Sunderland 1 Leeds United 1: Lee Sobot's video verdict
Leeds United have enjoyed a recent uptick in form since the emerging influence of Jaka Bijol.
Leeds United defender Jaka Bijol believes flexibility has been an important strength of his side in recent weeks, having switched formation seamlessly on several occasions.
After being forced to wait for his chance following a £15million move from Udinese, Bijol has flourished in recent weeks in the middle of Joe Rodon and Pascal Struijk in a back three. That solid base has helped Leeds go five unbeaten but it’s not been the only factor, with comebacks against Brentford, Liverpool and Sunderland coming with a back four.
That formation switch has usually been the catalyst for Bijol to be substituted but with Rodon injured at Sunderland, he partnered Struijk in a back four for the first time. The Slovenian could be in a similar position from kick-off at Liverpool on Sunday and values Leeds’ unpredictability just like his manager Daniel Farke.
“I think maybe in the past we deserved some results even better than we got at the end,” Bijol told Premier League Productions. “But the performances are there, I think, and we just have to continue like that.
“We can change the formation at any time and it is an important thing to have in a team that you can be a little bit flexible. We can do that now at any moment and the results are there but I think it is more like of the performance of the team and the energy that we have, the tactical decisions, of course, of the manager and just all is coming together a little bit.”
Jaka Bijol looks ahead to Liverpool trip
Leeds will end 2025 with a six-point gap on West Ham in the final relegation place, an advantage that could be extended further if they get anything at Anfield on New Year’s Day. The Whites watched all of their relegation rivals drop points on Tuesday evening and could even go 15th in the somewhat unlikely event they beat Liverpool by two clear goals.
Read More
That feels a little more likely than it did a month ago, at least, with Leeds scoring an impressive 14 goals in their last five-and-a-half games, having managed just 11 in their first 12-and-a-half. And that form leaves Bijol and his teammates looking forward to the challenge of the reigning Premier League champions.
“We are in [a good run] of results and now we are just looking forward to the Liverpool game and just hope to continue with that,” the centre-back added. “We have a really good energy at the moment. Just good performances on the pitch and it shows on the results at the end of the day.
“We just want to continue to keep the good results and why not at Anfield as well? The first game, not so long ago, against Liverpool was crazy. We took it as a positive, 3-3 at the end. We will have to have a little bit more of a calm game in Anfield to get the results we want.”
Continue Reading