Five games Leeds United fans will be excited for on Premier League return – opening day trip to Liverpool, a Man United reunion and ‘Spygate’ resumes
Leeds United are back in the big time – and with a bang!
Marcelo Bielsa’s men travel to the home of the champions, Liverpool, on the opening day of the 2020/21 Premier League season and talkSPORT will bring you the huge clash LIVE.
Bielsa will forever be etched into Leeds folklore after steering the White back into the top-flight
They couldn’t have asked for a more prestigious yet daunting first game, but after a 16-year exile from England’s top-flight we don’t think Leeds fans will be too disappointed!
Below, talkSPORT.com has picked out five more games to get Whites fans excited this season…
Liverpool vs Leeds – September 12 – LIVE on talkSPORT
Where else could we start?!
Leeds’ first game back in the Premier League will a memorable occasion after such a long stint away and talkSPORT will have full commentary from Anfield exclusively LIVE.
Incredibly, Jurgen Klopp’s men won every single game on home soil in 2019/20, with the exception of one.
A 1-1 draw with Burnley at Anfield in July put an end to that stunning run, but there is no doubt Leeds will be right up against it on the opening weekend.
Leeds lost 2-0 on their last trip to Merseyside in the Carabao Cup fifth round in November 2016.
The Whites’ last league encounter at Liverpool ended in a 3-1 defeat in October 2003, with Alan Smith on the scoresheet for the visitors.
Smith got Leeds back on level terms, but they succumbed to a 3-1 defeat on the day
Manchester United vs Leeds – December 19
This rivalry dates back decades, and was undoubtedly the first match that Leeds supporters looked out for when the fixtures were released on Thursday morning.
It doesn’t get any bigger than this for the Whites, whose last competitive meeting against United resulted in a 3-0 defeat at Elland Road in 2011.
However a year earlier, a brilliant solo Jermaine Beckford goal gave Leeds a thrilling and historic victory at Old Trafford in the third round of the FA Cup. Can Bielsa’s men produce a big upset again?
Jermaine Beckford celebrates his winner at Old Trafford in 2010
Tottenham vs Leeds – January 2
This will be a new stadium for Leeds fans to tick off the list – if football fans are allowed back in their droves by this time amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The 62,303 capacity structure on the site of the old White Hart Lane is one of the best stadiums in world football.
Last term Spurs had the third-best home record in the top flight, behind only Liverpool and Manchester City, but with big travelling backing behind them you wouldn’t bet against Leeds getting something from their trip to north London.
The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is one of the best in world football
Newcastle vs Leeds – January 27
St James’ Park is one of the most historic and iconic grounds in England which any fan up and down the country enjoys visiting.
The Whites secured a last-gasp equaliser courtesy of Chris Wood back in 2017 when the two clubs were competing at the top end of the Championship.
This will be one of Leeds closest away trips, so should fans be allowed into grounds it will one for them to look forward too.
Chris Wood scored a stoppage-time equaliser to earn play-off chasing Leeds a point at second-placed Newcastle
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Leeds vs Chelsea – March 6
This fierce rivalry carried on for decades, and will be interesting to see if it carries on in similiar vein when the Premier League returns.
We said that because Leeds fans named Chelsea as their second-biggest rivals after Manchester United in a poll taken back in 2003.
The infamous Spygate episode involving Derby and Leeds will no doubt attract plenty of traction too, with Chelsea boss Frank Lampard in charge of the Rams at that time.
Fingers cross by this time stadiums will be back at full capacity, because Elland Road would be rocking for a clash like this.
Leeds will be wanting to ensure there is no repeat of the last time the Blues came to town, romping to a 5-1 victory in the League Cup fifth round eight years ago.
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