After our long-awaited return to the promised land in 2020, I couldn’t wait to see how we would do in the Premier League. Especially under a coach who we had played the best football with for about 20 years.
There was just something about us under Marcelo Bielsa, especially in the Championship – the way we played – we just blew teams away and we were easily the fittest in the league.
So, it left me intrigued as to how we would fare against the best, back where we belonged, though, it is worth bearing in mind, that due to the global pandemic, we played the vast majority of the season without fans being allowed in the stadium – which, may have worked in our favour! Obviously, there was also the summer transfer window, which I felt optimistic about by the end of August, especially given some of the top names we’d brought in. So, it got me thinking about what my most-liked games in the Premier League were under Bielsa’s leadership, saving my favourite until last.
Liverpool 4-3 Leeds United
Fittingly, I thought I’d start with our first game of the season back in the big time – when the fixtures came out and I saw this – playing the reigning champions in their own backyard – I just couldn’t wait.
I remember being on the beach in Portugal when this was being played, streaming it on my phone, fittingly, with a few beers for company and, boy what an afternoon that was! I know we didn’t get the result, but wow, just wow. Surrounded by a load of stunned Portuguese and Brazilians on the beach, who probably wondered what had got me so hyped up, we dominated nearly every statistic.
With 51.2 percent of possession, 27 more passes made (459) and 34 more touches of the ball (695) and 21 more tackles made (34), if it wasn’t for a late Mohammed Salah goal to complete his hattrick, we would have earned a point.
FULL TIME: #LUFC go toe-to-toe with the defending champions but fall to a late penalty. 4-3
— Leeds United (@LUFC) September 12, 2020
It was a bit of a bitter pill to swallow (luckily I had quite a few bottles of nicely chilled Superbocks to wash it down with), especially given the circumstances (it looked like it was heading for a draw, or even like we could sneak a win), but all-in-all I wasn’t too disappointed.
If we could play like that against the reigning champions on their own turf, we should have no problem handling ourselves. Almost overnight, we almost became everyone’s second team and it was a great advert for the Premier League and our football club – especially on a particular Portuguese beach.
Aston Villa 0-3 Leeds United
For a club that was promoted the season before, quite emphatically and having made an impact on their arrival back in the Premier League, showcasing their quality, the way in which we tore them apart was pretty impressive.
Bamford’s first Premier League hattrick (in the first half, no less) and sixth goal of the season, on just his sixth league appearance was emphatic. At that point, I think he also embarrassed any doubters who said they didn’t think he could cut it in the Premier League.
Aston Villa 0-3 Leeds United FT:
Shots: 12-27
Shots on target: 4-9
Possession: 40%-60%Bamford-Ball on full flow. 😅 https://t.co/hWG7868XMo
— Squawka (@Squawka) October 23, 2020
While his first was pouncing on a rebound, his second and third were just outrageous. A nonchalant finish into the top corner from the edge of the box, followed up with a third that if Lionel Messi did it, we’d have been talking about it for weeks. Don’t just take my word for it though.
Leeds United 5-2 Newcastle United
In what was an amazing early Christmas present, this was a game that, once again, had many people on the edge of their seats, though in true Leeds style “that lot” over the Pennines thumped us 6-2 just four days later!
Though, what a night this was. Goals from Bamford, Rodrigo, Stuart Dallas, Gianni Alioski and an absolute rocket from Jack Harrison made this an Elland Road evening to remember in front of a full house and freezing temperatures, which at times began to boil over in what was a bit of a feisty affair.
GOAL: Leeds United 5 – 2 Newcastle United. Jack Harrison with an absolute BANGER! #LEENEW
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— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Football__Tweet) December 16, 2020
I remember thinking at the time, to beat a club by that margin with as big a status as Newcastle is a heck of an achievement and it made me think that anything was possible…that is until four days later.
Leeds United 3-1 Tottenham Hotspur
It was pretty much towards the end of the season when Spurs came to Elland Road and we owed them for the 3-0 beating they gave us in London a few months earlier. By this point we had also only lost once in seven games – that being a bit of a weird 2-0 away defeat against Brighton, a week earlier.
We dominated from the first whistle and I really wasn’t surprised when Dallas slammed in at the far post after great build-up. Despite Son Heun Min equalising not long after, Bamford replied just before half time – converting from close range after Alioski’s pull-back.
When Rodrigo coolly finished a 2v1 counter-attack on the 84th minute, we’d soaked up quite a lot of Spurs pressure – I was pretty impressed by this, though at this point in the season, we’d had a lot of practice, to good effect.
What impressed me was the way in which we handled a very good side who still had an outside chance of finishing in the top four – a very mature performance and clinical finishing I thought.
Manchester City 1-2 Leeds United
Come on, you must have wondered if I was going to mention this, surely. And, for the manner in which we pulled this off against the eventual champions, a frightening team in terms of talent and with 10 men for the majority of the match made it all the more sweeter.
For pretty much the whole of the game, I was on tenterhooks, so when Dallas’ shot from outside of the area went in off the post three minutes from time I think I may have made my neighbours jump.
Though after Liam Cooper’s red moments later I thought, ah, “bloody hell Coops, that was stupid, what are you playing at”? I wasn’t surprised when they equalised – it had been coming and, you could tell that Pep Guardiola had them riled up at half-time, just by the way they came out of the blocks.
At this point, I’m thinking, we’re one man down against the likely champions as well as being pretty much camped in our own box. The old ticker was going as Illan Meslier made save after save, while we defended like our lives’ depended on it, Blocks, tackles, clearances, you name it.
But. That moment, just seconds from full-time, when I was still hoping we could take a point, that clearance, counter-attack, pinpoint pass from Gjianni, perfectly timed run from Dallas and the finish.
Wow. I think my neighbours must have wondered what the heck was going on. I was on a complete high – like I’m sure all of you lot were. The adrenaline was insane – we’d just beaten one of the best teams in Europe, playing with 10 men for half of the game. It was insane – it’s fair to say, I had a good night!
