Leeds 2-0 Crystal Palace: Jack Harrison put Marcelo Bielsa's side ahead within three minutes and the injury-stricken Eagles mustered little in response
Jack Harrison and Patrick Bamford on target as Leeds beat Crystal Palace pressandjournal.co.uk - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from pressandjournal.co.uk Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
After Olsen’s early save from Raphinha, Everton settled quicker on Elland Road’s new pitch.
Several players lost their footing in the early stages, and throughout the match, on a playing surface which has been re-laid since Leeds’ last home game against Brighton 18 days ago.
Andre Gomes’ excellent ball set Lucas Digne free down the left and the Frenchman’s cross was turned neatly home first time by Sigurdsson, who charged on to the ball between three static defenders.
Leeds went close to equalising in spectacular fashion in the 20th minute when Ezgjan Alioski’s volley direct from Raphinha’s corner crashed back off the base of a post.
EPL: Leeds hammer West Brom 5-0
Published 29 December 2020
Leeds ran riot at The Hawthorns, thumping relegation-threatened West Brom 5-0 as they continued their climb up the Premier League table.
Marcelo Bielsa’s side were sent on their way by a gift from Albion’s Romain Sawyers (9), whose back pass beat goalkeeper Sam Johnstone, before goals from Ezgjan Alioski (31), Jack Harrison (36) and Rodrigo (40) saw the visitors into the break with a commanding lead.
Raphinha put the finishing touch on Leeds’ night in the 72nd minute with an emphatic strike on what was a chastening evening for West Brom and new boss Sam Allardyce, who is still looking for his first win in charge at The Hawthorns.
Man United v Leeds: One big game, five big questions
Date published: Saturday 19th December 2020 9:27 - Matthew Stead
1) Will clash of styles lead to high-scoring game?
There is something irresistible about this one, and it isn’t just the historical glamour of Manchester United versus Leeds United. Sunday’s game is a battle of the ultimate tactician versus the non-tactician; the idealist versus the nothing-ist; the ultra-choreographed high-tempo Leeds versus the vague and wafting Man Utd.
Incredibly, Man Utd become serious title contenders if they win this one, but that’s more to do with the uniqueness of this season and the quality of Man Utd’s individual players than anything Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is doing tactically. He has a decent plan of sitting back and countering when playing the big teams, but against everyone else it’s alarmingly improvised.