Marcelo Bielsa on Elland Road's new pitch and the impact of missing Leeds United supporters in the Premier League

Marcelo Bielsa says a lack of supporters at Elland Road has levelled the playing field for visiting Premier League teams this season.

Leeds United host Crystal Palace in top flight action this evening for a clash under the lights on Monday Night Football in LS11.

The Whites have played out the entire campaign behind closed doors amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Bielsa has seen his side win just three times in 10 games on home soil in West Yorkshire following promotion last summer with supporters missing from the stands.

The Elland Road pitch has also been somewhat of a talking point in recent weeks, after United opted to overhaul the playing surface and bring in a new pitch following a recent bout of bad weather.

Issues with the drainage system caused huge problems for the clash with Brighton and players could be seen visibly slipping throughout the game.

After the installation of a new hybrid pitch ahead of last week's match with Everton - which cost the Whites around £300k as a short term fix until the summer - Bielsa praised the improvement of the surface, despite United's players again struggling after the quick installation.

"The pitch was a big, big improvement from the last game against Brighton," Bielsa admitted pre-match when asked about his side's home form.

"Playing at home or away is not having the same effect it had prior when there were fans. It doesn’t increase your chances, playing at home, or decrease your chances, playing away as it did when there were fans."

Bielsa was also quizzed over how much enjoyment he could take out of the current campaign in what are difficult conditions.

Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo conceded recently that his pleasure had decreased amid the lack of fans and the pandemic causing a worldwide crisis.

"It’s difficult for me to make references over my personal life or my professional life because everybody is going through a difficult situation," Bielsa said.

"I have more means to resolve my problems than most other people. To be far away from your family and those you love, to not have any fans at stadiums, I totally agree with Nuno.

"I also know what’s happening in society and I know what I have to absorb is minimal compared to everybody else."