Leeds United take on Liverpool tonight, and will be looking for another big result having beaten Manchester City 2-1 at the Etihad Stadium last week.
The hero in that stunning win was Stuart Dallas, as he bagged a brace to fire Leeds to all three points even with 10 men.
Dallas is enjoying a great season. The 30-year-old has now racked up seven goals and two assists, continuing to be one of Marcelo Bielsa’s key men.
The Northern Ireland international has again proven his versatility; left back, right back, central midfield, wing back – it doesn’t matter, Dallas is starring in all roles.
He has become a hero at Elland Road having pretty much been a squad player before Bielsa became Leeds boss in 2018.
Ahead of tonight’s game, Bielsa has offered a stunning comparison regarding Dallas, likening him to Argentina legend Javier Zanetti.
Zanetti will be best remembered for his near-20-year spell with Inter Milan, racking up more than 850 appearances for the club whilst playing in various roles – just like Dallas is now.
Zanetti played under Bielsa at the 2002 World Cup, and Bielsa has admitted to the Daily Mail that he sees plenty of similarities between the pair in a rather bold comparison.
“I had a player like Dallas before in Javier Zanetti — and Julio Saldana when I had my first experience of management at Newell’s Old Boys,” said Bielsa. “Those two players are very like Dallas in terms of their versatility. Dallas is a very potent, powerful player and can play with either foot.”
“He’s good at defending and has the capacity to make runs that allow him to flourish in the middle. He has a change of rhythm and surprise when he attacks. It’s very difficult to find all of that in just one player. In the majority of the games that the team have played, he has been one of our best players,” he added.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
