Leeds United are back in the top-flight. It’s been a long time coming, but one of the English game’s grand old names has retaken its place among the elite.
Under the brilliant guidance of head coach Marcelo Bielsa, Leeds United made their return to the Premier League after a 16-year absence, but it looks a rather different place than when they last stood toe-to-toe with the likes of Liverpool and Manchester United.
The West Yorkshire club makes the trip across the Pennines to face the league champions at Anfield when the Premier League reopens on the 12th of September.
Liverpool vs Leeds United is a fixture some of the Whites’ younger fans never thought they’d see, but that day is just around the corner.
And the club’s supporters will be delighted to learn that Bielsa has agreed to stay and lead them on their Premier League adventure, signing a new deal just this week to allay fears that he was on his way.
It will be a tough season, but the Premier League 2020 betting odds say Leeds have enough in their squad for Bielsa to guide them to a lower mid-table position, and that would suit them just fine.
So let’s take a look at five players who can make it happen at Elland road.
Pablo Hernandez
He made the SBOBET list of the ‘Five Players to look out for’ next season and Pablo Hernandez is the player with proven quality to cut it in England’s top-flight.
As a full Spain international, he played for Valencia in La Liga and Swansea City in the Premier League before heading to Elland Road to become a fan-favourite.
With 31 goals in 136 appearances for the Whites, he’s been the club’s Player of the Year for the last three seasons and was in the Championship 2019 Team of the Season.
His clever ball skills combined with a deft reading of the game make him Leeds’ go-to man.
Patrick Bamford
One player with plenty to prove is centre-forward Patrick Bamford.
The former Chelsea player has spent most of his career out on loan, including a disastrous spell in the Premier League at Burnley where he made just six appearances.
He has been most settled at Middlesbrough in the Championship but now believes he has a home at Elland Road and aims to prove he can cut it at the top level.
He became Leeds’ most expensive player since they previously graced the Premier League when he signed for a fee of £7-M in 2018.
But he’s split opinion in the stands, missing chances in the first half of the season which could have cost the team a shot at promotion.
In the end, he returned a useful 16 goals. However, he can not be wasteful in a league where chances are at a premium.
At 26 years of age, he’s coming into his prime and this is a big season for Bamford.
Helda Costa
Signed from the Wolves for a chunky fee of £16-M, Portuguese winger Helda Costa already has Premier League experience, having made 25 appearances in the Wolves side which reached seventh place in the 2018/19 season.
The Portuguese international began his career at Benfica, moving on to loan spells at Deportivo La Coruna and Monaco before helping Wolves to promotion.
He made his international debut last year, scoring in a 3-1 victory over Scotland at Hampden Park and can play as a striker if needed.
Kalvin Phillips
Defensive midfield man Kalvin Phillips is a player we expect to see in the Premier League 2020 news.
He’s even been mentioned in the UK media as a potential Liverpool player and at just 24 years of age, he’s already made 165 appearances scoring 12 goals for the Whites.
He burst into the first team in 2015 having impressed former Leeds academy boss Neil Redfearn.
Since then, he’s developed into a vital player in a deep-lying position in the mould of Liverpool’s Fabinho or Chelsea’s N’Golo Kante.
Whether he can reach those heights remains to be seen but Phillips has time on his side.
Luke Ayling
Right wing-back Luke Ayling is the player who has prospered the most under Bielsa.
His head coach trusts him implicitly and has transformed him from a solid defensive player to an attacking threat, scoring six goals and making 10 assists over the past two campaigns.
Ayling has an eye for the spectacular. But equally, his wholehearted performances will be crucial when Leeds have their backs to the wall, as they are sure to have in the coming season.
Fitness permitting, he’ll be the first name on Bielsa’s team sheet.
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