Leeds United have had an indifferent start to the Premier League campaign. Two wins, two draws and two defeats have the Whites sitting ninth in the table.
Solid, but not spectacular would be an ideal description but, with a first-team overhaul in the summer, results could improve once the side gels together. Seven new faces arrived, with star players Kalvin Phillips and Raphinha seeking pastures new.
Majority shareholder Andrea Radrizzani will be enthused by Jesse Marsch’s start to the campaign. It is five years since the Italian announced a 100% buyout of the club and launched Leeds’ mission to reach the top flight.
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Over time, the San Francisco 49ers have absorbed significant equity but Radrizzani is still the main shot-caller at Elland Road - for now. LeedsLive profiled how the Whites have fared in their opening six fixtures in each of the 47-year-old’s previous five seasons in charge.
2017-18 (Championship) - 14 points
In Radrizzani’s first full season at the helm, Leeds stormed to the top of the Championship in mid-September after four wins and two draws in their first six outings. A well-balanced side featuring Kemar Roofe, Chris Wood, Pablo Hernandez and Liam Cooper has supporters, for the first time in years, dreaming about the Premier League.
However, despite sitting in the play-off spots on New Year’s Day, a wobble in form saw Thomas Christiansen dismissed. Paul Heckingbottom arrived but the situation got worse and the Whites finished 13th.
2018-19 (Championship) - 14 points
A revival was needed and Marcelo Bielsa provided the antidote. The eccentric Argentine replicated Leeds’ points tally from the previous year.
Goals from Samuel Saiz, Hernandez and Cooper earned a 3-1 opening-day victory against Stoke City and that was followed up with wins against Derby County and Rotherham United. Unlike 2017-18, Bielsa managed to get a tune out of players throughout the campaign and inspired a third-placed finish.
Play-off final heartache would ensue at the hands of Frank Lampard but Leeds were on the way up.
2019-20 (Championship) - 13 points
Despite claiming one point less after six games, Leeds would prove more consistent through the season to clinch Premier League promotion. After 16 years, the Whites were back in the big time and it all started at the Ashton Gate Stadium.
A rampant 3-1 win against Bristol City kick-started a memorable campaign. Victories against Wigan Athletic, Stoke and Brentford had supporters talking of a title charge but a shock home defeat to Swansea City dealt a brutal reality check.
As we all know, Leeds would go on to secure their top-flight status and the rest, as they say, is history.
2020-21 (Premier League) - 10 points
The Whites gained a reputation for their gung-ho style under Bielsa and they did not let the Premier League deter their style. A trip to Anfield - to face the champions - provided a daunting first game back but Leeds attacked Jurgen Klopp’s high-fliers.
A narrow 4-3 defeat put a warning down to the rest of the division that the Whites were fearless. Patrick Bamford scored five goals in the first six games to inspire wins against Fulham, Sheffield United and Aston Villa.
Leeds were back - and the impressive ninth-placed finish the following May proved it.
2021-22 (Premier League) - 3 points
The worst start to a season under Radrizzani’s ownership. A heavy defeat to Manchester United on day one was an ominous warning to Bielsa’s Leeds future. Concerns over second-season syndrome were justified as sides started to suss the game plan out.
Fans would have to wait until October 2 - the seventh game of the campaign - for their side to win a game. The Bielsa dream ended when he was sacked the following February and Jesse Marsch clinched survival on the final day.
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