On Saturday Leeds bounced back from an opening day Premier League defeat to take a well earned point against Everton on match day two, and now fans and the club are marching on together to the next challenge.
The two big news stories from the weekend at Elland Road was the return to fitness of Kalvin Phillips and Raphinha’s stunning equaliser to take a well deserved point from a thrilling game against the Toffees. Premier League 2021 results always look better when you have a point on the board and when Mateusz Klich equalised Everton’s opener it looked good for the hosts. But the Whites had to fight back again when Demarai Gray nudged Everton back in front, and they did so in style as the Brazilian magician curled a beauty beyond Jordan Pickford and into the net.
With fans back in the ground the atmosphere at Elland Road was electric and there was almost overload in stoppage time when only a desperate Yerry Mina block could deny Patrick Bamford a dramatic winner.
So the season is under way for Leeds and, with the transfer window only seven days from closing, the club is preparing for another big campaign.
Bielsa is happy with what he’s got
Financial guys are working 24/7 up and down the UK as they try to get their deals over the line, while head coaches are desperate to keep hold of their best players; so there will be some nervous days ahead for fans. But not for the Leeds faithful it appears, as head coach Marcelo Bielsa has hinted that all his business may well be done. The boss has already added Spanish wing back Junior Firpo, who made a start against the Toffees, and young Norwegian keeper Kristoffer Klaesson to the group and Bielsa has said he’s content with his hand, saying: “It’s not probable that any more signings will be made. I’m happy with the players I can count on at the moment. It’s the same group as last season with the substitution of Firpo for Ezgjan Alioski.”
The head coach hasn’t entirely shut the door though: “If we have the option to bring another player in, we will do it as long as that player is able to challenge the player who already has that position,” he said. Leeds finished strongly in ninth place last season and the incumbent players will take some shifting. Last summer the club spent heavily on Raphinha, Rodrigo, Diego Llorente and Helder Costa and star striker Bamford has recently signed a new five year deal.
With Jack Harrison now permanently on the Leeds books Bielsa has a settled team and he won’t make any signings which will unnecessarily disturb the balance or which can’t make a serious impact.
Contrasting challenges on the way
The fixtures are coming thick and fast for the Whites and the next three games will present three very different tests. On Tuesday night Leeds host League One club Crewe Alexandra in the Carabao Cup. The Alex drew the opening fixture of their campaign but then lost the next three matches and currently sit in 22nd place in the league with just a single point and, having failed to score in the last three games, they will struggle to test their Premier League opponents.
Bielsa will take the chance to rest some of his key men and give his squad members a chance to impress before the team makes the trip across the Pennines to face Burnley. Leeds did the double over the Clarets last season but Sean Dyche’s team rarely gives up points cheaply and they pushed Liverpool hard last weekend. But defeat to the Reds was Burnley’s second of the campaigns and they will be keen to open their account on Sunday. It will be a particularly spicy affair for ex Leeds players Chris Wood and Charlie Taylor, who have become fans favourites at Turf Moor, centre forward Wood hitting double figures for the last four seasons on the run.
That game is not one for the feint-hearted!
And then, after the international break, the Leeds faithful will pack into Elland Road to see one of the fixtures they have so missed over the past 17 seasons. It’s Leeds vs Liverpool; the game of the round and one we’ll be covering here at SBOTOP for sure.
The latest Premier League 2021 betting odds place Jurgen Klopp’s side as third favourites to lift the title, but they won’t face many tougher tests than against Bielsa’s boys, who just love to take the game to the top teams.
Bring it on!
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