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After 16 long, cold years in the wilderness of English football, Leeds United have finally managed to make it back to the Premier League. Under the guidance of Marcelo Bielsa, the West Yorkshire outfit won the 2019-20 Championship title with a ten-point lead over their closest rivals West Bromwich Albion. Now, there is excitement about what kind of impact they could have in the top flight. Will the attack-minded, free-flowing football be a success? Or will the Whites go straight back down? There is a lot for bettors to ponder.
Outright Bets
While a lot of the fans may be hoping that a club of United’s stature will begin challenging at the top of the table straight away, realists will be hoping that the newly promoted side can consolidate their position and start building for the future. In the mobile betting, where bettors can get a £10 free bet, the likes of Liverpool and Manchester City are favourites to win the title. But good odds of around 5/2 can be found on Leeds to make a top 10 finish.
Where Will the Goals Come From?
When betting on how Leeds will score their goals in the top flight, staking on goals being scored from close range is the way forward. Most of United’s attacks come from the flanks with wingers Jack Harrison and Helder Costa frequently supplying the final ball into the box. For this reason, it is wise to look to the Manchester City loanee and the former Wolves man when it comes to assist potential. In addition to these players, full backs Luke Ayling and Stuart Dallas supplied the final ball for seven goals between them in the 2019-20 season.
United’s main goal threat is Patrick Bamford, who notched 16 goals in their title-winning campaign. The 26-year-old is known for being quite profligate in front of goal, however. If Bamford can find form and build his confidence, the number of chances he gets suggests that he could score in abundance. Therefore, if the former Middlesbrough man scores in one match, it may be worth punting on him to find the back of the net in the following fixture.
Potential for Clean Sheets?
After Sheffield United’s exceptional season with one of the meanest defences in the top flight, bettors may now be looking at Leeds when it comes to betting on clean sheets. When the Blades got promoted from the Championship, they conceded 41 goals. Leeds were even tighter than that this term, with only 35 goals slipping past their defence. Bielsa’s all-in approach requires all eleven players to track back and get behind the ball in defence, making it difficult for the opposition to find a way through.
Bettors will certainly be excited to find out what Leeds can do in the Premier League upon their return. They should have enough talent to avoid the drop, and will be able to bring the game to some of the weaker opponents in the division. Staking on Leeds to keep clean sheets and dominate possession against teams like Crystal Palace, West Ham United, Newcastle United, and Aston Villa could prove lucrative.
