MX23RW : Friday, November 6 17:23:01| >> :120:5677:5677:

Team News: Liam Cooper in contention to feature for Leeds against Leicester

Team News: Liam Cooper in contention to feature for Leeds against Leicester
© Reuters
Liam Cooper missed last week's win at Aston Villa due to a groin injury.

Leeds captain Liam Cooper is back in contention for Monday night's home Premier League game against Leicester.

Cooper missed last week's win at Aston Villa due to a groin injury sustained earlier this month while on international duty with Scotland.

The centre-half was named in the starting line-up for the recent home defeat to Wolves, but was withdrawn from the warm-up and Luke Ayling stepped in at Elland Road.

Cooper, centre, played the full 120 minutes for Scotland in their Euro 2020 play-off win against Israel
Cooper, centre, played the full 120 minutes for Scotland in their Euro 2020 play-off win against Israel (Andrew Milligan/PA)

"Cooper is fine now, but (Diego) Llorente won't be fit for this weekend," said Marcelo Bielsa, who did not confirm whether his skipper would start against Leicester.

"Being able to count on him and to pick him is something that is very good. He is at a very good level, but I haven't picked a (starting) XI yet."

Fellow central defender Llorente, signed from Real Sociedad last month, also sustained a groin injury, while on international duty for Spain.

Midfielder Kalvin Phillips is still out after tearing shoulder ligaments against Wolves and is not expected to return until at least the middle of next month.

Philips, right, tore shoulder ligaments in the recent home defeat to Wolves
Kalvin Philips, right, tore shoulder ligaments in the recent home defeat to Wolves (Martin Rickett/PA)

Leeds bounced back from their 1-0 defeat to Wolves in emphatic fashion last Friday, halting Villa's four-game winning start with a 3-0 win.

Bielsa's side sit sixth in the table, three points behind leaders Everton, but the Argentinian was in no mood to reflect on their impressive return to the top flight.

"It's too premature to make conclusions at this moment in time," Bielsa said.

Leicester, two places above Leeds, have followed up successive league defeats, to West Ham and Aston Villa, with three straight wins.

Last Sunday's 1-0 success at Arsenal has been sandwiched by Europa League victories over Zorya Luhansk and AEK Athens.

"Leicester are a team who manage the ball well and they have a spirit to attack," said Bielsa, who will not be compromising his side's own style to combat the pace of Jamie Vardy.

Vardy has scored six goals in five Premier League appearances this season and was also on target in Thursday's 2-1 win in Athens.

"Vardy is a very good player, who scores lots of goals and he's very quick," Bielsa said.

"Of course we take into account all the characteristics of the opponent's attackers, but there is not going to be any particular change with that in mind."

ID:420405:cQx
Share this article now:
Did you know...?
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta and Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer pictured on January 1, 2020
Read Next:
Premier League gameweek 7 predictions including Manchester United vs. Arsenal
>
Latest Sports Video
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free match previews newsletter! Updates are sent twice a week.

rhs 2.0
Todays Game Header Right
Premier League
Championship
Scottish Premiership
La Liga
Serie A
Bundesliga
Ligue 1
Eredivisie
Primeira Liga
Scottish Championship
Turkish Super Lig
Belgian Pro League
Russian Premier League
Ukrainian Premier League
Danish Superliga
Welsh Premier League
Belarusian Premier League
Segunda Division
Serie B
2.Bundesliga
Eerste Divisie
Copa Sudamericana
Copa do Brasil
Argentine Primera Division
Uruguayan Primera Division
Chinese Super League
Premier League 2 - Div 1
Premier League 2 - Div 2
Super League
NFL
FT
Packers
34-17
49ers
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool75111715216
2Leicester CityLeicester7502179815
3Tottenham HotspurSpurs7421189914
4Everton74121511413
5Southampton74121412213
6Wolverhampton WanderersWolves741288013
7Chelsea7331169712
8Aston Villa6402159612
9Arsenal740397212
10Manchester CityMan City632198111
11Newcastle UnitedNewcastle73221011-111
12Leeds UnitedLeeds73131313010
13Crystal Palace7313811-310
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham7223131038
15Manchester UnitedMan Utd6213913-47
16Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton71241114-35
17Fulham7115714-74
18West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom7034616-103
19Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd7016310-71
20Burnley6015312-91

Subscribe to our Newsletter


Transfer Talk Daily
Match previews - twice weekly
Morning Briefing (7am UTC)
Ultra close-up image of Kevin De Bruyne [NOT FOR USE IN ARTICLES]Get the latest transfer news, match previews and news direct to your inbox!