Bielsa faces a situation this weekend that Leeds have not encountered since 2004 – Our View

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Leeds United’s first season back in the Premier League was brilliant.

From day one, the Whites looked at home in the top-flight, they may have lost 4-3 to Liverpool on the opening day in 2020/21, but they looked like they weren’t going to struggle at this level from the word go.

Three wins in their first six games set the standard that the Whites would meet for the remainder of the season, and they didn’t slip into the relegation zone throughout the entire campaign, eventually finishing ninth.

Last season was great for Leeds, but unfortunately, they haven’t been able to replicate that form this time around.

They’ve won just one game from their opening nine matches and they’re truly struggling for form.

Luckily, the Whites have what should be a rather straightforward game this weekend against Norwich, but if they lose, alarm bells will be ringing.

Let’s not beat around the bush, even though we’re only a third of the way through the season, this is a must-win game for Leeds, and, in our view, this is the first time they’ve faced such a situation since their return to the Premier League.

Norwich are at the bottom of the league for a reason, with all due respect, they’re a poor side that Leeds should be able to get the better of, but if Leeds put in another below-par showing, there could be an upset on the cards here.

There’s plenty of pressure on Leeds heading into this game, this is the first time since their promotion that they’ve faced what can be described as a must-win match, and it’s the first time since their relegation in 2004 that they’ve faced a such a game at this level.

Of course, Leeds played plenty of so-called ‘must-win’ games in the Championship and League One while they were out in the cold, but the Premier League is a different beast.

A bad run at this level is made so much worse by the increased media coverage and the stakes are so much higher with failure being worth over £100m these days.

If Leeds lose to Norwich, the pressure will well and truly be on and a relegation battle will look like a distinct possibility, while a win would propel the Whites up the table and ease a lot of the burden they’ve carried so far this season.

Leeds’ game against Norwich may well be their first must-win Premier League game since 2004.