Get ready for a thrilling FA Cup showdown! Leeds United kicks off their 2025/26 Emirates FA Cup journey today, but this time, it’s not just about the game—it’s about the bold lineup choices that could make or break their campaign. Heading to Pride Park Stadium to face Derby County in the third round, manager Daniel Farke has pulled no punches, making eight significant changes to the squad that faced Newcastle United. Only Ethan Ampadu, Jaka Bijol, and Ilia Gruev retain their starting spots, leaving fans and critics alike buzzing with anticipation.
But here’s where it gets controversial: Is Farke’s decision to reshuffle the deck a stroke of genius or a risky gamble? Karl Darlow takes his place between the posts, supported by a central defense pairing of Sebastiaan Bornauw and Bijol. Meanwhile, Jack Harrison and Ao Tanaka return to the fold, joining Gruev and captain Ampadu in midfield. Up front, the attacking quartet of Noah Okafor, Lukas Nmecha, Joel Piroe, and Willy Gnonto will be looking to light up the scoreboard.
On the bench, we see familiar faces like Lucas Perri, Pascal Struijk, Sean Longstaff, and Dominic Calvert-Lewin, alongside Brenden Aaronson, Anton Stach, James Justin, Sam Byram, and Sam Chambers. And this is the part most people miss: With such a deep squad, Farke has the luxury of rotating players, but will this strategy pay off against a determined Derby side?
The action kicks off at 12 pm, with live streaming available on TNT Sports. Fans can also follow the Leeds United blog online or tune in to LUTV for live commentary. Here’s the full lineup:
Starting XI: Darlow (GK), Ampadu (C), Piroe, Nmecha, Bijol, Okafor, Harrison, Tanaka, Bornauw, Gnonto, Gruev.
Substitutes: Perri (GK), Struijk, Longstaff, Calvert-Lewin, Aaronson, Stach, Justin, Byram, Chambers.
Controversy Alert: Do you think Farke’s lineup changes are a masterstroke or a misstep? Will Leeds United’s attacking lineup overpower Derby, or will the Rams capitalize on any defensive vulnerabilities? Let us know your thoughts in the comments—this is one debate you won’t want to miss!
