Phil Hay: Leeds set to play seven times in next three weeks
Leeds United are set to play in seven pre-season friendlies ahead of their first Premier League game against Liverpool, according to Phil Hay.
That game is just over three weeks away and it means that the Leeds players are set for a very busy run-in to the 20/21 campaign.
Hay said that all the games would take place in the UK and that the squad would be split in two for the matches.
Talking on the latest episode of the Phil Hay Show, the Athletic journalist said, “Liverpool were planning to go to France and ended up in Austria. Leeds will go round the UK rather than go abroad.
“Bielsa hasn’t shown much inclination to fly anywhere hot. They had the Australian tour last summer but that wasn’t really his decision. He was happy in the first summer when they were going to Southend.”
“From what I understand they’ll play in seven friendlies and they’ll split the squad for those games. The match fitness for the players should already be good but there will be areas Bielsa will want to sharpen tactically. They will play games and they will be in the UK.”
Asked whether the Leed fans would be able to watch the games, Hay said, “It would make sense to broadcast them on LUTV. In terms of attending games, I guess not.”
New-look Leeds
We can’t wait to see the Leeds players in action and to get our first look at players like Joe Gelhardt and Cody Drameh.
We’re also expecting a new centre-back signing imminently now that Brighton have turned down the third and final bid for Ben White.
No pre-season friendlies have been announced yet and it’s possible that a new centre-back – possibly Robin Koch – could be in place for the first game. That’s an exciting prospect.
The Leeds players will need to be as sharp and as finely tuned as Bielsa can get them when the season does start.
Liverpool at Anfield is the sort of fixtures that players dream of and that’s the reward for Leeds after two thrilling seasons under Bielsa.
The 18/19 Championship winners Norwich got smashed in their first game of the Premier League season – also against Liverpool.
However, the 4-0 half-time result was unfair on them and they won the second half 1-0. We don’t think Leeds will show the same tactical naivety and we’d love to think that the Leeds players can give a good account of themselves with the world watching.
The bookies aren’t so confident. They’ve got Leeds at 10/1 to spring a surprise while the draw is 5/1. Liverpool are 2/7 to start the season with a win.
In other Leeds United news, Phil Hay: Benrahma could have blown Leeds move after Twitter post; delivers Ollie Watkins update