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Photo by Daniel Leal-Olivas - Pool/Getty Images
Photo by Daniel Leal-Olivas - Pool/Getty Images

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Leeds fans want never-seen-before partnership against Liverpool

Will Butcher
Will Butcher

Marcelo Bielsa has a tricky decision to make when it comes to choosing his starting XI as he weighs up who to replace captain Liam Cooper with on Monday evening – and Leeds fans want him to start Robin Koch, in a never-seen-before partnership.

Leeds play host to Liverpool after a busy day of football off the pitch, in which six Premier League clubs have signed up to the hugely-criticised European Super League – including United’s opponents, Liverpool. The Reds have been massively criticised.

Liam Cooper will serve the first of a three-match ban following his straight red card against Manchester City last weekend, a match which Leeds somehow managed to win – Stuart Dallas netting a brace. Diego Llorente is expected to start in defence.

Manchester City v Leeds United - Premier League
(Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)

But the major selection headache for Bielsa – other than whether he brings back Jack Harrison for Helder Costa after Harrison could not face his parent club – is who partners Llorente. Is it Pascal Struijk, or £46,000-a-week star Koch ().

The Germany international is fully fit after undergoing a knee operation before the turn of the year, correcting an issue in which he picked up on his debut for Leeds – against Liverpool. Leeds fans want him to start alongside Llorente.

It will be the first time the duo combine, if Bielsa chooses to go with Koch. Koch began the season with Llorente signed later and then injured, and Llorente came in while Koch was sidelined. Now, they could start together for the first time.