Man City vs Leeds: Sam Allardyce rules out four injured players and gives Pep Guardiola verdict

Sam Allardyce has confirmed Leeds United will be without four players for Saturday’s Premier League clash against Manchester City.

The 68-year-old is set to take charge of his game at the Yorkshire club having been appointed earlier this week. Leeds are currently out of the relegation zone on goal difference alone and Allardyce’s first task is a daunting one, with a trip to the Etihad.

The former England manager will have to manage without the services of Liam Cooper, Tyler Adams, Stuart Dallas and Luis Sinisterra for the clash with the champions, with Allardyce confirming in Friday’s press conference that the quartet are the only absentees for Leeds.

Allardyce also praised Pep Guardiola ahead of the game and believes his success in England has not been purely down to the club’s transfer spending. The new Leeds boss claimed earlier this week that Guardiola was ‘not ahead’ of him, but said in his pre-match press conference that what the ex-Barcelona boss has achieved in the Premier League has been ‘fabulous’.

“I think he’s brilliant,” opined Allardyce. “He’s doing a huge amount for the Premier League since he’s been here and I think that when you see what he’s achieved.

“I know we can talk about their backing, which is every successful football club. It’s not just the coach or the players, it’s the backing behind that, the recruitment behind that, and the recruitment has been spot on and his management style over the years has been fabulous. The sad thing is for us they’re in the best form of the season because they’ve won nine on the trot.”