Pablo Hernandez under no illusions over Leeds United's Premier League task this season

The Whites take on Fulham at Elland Road this weekend.
Leeds United playmaker Pablo Hernandez in action against Liverpool at Anfield. (Getty)Leeds United playmaker Pablo Hernandez in action against Liverpool at Anfield. (Getty)
Leeds United playmaker Pablo Hernandez in action against Liverpool at Anfield. (Getty)

If there were any lingering questions over how Leeds United would attack the Premier League this season then they were swiftly answered at Anfield last weekend.

Bielsa had been quizzed pre-match about how his side would set up for their first top-flight outing in 16 years for a game where the hosts, Liverpool, were looking to make it 60 matches unbeaten on home soil.

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The Argentine’s response should have come as no surprise to anyone, as he promised what Leeds have delivered over the course of his two-and-a-half years at the club.

“We play every game the same way,” Bielsa asserted. “We are always trying to deserve the victory by playing better than the opponent. It’s not a question of vanity, it’s a question of conviction in the style of play.”

That style of play - a fast-paced, full throttle, high-pressing commitment to attack - was one that would bring the Whites within two minutes of a point until they were undone by a late Mo Salah penalty.

Leeds play one way and one way only, no matter the opponent - but momentum that was acquired against Klopp’s stars must now be carried through when they host Fulham at Elland Road on Saturday afternoon, a necessity not lost on midfield playmaker Pablo Hernandez.

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“We will continue with the same style and same idea,” said Hernandez.

“Obviously we know it’s more difficult because we will face better teams - I think it is our mentality.

“It doesn’t matter who is in front [of us]. We need to try and impose our style and we will try to do this in the Premier League.

“For different circumstances in the last years this club doesn’t compete in this league, but we’ve put the club where it deserves [to be].

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“It’s a big challenge for us. We know the difficulty of this league. We know always for the teams that are promoted from the Championship that the first years are very difficult.

“We have a big confidence in the players. We continue with the same players and we think a few new players can improve the team a lot.

“We need to give everything now in this challenge because all the fans deserve us to do a good job in this league.”

This weekend United face a different proposition to their opening test and, in a reverse of last Saturday, enter the game as favourites to get their Premier League points tally up and running at the second attempt.

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Ambitions from the Leeds fanbase ahead of the new campaign varied from survival to aiming for the European places following promotion.

Hernandez, though, says the squad knows there will be ups and downs.

“In our minds I think everyone has the same thing,” he added.

“We arrive now to the Premier League, but this is the next step to try and keep this team in the league for a long, long time.

“We know the first year is probably the most difficult but we know if we give 100 per cent and don’t lose our style or identity then we have a good chance.”