Leeds United supporters will be eagerly awaiting the Premier League fixtures for the upcoming 2022/23 season. The full list of fixtures, prior to television changes, will be released at 9am on Thursday, June 16.
Whites supporters certainly wouldn’t have been thinking too far in advance a few weeks ago as top-flight safety hung firmly in the balance. Although, a dramatic 2-1 final-day win at Brentford ensured Jesse Marsch’s side would spend a third consecutive season in the Premier League.
Among the dates that fans always look out for when the fixtures are released is the first game of the season. It is one of the most important days of the year for most followers of football and, for Leeds, it has produced some brilliant matches over the years.
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We have taken at look five of the most memorable recent first matches of the campaign for the Whites.
2021/22 - Manchester United 5-1 Leeds United
The first game of the 2021/22 season was the first that Leeds played in the Premier League in front of a full stadium for over 17 years. When fans saw that a trip to Old Trafford to face Manchester United awaited on the opening day, they would have been licking their lips.
Although, it was a day to forget for the Leeds players and fans as they were taken apart by their oldest rivals. When Luke Ayling arrowed a strike into the top corner from 25 yards, those supporters housed in the away end thought they may have been on for a truly memorable day across the Pennines but it wasn’t to be.
After that effort made it 1-1 in the 49 th minute, Man United responded immediately and within five minutes of the equaliser, they had raced into a 3-1 lead. From there, it got even uglier with the hosts ultimately running out 5-1 winners thanks to inspired performances from Bruno Fernandes and Paul Pogba.
2020/21 - Liverpool 4-3 Leeds United
It was typical of Leeds’ luck for them to be tasked with an opening day visit to the home of the champions upon their long-awaited return to the Premier League. While it didn’t yield any points for Marcelo Bielsa’s side, it did show the world exactly what they would bring to the top flight as they were beaten 4-3 by Liverpool in one of the most exciting games of the season.
They were left heartbroken late on as Mohamed Salah’s second penalty of the match, in the 88 th minute, sent Leeds home empty handed after Mateusz Klich’s equaliser looked like it was going to be enough to earn a point. If nothing else, it was certainly a sign of what was to come as the Whites finished ninth in their return to the top flight.
2018/19 – Leeds United 3-1 Stoke City
If you were to ask a Leeds fan which of the games on this list were most memorable, they would almost definitely they would choose this one, the first game of Bielsa’s magical reign as manager. On paper, it was a really tough start to the season at Elland Road against Stoke who had been recently relegated from the Premier League.
However, the hosts made light work of a really strong Potters side as ‘Bielsaball’ was introduced to English football for the first time. Goals from Klich and Pablo Hernandez made it a comfortable half-time lead and, although Benik Afobe halved the deficit, Liam Cooper put the rubber stamp on an electric start to life under one of the club’s most iconic managers.
2017/18 – Bolton Wanderers 2-3 Leeds United
The visit to Bolton on the opening day of the 2017/18 Championship campaign was memorable for a couple of reasons. Firstly, it got the season off to the perfect start and, secondly, because a 21-year-old Kalvin Phillips stole the show by scoring his third and fourth goals for Leeds.
The brace came after he had committed his future to his boyhood club for four more years and he showed he was right at home in the squad. Goals from Gary Madine and Adam Le Fondre threatened two separate Bolton comebacks but Thomas Christiansen watched his side hold on for all three points.
2013/14 – Leeds United 2-1 Brighton & Hove Albion
Over the years, Leeds have made a habit of opening-day drama and that exact drama set the home supporters at Elland Road wild on August 3, 2013. After Leonardo Ulloa had given Brighton the lead inside the opening 15 minutes back in August 2013, Ross McCormack soon levelled proceedings with a well-struck low left-footed finish.
With a share of the points looking the likely outcome for the duration of the second half, there was time for another twist right at the death. On his debut, Luke Murphy raced onto Matt Smith’s knockdown and squeezed his effort beyond the Seagulls goalkeeper and into the back of the net, sending the home fans wild.
