The full-time whistle at The Hawthorns saw Leeds United pick up a stunning 5-0 win that not many had seen coming. While Leeds looked favourites after a win over the Baggies – many had expected them to be frustrated by a Sam Allardyce side that limited Liverpool to a 1-1 draw. Not only did Leeds win three points, though, but they also dismantled Allardyce’s pre-season claim about themselves.
After the win, Leeds are fourth on the amount of goals scored with 30 – behind only Liverpool, Manchester United and Chelsea. Patrick Bamford has a third of those goals while Gjanni Alioski, Jack Harrison, Raphinha, Mateusz Klich and others have chipped in, too. Yes – Leeds have conceded the same amount of goals, second only to West Brom, but that comes with their attacking intent.
An own goal from Romaine Sawyers was followed by four goals all from different scorers. Rodrigo got his third in Leeds colours, while Alioski, Harrison and Raphinha all netted – as they looked to alleviate some of the goalscoring pressure on potential England call-up Bamford. The all-round goalscoring threat has completely rinsed a claim Allardyce – now Baggies manager – claimed when discussing Leeds in pre-season following promotion.
The ex-England manager was worried for Leeds. Having surged through the 2019-20 Championship, Allardyce was worried that Leeds lacked the fire power to score goals regularly in the Premier League. While they have brought in Rodrigo and Raphinha, last season’s top scorers have continued this time around – Bamford, Harrison and more. But at first hand, Allardyce was forced to eat his own comments on Wednesday night, which he made to BeIN Sports.
“Leeds United, on the frontline, in the Premier League will be short of goals,” Allardyce said. “That is a critical area, not enough goals. Doesn’t matter how good you are, not enough goals and you will struggle. He will stick to his philosophy, but whether he can change, we will have to wait and see. Norwich found it difficult and lost nearly all their games and got relegated.”
It is testament to the likes of Bamford, Harrison and other players that Leeds used regularly in the Championship that have managed to step up to the Premier League and cope with the pressure on them. Yes, Allardyce’s claims at the time were probably fair enough, and some Leeds fans will have agreed that Bamford needed replacing after just 16 goals last term.
But with 10 in 16, the ex-Chelsea man is in the form of his life. He, and the rest of the Leeds side, have thrown a proverbial pie in the direction of Allardyce’s face – not only throughout the entire season, but mostly right in front of him on Wednesday, as Allardyce’s defence crumbled against a Leeds side he claimed would struggle to score in the Premier League. You have to laugh.
