Leeds United have adopted a more physical approach than some of their newly-promoted predecessors.
Jamie Carragher has credited Leeds United with contributing to a major Premier League change in their first season back.
The style of football being played across the top-flight has been a hot topic all season, with title favourites Arsenal adopting a more functional approach than their league-leading predecessors. Similarly, set-piece masters Brentford have shot into European contention while newly-promoted pair Sunderland and Leeds have enjoyed success through physicality.
Newcastle United winger Anthony Gordon recently described the Premier League as being like a basketball game, adding ‘it’s become more physical than I’ve ever known it to be.’ Leeds have certainly played their part in making it so, recruiting for the new style all summer before it grew into such a major talking point.
Sunderland also recruited well for the new style and showed their superior quality with a comfortable 3-0 win at home to Burnley on Monday night. And ahead of that game, former Liverpool defender Carragher highlighted the impact of the Black Cats and Leeds in helping to make the Premier League what it is right now.
“I think it’s something we’ve spoken about a lot on the show in terms of teams coming up,” Carragher told Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football. “How they go about staying in the Premier League, how much football do you want to play, how direct do you want to play and I think the promoted teams this season have been a big part of saying the Premier League has become direct.
“It’s almost like a throwback. We speak about Arsenal because they are at the top of the league, but I think the teams that have come [up] have made it, certainly Leeds, again have made it a fortress at home, have tried to make it a lot more difficult for teams against them.”
Leeds United’s home form the key to survival
Last weekend’s 4-0 loss to Arsenal was arguably one of the first games all season Leeds have been clearly second best. The Whites had only suffered two home defeats prior, against Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur, both of which were slightly unfortunate.
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That home form could be the thing that keeps Daniel Farke’s side up, so long as they continue to take points from the games they are expected to. The Whites host fellow strugglers Nottingham Forest in a massive game on Friday evening with two more of the bottom four due at Elland Road before the season is over.
The Whites welcome Wolves to Elland Road on April 18 with Burnley arriving in West Yorkshire a fortnight later, both of which will be seen - like Forest on Friday - as huge opportunities to take three points. Sunderland, Brentford and Brighton are also due in Leeds before the season is out.
With 26 points on the board already, Leeds know four more wins will take them on to 38, reaching the point-per-game average they have targeted all season to survive. Farke and his squad will feel confident they can pick those victories up at home.
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