Leeds United have enjoyed a fine start to their 2022-23 Premier League campaign. Jesse Marsch’s side have picked up eight points so far having secured two wins and two draws from their first six outings.
Results have come against Wolves and Chelsea at Elland Road, while points have come against Southampton and Everton to ensure the Whites can sit comfortably for the time being at least. Defeats to Brighton and Hove Albion and in particular Brentford provide some cause for concern but overall United can be happy with their efforts so far.
Leeds will have to wait until next weekend before they take to the field next unfortunately, though, after seeing Monday night’s scheduled game against Nottingham Forest postponed following the passing of the Queen. With that in mind, Leeds Live take the opportunity to reflect on the season so far and highlight some winners and losers.
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Winners
Tyler Adams
Most Leeds fans knew very little about Adams when he arrived at Elland Road from RB Leipzig at the start of July, but they all about him now after starring in midfield over the last month. Adams knows Marsch well, of course, having worked alongside him in the MLS and Germany and it seems he fits perfectly into his high-energy, counter-pressing system.
Adams’ tenacity in the middle of the park was absolutely vital as Leeds stunned Chelsea and he has managed to maintain that form over the season so far. Even during the Whites' heavy loss to Brentford, Adams was arguably Leeds’ best.
He’s started as he means to go on and if he can continue to produce such impressive performances he could go some way towards filling the Kalvin Phillips-shaped hole in Leeds’ midfield.
Illan Meslier
Meslier may have conceded 10 goals this season, but his performances between the sticks for Leeds deserve highlighting. He has been one of the stars of the Whites’ season so far, proving to be a commanding presence behind a backline that hasn’t always looked so confident.
His save to deny Leander Dendoncker on the opening day of the season has been nominated for the inaugural Premier League save of the month award for August, but that was just one of several stops that could have made the cut. The 22-year-old has been a regular with the France under-21s lately and if he can continue his form it surely won’t be long before he emerges on Didier Deschamps' radar for the senior squad.
Rodrigo
It’s fair to say Rodrigo’s first two seasons at Elland Road did not exactly go to plan. The Spain international cut a frustrated figure at times as he struggled to find consistent form in a Leeds shirt.
Goals came but he largely failed to meet the lofty expectations that accompany a club-record signing. However, the forward seems to have found a new lease of life this season under Marsch, relishing the leadership role he has been given within the squad and seizing responsibility in front of goal.
In the club’s opening three games, Rodrigo scored four times, sending him to the top of the Premier League goalscoring charts at the time and ensuring he oozed confidence. His progress has ground to a halt, though, after dislocating his shoulder in Leeds’ last home game against Everton.
He’s expected to be back after the international break and he’ll be keen to pick up where he left off.
Losers
Dan James
After struggling to make an impact during the first month of the season at Elland Road, Dan James now finds himself on a season-long loan deal at Fulham. The winger cost Leeds around £25m last summer, but as the transfer window came to a close, he was far from guaranteed a spot in the side and as such, the decision was made to let him leave on deadline day.
The winger made his debut for Fulham last Saturday as he came off the bench during their defeat to Tottenham Hotspur and he’ll certainly be keen to prove a point to those at Elland Road and in the wider football community that he can perform on a regular basis in the top flight.
Junior Firpo
Firpo is nearing a return to action and he may well have been involved against Forest on Monday night if the game had gone ahead. However, as it stands the injury he picked up in a pre-season friendly clash against Blackpool in July has ruled him out of the season so far.
In his absence Pascal Struijk has done a fine job at left-back, despite being out of position, and it seems Marsch may be forced to think twice before bringing Firpo back into the action. The former Barcelona full-back has been handed a challenge and he must rise to it if he wants his spot back.
Patrick Bamford
August was another frustrating month for Bamford after picking up a groin issue in the first-half of Leeds’ 2-2 draw with Southampton. The striker missed huge chunks of last season through injury, making just nine Premier League appearances in total and he hasn’t had much luck this time around, so far.
He is fit once more, though, and after coming off the bench against Everton and Brentford, he’ll be hoping to return to the starting line-up when Leeds return to action against Manchester United next week.
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