If Leeds United fans had to choose a game to watch at Elland Road this season, in terms of theatre, Saturday night’s 3-3 draw with Liverpool was the best pick. Pontus Jansson will agree.
After a dull first half in which Leeds looked sturdy without being overly threatening, the second half brought the game to life. Six goals, as Leeds came from 2-0 and 3-2 down to win a late draw and point.
Who was YOUR Leeds United Man of the Match against Liverpool?
Ao Tanaka’s 96th-minute goal is the latest any Leeds player has ever scored against Liverpool in the club’s history. A stunning moment and arguably the highlight of this Leeds season. It meant more than a point.
It meant Daniel Farke’s job security was strengthened, it meant Leeds escaped the relegation zone and climbed to 16th and it meant that Leeds are back to a point a game, after 15 Premier League matches.
Pontus Jansson spotted in stands as Leeds icon posts verdict
During the game and immediately after it, images of Pontus Jansson in the Elland Road terraces had made their way to social media. He, of course, left in controversial circumstances under Marcelo Bielsa.
Marcelo Bielsa allowed Aston Villa to score an equaliser back in 2019, earning Leeds the FIFA Fairplay award, but Jansson tried to deny it. Many believe that was the reason Bielsa accepted his departure.
These days, Jansson is playing for his boyhood club Malmo in Sweden having left Brentford in 2023. But on Saturday, with the Swedish league completed for 2025, Jansson was at Elland Road to watch on.
He posted on Instagram that he had “missed this place”, as the lofty defender watched his old side earn a point against Arne Slot’s struggling Liverpool. Tanaka, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Anton Stach scored.
Pontus Jansson was in the stands! Did you spot him? 🧱
Jansson said he "missed this place" on his Instagram story last night.
Pontus Jansson recently spoke about his Leeds United exit
As aforementioned, Jansson’s exit in 2019 to join Brentford was a blow to Leeds fans, for many reasons. Losing a key player, a fan favourite, but also watching him wave goodbye to join a league rival.
It was also that Jansson went for a small-ish fee when many felt the Sweden international’s price tag would far exceed £10m. Instead, he went for something in the region of half of that figure, in the end.
Recently, Jansson spoke about his Leeds exit. He said: “The sporting director called me and said, a little bit of a hint, they wanted me to leave. He said we have three or four offers we would like to talk with you.”
But such is the case for many former Leeds players, playing for the club makes them fans when they eventually leave. Jansson’s presence at Elland Road sparked an incredibly positive reaction on socials.
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