Jamie Carragher casts verdict on Leeds United and Marcelo Bielsa ahead of Whites' Premier League return

Carragher's former side and now defending champions will provide United's first opponents upon Leeds' return to the country's top flight after a 16-year absence when the Reds and Whites do battle in Saturday's 5.30pm kick-off at Anfield.

Under 65-year-old Argentinian head coach Bielsa, Carragher believes Leeds are blessed with "something special" with the former Liverpool centre-back admitting he cannot wait to see how Bielsa's side fare upon their Premier League return.

Leeds stormed to promotion last season as Championship champions in Bielsa's second season in charge and Carragher admits he was even a fan of Bielsa's methods in the 'spygate' saga during the previous campaign when Bielsa sent a member of his staff to watch a Derby County training session.

Carragher told The Mirror: “For possibly the first time in their history, Leeds have become everyone’s second team.

“Fans are intrigued by Bielsa. They want him in the Premier League and I want to analyse his teams and try to find out exactly what he does.

"Bielsa is someone who some of the best managers in the world look up to.

“There is something special there, something different, and I am delighted that Leeds have come back up because it’s great to have another big club in the Premier League.”

Carragher added: "I loved all that stuff about spying on Derby.

“The fact that he’s prepared to go to that extreme to want to win a game and then did a big presentation to the press is the kind of character you want in the Premier League.

“There’s a mystique about him, sitting on his bucket on the touchline.

“I’ve been intrigued with him ever since I first came across him when he was the Argentina manager.

“I think we all love someone who is just mad on football - and I can’t wait to see him in the Premier League.”

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Thank you Laura Collins