Fulham hold the edge, but Leeds arrive with a clear plan
Fulham have had the better of this matchup in recent years, edging the head-to-head 6–4 with six draws, and Craven Cottage is no place to drift through a game. That’s why Daniel Farke’s choices for this Round 4 trip feel deliberate rather than flashy. He’s gone with a 4-3-3 that leans on control in midfield and speed on the break, a blend that suits an away day where the margins are usually tight.
Karl Darlow keeps the gloves with Lucas Perri still out. Stability matters here. Darlow’s shot-stopping is proven, but his value may be in the quieter moments—calm claims under pressure, quicker restarts, and the kind of voice that keeps a back four stitched together when Fulham ramp up the tempo.
The defense has a clear spine. Joe Rodon and Pascal Struijk give Leeds an aerial base and a steady first pass, while Jayden Bogle at right-back and Gabriel Gudmundsson on the left bring energy and width. Bogle’s overlaps can pin back a full-back; Gudmundsson’s delivery from wide zones is a real route to Dominic Calvert-Lewin. Expect the pair to alternate their runs so Leeds aren’t exposed on both sides at once.
Midfield is where Farke wants control. Ethan Ampadu wears the armband and starts as the anchor, screening the center-backs and tidying transitions. To his right, Sean Longstaff brings Premier League experience—simple but sharp passing, timing of support runs, and the habit of being in the right place when second balls pop loose. Anton Stach rounds out the trio with a bit of everything: long diagonals to flip the play, height on set pieces, and the engine to press high when Leeds choose to jump.
Up front, the roles are defined. Brenden Aaronson operates on the right as the first presser, chasing triggers and forcing hurried passes. Calvert-Lewin is the focal point, a classic No. 9 who attacks crosses and gives Leeds an outlet when they need to play long. Noah Okafor, cutting in from the left, brings the carry and the 1v1 threat, which pairs nicely with Gudmundsson’s overlaps. The balance is simple: stretch with pace wide, attack with power in the box.
Injuries shape the bench and the plan. Joel Piroe’s absence removes a finishing option and a penalty-box poacher; Perri’s injury explains why Darlow’s continuity matters even more. With depth thinner up top, Leeds may lean harder on set plays and structured counters rather than a shootout.
Predicted XI, roles, and how Leeds aim to play at Craven Cottage
Here’s the projected setup Farke selected—and what each part of the machine is meant to do.
- GK: Karl Darlow — Organize, claim, and accelerate restarts to catch Fulham between phases.
- RB: Jayden Bogle — Overlap to create width, underlap when Aaronson stays wide, and reset quickly in transition.
- CB: Joe Rodon — Attack the first ball, lead the defensive line, and step into midfield when space opens.
- CB: Pascal Struijk — Clean the box, win duels on crosses, and play simple into Ampadu or the full-backs.
- LB: Gabriel Gudmundsson — Provide depth on the left, early whipped balls to Calvert-Lewin, and aggressive recovery runs.
- DM: Ethan Ampadu (c) — Screen the half-spaces, drop between centre-backs in build-up, and control tempo.
- CM: Sean Longstaff — Connect third to third, break into the box late, and handle second-ball detail.
- CM: Anton Stach — Press trigger, long switches to flip pressure, and height on both penalty areas.
- RW: Brenden Aaronson — Lead the press, drive at the back line, and combine with Bogle.
- ST: Dominic Calvert-Lewin — Hold-up play, attack near-post zones, and occupy both centre-backs.
- LW: Noah Okafor — Carry into channels, cut inside onto shots, and link with Gudmundsson’s overlaps.
In possession, Leeds should show a 2-3-5 or 3-2-5 shape depending on the phase. Ampadu can slide between Rodon and Struijk to create a temporary back three, which frees both full-backs to push higher without leaving the centre-backs isolated. When only one full-back goes, the opposite side tucks in to form a 2-3 rest defense with Ampadu central, Longstaff to one side, and Stach to the other. That platform is built to stop counters before they start.
Out of possession, the picture tightens into a 4-5-1. Aaronson and Okafor drop alongside Longstaff and Stach to block midfield lanes, leaving Calvert-Lewin to shade passes toward the touchline. The pressing triggers are straightforward: a slow back pass, a loose touch from a centre-back, or a hospital ball into the pivot. When those appear, Leeds will jump with the near-side winger and a midfielder, while Ampadu plugs the gap behind them.
Against Marco Silva’s well-drilled side, the wings decide a lot. Fulham look to create overloads wide and hit quick combinations into the half-spaces. Leeds’ answer is staggering the full-backs: if Gudmundsson goes, Bogle holds a little deeper, and vice versa. Ampadu’s job is to sit in front of the box and cut the feed into the playmaker while the nearest No. 8 helps double wide. The back-post run is the danger; that’s where Struijk’s awareness and Gudmundsson’s recovery speed matter.
Set pieces are a real path to points. Calvert-Lewin is a magnet for first contact; Rodon and Struijk are targets for second-phase scrambles. Longstaff’s driven corners and Stach’s outswingers give variety. Look for a near-post flick routine or a late runner from the edge to catch Fulham’s zonal line off-balance. On defensive set plays, Ampadu marks the middle zone while Darlow commands the six-yard line assertively.
Transitions could tilt this game. If Leeds win the ball in midfield, the first look should be vertical: into Calvert-Lewin’s feet or the left channel for Okafor. Aaronson sprints beyond to create a 3v2, and one of the midfielders—usually Longstaff—arrives late for the cutback. If Fulham leave space behind their full-backs, Gudmundsson’s early crosses into stride are on.
If the game drifts, Farke has tweaks. He can morph the shape into a 4-2-3-1 by pulling Stach higher as a pseudo-No. 10 and letting Longstaff sit next to Ampadu for more control. He can also ask Bogle to invert into midfield in possession to help break a mid-block, leaving Gudmundsson as the natural width. If chasing, expect quicker diagonals to Okafor and more bodies attacking the second ball around Calvert-Lewin.
The risk is obvious: when both full-backs engage, space appears behind them. That’s where Darlow’s starting position and Ampadu’s decision-making matter. Early fouls in safe areas, smart counter-pressing after a lost pass, and clean distances between the centre-backs are the small details that add up to survival in away fixtures.
Context matters this early in the season. Round 4 isn’t definitive, but it sets tone. Fulham bring structure and a slight historical edge. Leeds bring a plan built on control, speed, and set-piece bite—shaped by injuries but not defined by them. If the midfield triangle holds and the wide players pick the right moments, this Leeds United predicted lineup has enough balance to turn a tricky trip into a statement.
