Raphinha and Rodrigo setbacks but top-seven stat highlights progress in Leeds United's best yet - Talking Points

Being back in it first and foremost, but also some fantastic performances and results.

Holding Manchester City to a 1-1 draw at Elland Road, running champions Liverpool close in a 4-3 thriller at Anfield, thumping West Brom 5-0, the 3-0 cruise at Aston Villa.

Yet Sunday’s victory at Leicester City felt like a milestone moment and Leeds United’s best yet, even if Marcelo Bielsa felt his Whites played better against Villa.

He’s probably right - he usually is - and at the time Villa were proud holders of a perfect 100 per cent record of four wins out of four.

Leeds put paid to that in no uncertain terms in a game in which the Whites conjured up 27 attempts on goal with nine on target having had 59 per cent of possession.

You can see why Bielsa rated the display so highly and Villa are still ticking along nicely in ninth.

Comparatively, Leeds served up less than a third of the number of chances created at Villa in Sunday's clash at Leicester with eight attempts at goal though impressively seven of those were on target with three of them hitting the back of the net.

There would have been more but for some fine saves from Foxes ‘keeper Kasper Schmeichel who kept out Patrick Bamford’s header from underneath his own crossbar with millimetres to spare.

Yet even three goals from eight attempts with seven of those on target is a fine return in terms of efficiency which has often been discussed when it comes to Bielsa’s Whites.

Therein lies a key element to Sunday’s victory as the Foxes offered 18 attempts at goal but only half of those were on target with only Harvey Barnes’ strike beating Illan Meslier.

Like Schmeichel, Meslier was also forced into pulling off some strong saves.

But another major ingredient that needs factoring in when assessing United’s latest display is the opposition and the 3-1 triumph at the King Power was ultimately Leeds’ first victory against any of the division’s current top seven.

Of that current top seven, Leeds went very close against Liverpool - even in defeat - and again against Manchester City in a 1-1 draw at Elland Road.

Set piece woes cost the Whites dear against an admittedly dominant West Ham United side while the reverses to Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur plus the home defeat to Leicester were all, in the end, comprehensive enough defeats.

There were plenty of questions to answer ahead of the season’s second clash against the third-placed Foxes such as would Bielsa’s side take December’s 4-1 loss at Elland Road as a lesson learned and try something different?

It has to be stressed that there was one notable Leicester absentee in last season’s Golden Boot winner Jamie Vardy who is recovering from minor surgery to a hernia issue.

Another key cog, Wilfred Ndidi, also missed out with a hamstring injury.

Yet even without Vardy and Ndidi, Leicester are still a very good side and given the opposition it could be considered that Sunday’s win was United’s best result yet so far this season, if not the best performance too.

Everything that Leeds do this season needs to be considered with the season’s chief objective in mind - staying in the division.

Nothing is ever certain in the cut and thrust of the Premier League but Bielsa’s Whites are now on 29 points after 20 games and sit 15 points clear of the dropzone in 12th.

Leeds are now 100-1 to go down

Victory at Leicester also came at some sort of cost with both Rodrigo and Raphinha going off injured and Bielsa’s instant reaction was that Rodrigo would now likely miss Wednesday’s clash at home to Everton with what looked like a groin issue.

It is hoped that Raphinha’s injury and what appeared to be a thigh problem is not serious as the Brazilian winger has looked a class act and arguably United’s best player.

Before going off, Raphinha was instrumental in inspiring a victory that left Leeds only four points off sixth.

Staying up is clearly the primary aim.

Yet Leeds look some way better than that and are now looking upwards towards the bigger teams with an impressive first win against one safely in the bag.

https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-united/spotlight-stuart-dallas-leeds-uniteds-versatile-northern-ireland-international-excels-faced-differing-tasks-3118947

https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-united/yorkshire-evening-post-launch-leeds-united-only-digital-subscription-ahead-premier-league-campaign-2967964

A message from the Editor:

Leeds has a fantastic story to tell - and the Yorkshire Evening Post has been rooted firmly at the heart of telling the stories of our city since 1890.

We believe in ourselves and hope you believe in us too. We need your support to help ensure we can continue to be at the heart of life in Leeds.

https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/why-yorkshire-evening-post-needs-your-support-laura-collins-yep-editor-2913382

Subscribe to our website and enjoy unlimited access to local news and information online and on our app.

With a digital subscription, you can read more than 5 articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content.

Click here to subscribe.

For more details on our newspaper subscription offers click here.

Thank you Laura Collins