5 things we learned

Leeds United 3-1 Tottenham: 5 talking points as Bielsa’s boys march to 50 points

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Marcelo Bielsa watched Leeds United put in one of their most impressive Premier League performances yesterday, beating Tottenham 3-1 at Elland Road.

Leeds were electric from the first whistle and took a deserved lead through Stuart Dallas.

Son Heung-min would respond for Tottenham and Harry Kane saw a goal chalked off for a tight offside call.

Bielsa’s side, though, responded well and went back ahead through Patrick Bamford.

Raphinha teed up Rodrigo Moreno for a third goal as Leeds broke on Tottenham late in the tie, with Bielsa’s side oozing quality during the second-half.

The win takes Leeds onto 50 points with three games remaining, painting a very pretty picture at Elland Road.

We run you through our talking points here:

Dallas shines in another role

It’s almost reached the point where we are running out of positive things to say about Stuart Dallas. He’s having a fine season, doing whatever is asked of him.

We know how good he is at full-back on either side, whilst he’s managed to morph into a superb central midfielder. In the last two weeks, as injuries pinch, he’s been asked to play on the right wing.

It’s a position he’s familiar with from earlier in his career but he’s never been tasked with playing there for Leeds against this calibre of opposition.

Dallas pushed Sergio Reguilon back and limited his attacking output, whilst also producing superb delivery and even popping up with the game’s opening goal.

The Northern Irishman has been the standout player in a standout season at Leeds, which is some feat.

Southgate’s watchful eye

England manager, Gareth Southgate, was in attendance as the date nears for him to name his squad for the upcoming Euros.

Players like Harry Kane and Kalvin Phillips will be included in the squad, but the chance to name 26 players rather than 23 opens up an opportunity for a few other players on show yesterday.

Dele Alli and Eric Dier of Spurs will likely be considered, but neither impressed at Elland Road, with the second-half bypassing the former embarrassingly.

As for Dier, he was at sea for all three of Leeds’ goals and was taught a serious lesson in movement by Bamford for 2-1.

On the other hand, Bamford has caught the eye of Southgate over the season and the chance to name three additional players in this summer’s squad surely brings Leeds’ No.9 into contention for a wildcard inclusion.

Then, there’s Jack Harrison and Luke Ayling, who were brilliant and unflustered yesterday up against Spurs’ pool of internationals.

Southgate will surely have taken note of Leeds’ potential England contingent standing head and shoulders over some of his old guard.

Midfield answers

At times this season, Rodrigo, Dallas and Phillips have been regulars in Leeds’ midfield axis, but injuries meant that not one of that trio were involved from the off in the centre of the park.

Instead, it was Tyler Roberts, Mateusz Klich and Robin Koch lining up against Spurs.

Roberts got through a decent amount of work, but it was the other two whose performance really provided some answers to a problem position.

Klich is a player that’s shown his quality ever since Bielsa arrived as head coach. However, he’s struggled in the Premier League at times, with it looking like a run of intense involvement was eventually catching up with him.

The Poland international produced his performance of the season against Tottenham, though, running Mason’s midfield into the ground, linking up through transitions with tidy passing and carrying a goal threat.

In terms of Koch, he looked to finally be providing Bielsa with an answer to where Leeds go without Phillips available to start.

The makeshift midfielder marked Alli out of the game, particularly in the second-half, protecting the defence superbly.

It is often transitioning from defence into attack that Leeds struggle with when Phillips isn’t available, but Koch really stepped up yesterday, providing progressive passing and always finding himself available for the ball.

The precision of his pass to send Raphinha through for 3-1 was effortless, as was his performance on the whole.

Redemption for Alioski

Alioski has had some tough afternoons in the Premier League.

Two that stand out were Leeds’ reverse fixture with Tottenham, where he gave away a penalty, as well as last weekend’s outing at Brighton. He, again, conceded a penalty at the AMEX and was hooked at half-time.

Bielsa kept faith with the Macedonian, as well as giving him a real boost by explaining pre-match why he wanted the 29-year-old to stay at Elland Road beyond his current deal.

Son ran too easily off Alioski to level the game in the first-half, but Alioski’s head never dropped and he was the man teeing up Bamford for 2-1. Leaving Gareth Bale red-faced by his lack of desire to track back.

Alioski also had a hand in the third goal, beginning a slick counter from the edge of his penalty area.

The issue most have with Alioski is his consistency, but credit where it is due, this was a good day for him at left-back.

VAR farce once more

For the sake of avoiding double standards in these notes, we have to say that Leeds got away with one and VAR was on their side yesterday.

Kane was level with Diego Llorente before he lifted over Illan Meslier to score in the first-half, with VAR’s farcical lines denying Tottenham the lead and letting Leeds off the hook.

Bamford and Helder Costa have been stung more times than we can remember this season, and VAR’s ruling has been a major frustration in a memorable campaign.

Look, it has gone in Leeds’ favour this time around, but it doesn’t deter from the fact that its interpretation of what is onside, what is offside and what is blatantly level, is nothing short of a joke.

Mason and Spurs were annoyed with the decision to rule out Kane’s goal and, had the boot been on the other foot, we would have been up in arms over the call.

Football fans uniting is the flavour of the month and we’d love to see a stand against VAR. 

It’s ruining days like yesterday by providing an unwelcome talking point.

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Leeds United Season Ticket Holder at Elland Road for over 20 seasons. Currently nestled in N12, but occasionally offering views from the press box. We’ve been through it all together? You bet.