{"id":663722,"date":"2025-12-31T02:05:15","date_gmt":"2025-12-31T02:05:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/663722\/"},"modified":"2025-12-31T02:05:15","modified_gmt":"2025-12-31T02:05:15","slug":"daniel-farke-reveals-new-leeds-plan-to-deal-with-joe-rodon-absence-vs-liverpool","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/663722\/","title":{"rendered":"Daniel Farke reveals new Leeds plan to deal with Joe Rodon absence vs Liverpool"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Daniel<\/p>\n

Credit: Imago<\/p>\n

\"Alex <\/p>\n

Tue 30 December 2025 22:10, UK <\/p>\n

Daniel Farke will be without stalwart central defender Joe Rodon as Leeds United face Liverpool at Anfield on New Year\u2019s Day.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Rodon is expected to miss Leeds\u2019 next three Premier League fixtures<\/a>, as well as their FA Cup clash against Derby on 11 January, after picking up an ankle injury.<\/p>\n

The 28-year-old hobbled off in the first half of the 1-1 draw with Sunderland<\/a> following two separate blows to his right leg.<\/p>\n

Before his substitution at the Stadium of Light, Rodon<\/a> had played every single Premier League minute this season for the Whites, so Farke needs a new plan to deal with the Welshman\u2019s absence.<\/p>\n

\"JoeCredit: ImagoDaniel Farke names three players who can replace Joe Rodon<\/p>\n

Rodon has been an ever-present for Farke<\/a>, not just this season in the Premier League, but for the entirety of the German\u2019s time at Elland Road.<\/p>\n

The back three of Rodon, Jaka Bijol, and Pascal Struijk had developed into something of a force in recent weeks, but Leeds will now be forced to come up with a new plan.<\/p>\n

Speaking in his pre-match press conference ahead of the trip to Liverpool, Farke<\/a> named James Justin, Sebastiaan Fornauw, and Sam Byram as potential options to come in at centre-half.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

The Leeds boss also highlighted the flexibility his side has, with the ability to play in a back four and a back five.<\/p>\n

Farke said: \u201cWe are flexible. We can play a three-man formation (five at the back), we can play a four-man formation (four at the back). It\u2019s good that we have different options.\u201d<\/p>\n

James Justin most likely to start for Leeds<\/p>\n

Out of the three names that Farke mentioned, Justin<\/a> is the most likely to start in a back three for Leeds.<\/p>\n

The former Leicester City man has featured for 160 minutes in the Premier League so far this season, and neither Byram nor Fornauw have accumalated more than 10.<\/p>\n

Justin has experience playing on the right-hand side of a back three at Leicester and would be the obvious candidate to replace Rodon if Farke decides to stick with his 5-3-2 formation.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

However, there is a very real possibility that the German boss opts to switch system, packing the midfield and leaving Bijol and Struijk in a central defensive partnership.<\/p>\n

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