Tom Huddlestone has told the Football Show on Sky Sports (13/10/20 at 11:10 am) that Leeds are the reason behind the crazy and ‘unusual’ set of results the Premier League is seeing this season.
On the opening day of the season, Leeds were beaten 4-3 at Liverpool with Marcelo Bielsa’s side playing like title-challengers against the champions rather than a newly-promoted side.
Since then, West Brom scored three goals in the first half against Chelsea, Leicester put 5 past Manchester City at the Etihad, Spurs beat Manchester United 6-1 and Aston Villa produced the best of the lot by putting an incredible seven past Liverpool.
Huddlestone, who would have come up against Leeds in the Championship, feels that the manner in which the Whites approached their game against Liverpool has inspired others to be on the front foot rather than the back foot against the teams at the top.
“I think there’s been a mixture,” Huddlestone told Sky Sports. “I think the fans is a massive part. I feel a lot of the results that we see has stemmed from people watching Leeds away at Anfield in the first game of the season.
“Leeds have gone there as a newly-promoted team, against the champions and shown no fear, whatsoever. They have gone against them. Pressed them high up the pitch and almost a case of if we are going to lose then we are going to lose fighting and playing our own way.
“I think a lot the smaller teams in the past will go there and try to play for a 0-0. They have just gone with a bit more impetus and tried to take the game to the bigger teams. And as we are seeing now, a lot of them are getting unusual results but results that are justified.”
In truth, those who watched Leeds in the Championship wouldn’t have been surprised with the manner in which they started life back in the big time.
There is no hitting the brakes with Bielsa because he is aggressive, on the front foot and in your face when it comes to his style of play.
Whilst Leeds may find themselves on the end of a couple of heavy defeats, one thing is for sure, they will scare the living daylights out of others because of the manner they approach matches.
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