Few could have predicted how well Leeds United would fare in their first season back in the Premier League. Not only did the Whites safely avoid relegation, but they finished in the top half of the table thanks to strong performances throughout their squad that exceeded expectations.
So what does the future hold for Marcelo Bielsa’s men in the 2021/22 season? SBOTOP takes its best shot with five bold predictions that, while overly optimistic for some, are very much possible.
- Leeds will finish in the top half again
As Sheffield United showed last season, the so-called ‘second-season syndrome’ or ‘sophomore slump’ is quite a real phenomenon in the Premier League. After a terrific ninth-placed campaign in the previous season, the Blades finished bottom last year and were relegated.
Leeds – who also finished ninth last season – will be eager to avoid that same fate. Luckily, though, they are better equipped to do so than the Blades. They have a superior manager in Marcelo Bielsa, as well as a stronger squad with players of legitimate Premier League quality, including a reliable goalscorer in Patrick Bamford.
So not only will Leeds stay up in their second season, but they will be back finishing in the top half for the second straight year.
- Raphinha will get more goals + assists than Jack Grealish
Raphinha was one of Leeds’ revelations of last season. The young Brazilian, who came over for just under €19 million, proved to be one of the signings of the season as he finished with 6 goals and 9 assists in his debut Premier League campaign.
His 15 goals + assists were just one behind Jack Grealish’s tally of 16 at Aston Villa. The 25-year-old has since moved on to Manchester City for a staggering £100 million, a new British transfer record, which has only strengthened City’s Premier League 2021 odds of defending their title.
But while Grealish is no doubt a great player, is it possible that he might not produce quite as many Premier League 2021 highlights while he adjusts playing in Pep Guardiola’s system? With the added pressure to live up to his price tag coupled with the immense competition for places at City, Grealish may not have it so easy in Manchester.
So that opens up the very real possibility that Raphinha – who is now better acclimated to England and will be a focal point of the prolific Leeds attack for a full season – will end up being the more productive player in terms of overall goals and assists this season than record-breaking Grealish.
- Patrick Bamford won’t be the only Leeds player to score 10+ goals
Bamford deserves a lot of credit for Leeds’ success last season. The 27-year-old led the line week in, week out and provided a consistent source of goals for the Whites. He finished with 17 goals, which was good for fourth in the entire league.
It will certainly be a challenge for Bamford to match or even surpass that number in his second season, especially with opposing defences now well-aware of the threat he presents.
But Bamford also showed last season how adept he is as a playmaker, setting up seven more Leeds goals.
While he could find it tough to get free quite as often this season, Bamford can still supply the likes of Raphinha, Jack Harrison, breakout star Stuart Dallas, and Rodrigo with more shots, and at least one of them should convert enough of them to join Bamford with double-digit goals by season’s end.
- Diego Llorente will live up to price tag this season
Diego Llorente was one of Leeds’ high-profile signings last season. The Spanish defender was signed for €20 million from Real Sociedad, making him the third-most expensive player in Leeds history.
Unfortunately, Llorente was beset by injuries for most of the season and could only play in 15 matches. But when he finally got a consistent run at the side at the latter half of the year, he showed signs of why Bielsa wanted to bring him aboard. In the last eight games Llorente played, Leeds conceded just six goals and lost just once.
Barring any more injury setbacks, Llorente should prove this season that he was well worth the price Leeds paid to acquire him.
- Leeds will have a top-five record at home
It was so disappointing that fans were not present for most of Leeds’ first season back in the Premier League. But despite the lack of fans at Elland Road, Leeds still finished with the seventh-best home record last season.
And with fans now set to return this upcoming season, Leeds figure to be even better at Elland Road. Bielsa’s sides can once again feed off the crowd’s energy, which should help them run and press the opposition even more.
Elland Road will not be an easy place to visit all year, and don’t be surprised if Leeds finish with one of the best home records in the entire league.
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