and tickets are no longer available to purchase for the fixture. Collections are available from the Away Ticket Window at Elland Road, from 1.30pm on match day.
A Strip for the Trip
Argyle will wear their yellow third kit for this game.
Argyle TV
Argyle TV’s coverage will begin at 10am, with the Argyle Breakfast show, hosted by Erin Black and Aaron Cusack. They will bring you build-up, interviews, guests and features from the Argyle TV studio, until midday.
Charlie Price hosts the pre-match show from 2.30pm, alongside Ian Stonebridge, before handing over to the ground for commentary provided by Nathan Albon and Lee Makel.
Match passes to watch this game are available only to certain international audiences. Click here for more information.
