{"id":1175505,"date":"2026-08-29T12:51:15","date_gmt":"2026-08-29T12:51:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/1175505\/"},"modified":"2026-08-29T12:51:15","modified_gmt":"2026-08-29T12:51:15","slug":"25m-ace-axed-okafor-decision-leeds-predicted-xi-v-brentford","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/1175505\/","title":{"rendered":"\u00a325m ace axed, Okafor decision: Leeds predicted XI v Brentford"},"content":{"rendered":"

Leeds United<\/a> host Brentford on Sunday in their first Premier League game back at Elland Road for the new campaign.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Daniel Farke\u2019s<\/a> men have impressed so far, winning their first two games of the season. Albeit they were both against a new-look Nottingham Forest side.<\/p>\n

During our Carabao Cup game in midweek, Farke rotated in some areas as expected.<\/p>\n

Nico Elvedi was one of those players who came into the team and impressed<\/a>. This will surely give Farke a lot to ponder as he considers what side he will field against Brentford.<\/p>\n

Dan James among those to miss out against Brentford<\/p>\n

Like Elvedi, Dan James was exceptional in midweek<\/a>. The Welshman played a hybrid role, part winger and part wing-back, thriving with this new responsibility, even getting himself back on the scoresheet.<\/p>\n

However, I don\u2019t expect it to be enough to displace Jayden Bogle from the starting XI for league games.<\/p>\n

Elvedi, too, will be unfortunate to miss out if he does. But I can see Jaka Bijol coming back into the heart of our defence with Tarik Muharemovic and Joe Rodon lining up either side of him.<\/p>\n

Despite Farke confirming that Gabriel Gudmundsson could potentially make the squad at the weekend, it will be too soon for him to start, so expect to see the dependable James Justin line up at left-wing back instead.<\/p>\n

Sean Longstaff and Ao Tanaka both started in midweek, but neither made the sort of impression that would make them undroppable for the Brentford game. I expect Ethan Ampadu and Anton Stach to be our midfield pairing at Elland Road.<\/p>\n

For the front three, it\u2019s pretty much a given that Dominic Calvert-Lewin will replace Lukas Nmecha. I expect Harry Wilson to start on the right, and Noah Okafor<\/a> to get his first Premier League start of the season on the left after looking like a threat in the cup tie.<\/p>\n

Predicted XI: James Trafford, Jayden Bogle, Joe Rodon, Jaka Bijol, Tarik Muharemovic, James Justin, Ethan Ampadu, Anton Stach, Harry Wilson, Noah Okafor, Dominic Calvert-Lewin<\/strong><\/p>\n

Leeds\u2019 front three looks incredibly dangerous on paper<\/p>\n

Due to Okafor\u2019s limited involvement in pre-season, we didn\u2019t get to see much of him lining up alongside Calvert-Lewin and Wilson.<\/p>\n

However, the prospect of seeing this front three in action at the weekend is an exciting one.<\/p>\n

With Wilson inverting at times and picking up spaces in little pockets, Okafor hugging the touchline should give the Brentford defence something else to worry about too.<\/p>\n

With Justin likely starting at left-wing back, his ability to overlap is naturally quite limited due to him being right-footed. So Okafor providing that width on the left should give us more balance as a team.<\/p>\n

I do expect Brenden Aaronson to feature at some stage, however. Playing the full 90 after also playing 67 minutes on Tuesday may be too much of an ask for Okafor at this stage.<\/p>\n

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