Leeds United topped the Premier League table in 2002 after Mark Viduka inspired New Year’s win

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Leeds United sat at the top of the Premier League table on this day 23 years ago as Mark Viduka was the hero in a routine New Year’s Day victory.

Daniel Farke and his Leeds United side are preparing to take on the reigning champions as they travel to Anfield to face Liverpool to kick off 2026.

Leeds are looking to continue their fine run of recent Premier League form in the meeting, having gone five games unbeaten to round off 2025, culminating in a battling draw against Sunderland.

However, the league table looked very different at the beginning of 2002, as David O’Leary’s Leeds side welcomed West Ham to Elland Road as they looked to mount a serious title challenge.

Two goals from club icon Mark Viduka helped the Whites to a routine 3-0 victory, as they briefly topped the Premier League table in a season that promised so much.

Which former Leeds player would you have back, if you could pick one? Raphinha surely has to be up there💎

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Leeds United demolished West Ham to top the table in 2002

Leeds Chairman Peter Ridsdale had spent big as he looked to transform his side from contenders to title winners in the first part of the Millennium, and O’Leary was able to name a star-studded side to face the Hammers.

Big-money signing Robbie Fowler lined up in attack alongside Viduka and Alan Smith, and all three were involved as Viduka put Leeds ahead with just two minutes on the clock, finishing from close range after a flowing counterattack.

The powerful Australian doubled Leeds’ lead just minutes later, getting across his marker to head home at the near post after Danny Mills had done well to win the ball back before delivering a pinpoint cross.

Fowler completed the rout with the pick of the goals at the beginning of the second half, reacting quickest when the ball broke on the edge of the penalty area and producing a delicious chip over the head of Hammers goalkeeper David James to complete the victory.

The result meant that Leeds topped the table to start a new year, sitting two points clear of their nearest rivals, Arsenal.

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Leeds United stood on the brink of collapse after West Ham win

Icarus famously burnt his wings after flying too close to the sun, and, in hindsight, Leeds fans could smell the feathers beginning to ignite on New Year’s Day 2002.

Two days after Leeds were so impressive in victory against West Ham, David O’Leary released his now-infamous book, Leeds United on Trial, which caused a rift in the dressing room.

Speaking to the Daily Mail in 2017, former Leeds hero Ian Harte admitted the previous unity that had fuelled Leeds’ rise never returned after that.

“I didn’t think it probably was the right time to bring the book out, if I’m being honest with you,” Harte said, “I think it was key, spending all the money and certain individuals that come in upset the dressing room a little bit and then it spiralled downhill from there.

“Probably as a group of players, we should have nailed them. But because they were ‘bigger’ players than we were, more experienced, we couldn’t really say anything to them and from then on they created a few cracks in the dressing room.”

Leeds never touched the heights of their win over West Ham again that season. Six months later, O’Leary was gone. Within two and a half years, Leeds were in the Championship.