Leeds United gears up for a crucial FA Cup encounter against Derby County, kicking off their 2025/26 Emirates FA Cup campaign. The match, set for 12 p.m., will be a strategic test for Daniel Farke's side, who've made eight changes to their lineup since the Newcastle United clash. Only Ethan Ampadu, Jaka Bijol, and Ilia Gruev retain their starting positions, with a fresh lineup taking the field.
The starting XI features a strong defense with Karl Darlow in goal, supported by a center-half duo of Sebastiaan Bornauw and Jaka Bijol. Jack Harrison and Ao Tanaka return to the midfield, joining forces with Gruev and captain Ampadu. Up front, a dynamic quartet of Noah Okafor, Lukas Nmecha, Joel Piroe, and Willy Gnonto will look to create chances and score goals.
The bench is stacked with talent, including Lucas Perri, Pascal Struijk, Sean Longstaff, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Brenden Aaronson, Anton Stach, James Justin, Sam Byram, and Sam Chambers. These players will be crucial in providing fresh legs and tactical options throughout the game.
Fans can catch all the action live on TNT Sports, with the Leeds United blog and LUTV offering online coverage. Don't miss out on this exciting FA Cup clash, where Leeds United aims to make a statement and secure a spot in the next round!
