Leeds United start the World Cup break 15th in the Premier League table. Tyler Adams also now leads our Power Rankings at Elland Road from his USA teammate, Brenden Aaronson.
The pair of Qatar-bound USMNT stars have shone brightly since arriving in West Yorkshire over the summer. So much, in fact, that Aaronson topped our Power Rankings from Adams during the last international break following their productive starts in Jesse Marsch’s team.
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Only Illan Meslier (1,260) and Robin Koch (1,215) have played more minutes in the Premier League than Aaronson (1,196) and Adams (1,167) so far this term at Leeds. Koch, Meslier, Aaronson and Marc Roca are also the only ones to have played in each of their 14 fixtures.
Summerville’s heroics inspired Leeds’ revival for a Power Rankings position
Marsch’s men have amassed 15 points from their 14 games to sit just two points above the relegation zone. The Whites have won four and drawn three of their fixtures against seven defeats. They have also only managed to score 22 goals to 26 conceded so far this season.
Leeds will return to Premier League action on December 28 at home to Manchester City. Marsch will hope the break for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar does not now restrict his side. The Whites had just found some momentum with wins over Liverpool and Bournemouth.
The Elland Road outfit stunned Liverpool to win 2-1 at Anfield with an 89th-minute winner from Crysencio Summerville. They also came from 3-1 behind to beat Bournemouth 4-3 as Summerville hit a late winner again. Tottenham Hotspur then won a 4-3 clash on Saturday.
So, with the Premier League now on pause for the World Cup, HITC Football has revisited our Leeds Power Rankings from the last international break. Summerville’s heroic displays have earned the forward a spot in the top 10 as Adams takes the top spot from Aaronson.
1. Tyler Adams (+1): The USMNT now tops our Leeds Power Rankings
Adams ranked second in our Leeds Power Rankings during the last international break but has now claimed the top spot. Marsch’s £20m summer signing from RB Leipzig has thrilled in the Whites’ engine room with his combative style often delivering outstanding displays.
USA Boss Gregg Berhalter will now hope the 32-cap international offers the same sense of awareness at the World Cup. The New York native will likely be a key player for the USMNT in Qatar. Berhalter will want Adams sniffing out danger and establishing the tone in games.
2. Brenden Aaronson (-1): A positive presence but he falls to second
Aaronson topped our Leeds Power Rankings in September having shone with his positivity after a £24.5m move from RB Salzburg. But while the 24-cap USMNT star continues to give lively performances and is often the most creative option, he has not always been a threat.
3. Illan Meslier (+/-0): The shot-stopper continues to stand strong at Leeds
Meslier continues to stand strong between the sticks at Elland Road when teams force the Frenchman into action for Leeds. He commands the box in West Yorkshire admirably, too, and has not let his head drop after goals where Meslier could have been able to do more.
4. Crysencio Summerville (NEW): The Dutchman has revived Leeds’ season
Marsch will be thrilled to have seen Summerville revive Leeds’ season, which appeared on course for another relegation battle. The Dutchman’s impact in matches was too thin and far between at first after teams restricted his time in possession and hurried his decisions.
Yet on the back of a four-game losing streak and travelling to Anfield without a win in eight games, Summerville delivered. He grew in confidence as the game wore on and delivered a dramatic late winner across Alisson. His pace then caused Bournemouth all sorts of issues.
The 21-year-old won his side a penalty after just 51 seconds when felled by Marcos Senesi. Summerville continued to cause problems and got another goal six minutes from full-time. His fourth strike in as many games followed at Tottenham, having also hit against Fulham.
5. Marc Roca (-1): The Spaniard slips one spot after some sloppy showings
Roca was on a promising rise entering the September international break, but he has fallen one spot in our rankings. The Whites’ £10m summer signing from Bayern Munich has often struggled to impose himself and has been sloppy on the ball. But he can still match Adams.
6. Pascal Struijk (+3): The Dutchman could fall just as he quickly as he rose
Pascal Struijk has gained three spots in our Leeds Power Rankings entering the World Cup. But the 23-year-old could just as easily fall back down the order when the Premier League resumes. He has shut some opponents out completely, yet some teams have targeted him.
7. Rodrigo (-2): The Spaniard is Leeds’ top-scorer despite some invisible displays
Rodrigo is Leeds’ top-scorer with nine goals in 13 matches and ranks fourth for the Premier League Golden Boot. Yet the Spaniard falls to seventh in our Power Rankings as he has had some invisible displays. Even a few of his goals have come despite producing a poor game.
8. Wilfried Gnonto (NEW): A slow start is finally starting to show promise
Wilfried Gnonto has had a slow start since signing for Leeds in a £4m move from FC Zurich in September. Marsch only gave the Italy forward his Premier League debut on October 29 at Liverpool. Yet he has stolen some of the focus after some dogged and intelligent games.
9. Liam Cooper (NEW): The Scot makes the top 10 after returning from an injury
A calf injury kept Leeds captain Liam Cooper out of Premier League action until October 2. But the Scot has offered an important presence since the last international break with his numerous last-ditch challenges. He also scored just his 10th goal for Leeds in 255 outings.
10. Robin Koch (-2): Others are now impressing much more than the German
Koch has fallen two spots in our Leeds Power Rankings given the form Gnonto, Cooper and Summerville have shown. The German has also marked lively strikers like Gabriel Jesus out of some games. But he gifted Leicester City a goal and Bournemouth got the better of him.
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