Leeds’ Season Catalyst Has Just Happened: They Must Kick On From Here
It was against all odds. Leeds hadn’t been able to pick up three points if it was there on a silver platter. It was inconceivable Liverpool would lose two on the trot to serious relegation candidates and Van Dijk’s unbeaten Anfield run was untouchable. That was until Leeds came to town.
It’s not the first time there has been high drama between the two sides at Anfield; Leeds’ first game back in the Premier League saw a 4–3 thriller after a Mo Salah hat-trick, and last year they were dismantled 6–0 towards the end of Bielsa’s tenure. It was like chalk and cheese to this time around.
“It was necessary to stop the bleeding”, Marsch said. “I’m happy”, as was typified by his Zidane-esque celebration that was captured brilliantly in the foreground of one camera angle — in the background, however, was the real ecstasy exhibited: thousands of fans who had craved this moment since their victory against Chelsea.
That was the reality that hit post-game; this win had been a very long time coming. As historic of a win it was, by next Saturday Leeds’ feet will have to be well and truly back down to Earth for another huge game at Elland Road — their last home outing before the winter World Cup.
“We have to use this to launch ourselves”, Marsch stated after the game. “It makes next weekend really important back at Elland Road,” which, despite being guilty of questionable conferences occasionally, was spot on. Casting the mind back to Chelsea, Marsch was adamant the win would not stick in the players’ minds and their focus would turn to the next fixture immediately. They followed it up with a 1–0 loss at Brighton, which is simply not an option under the current circumstances.
What’s next against Bournemouth is the real exam for Marsch (and by the looks of it he’s been studying all day and night). The catalyst for Leeds has well and truly occurred. The confidence is not quite sky-high, but they’re certainly elevated from the rock-bottom they were prior to their trip to Anfield.
Following Leeds’ loss at Fulham, with three games remaining until the World Cup break, it would have been fair to ask for no more than three points. Away trips to Liverpool, and Spurs were deemed about as easy as pulling teeth from an alligator. Needless to say, Leeds were more than up to the task and find themselves with three points already, still with Bournemouth to play who they will be expected to take points from.
They are few and far between, but one serious positive of the World Cup break is the January transfer window. Under regular circumstances the window falls in the middle of the season, as sides have around 16–19 games to save themselves from any impeding doom they may be facing. This year is no normal year. By the time the window opens Leeds will have 22 games to play, meaning any players (maybe… a striker?) that are brought in will have more than half of the season to make an impact. Those extra five or six games could prove pivotal.
Nevertheless this is far into the future; for now Leeds are able to enjoy this moment but must know they can only rest for a day or two before the relentless nature of the Premier League take its course and Bournemouth travel to Elland Road and could lift Leeds onto 15 points going into the break — a feat that until very recently seemed as likely as pigs flying. Instead, it was Crysencio Summerville and his vacant t-shirt in the air — Leeds may very well have found a key to some form of success.