Leeds v Spurs – the stats

Ahead of today’s trip to Leeds, we take a look at the key numbers and statistics behind the game (12.30pm kick-off).

Leeds v Spurs

Coming into today’s clash with Leeds, we are currently enjoying our longest-ever winning run against the West Yorkshire side in the league as we have been victorious in each of our last three meetings. In fact, we are unbeaten in each of our last six top-flight encounters with Leeds, winning five and drawing one in a run stretching back almost 20 years to November, 2001.

On our last league visit to Elland Road, we picked up all three points. A sole Robbie Keane strike in January, 2004, saw us earn a 1-0 victory against the Whites. If we manage to edge our encounter today, it would be the first time in almost 42 years that we have earned back-to-back league victories on the road at Leeds, having last done so in October, 1979.

In the last meeting between the sides at Elland Road though - an FA Cup fourth round tie in January, 2013 - the Whites did come out on top, as they progressed to the next round with a 2-1 win.

Premier Leeds

Making their return to the top flight this term after a 16-year absence, it has been a bright first season back for Leeds. For any newly-promoted side, the prospect of relegation is usually a worry, however, any concerns of a potential demotion were quickly beaten away by Marcelo Bielsa’s team as they got to work on assuring themselves of at least another season of Premier League football. In fact, it has been a year of looking up rather than down for the Whites. They may currently sit just outside the top 10 in 11^th, but they are only seven points off the European places with four games to play.

At Elland Road, Leeds have impressed, especially against the five ‘big six’ sides they have faced there so far this term. Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United have all visited Leeds’ home and each of them have been unable to secure a victory – all five drew with United. If the Whites can also remain unbeaten against us today, they will be the first side since West Ham in 2015/16 to remain undefeated at home against each of the ‘big six’ in a single season.

Bielsa’s side in general have enjoyed a certain sturdiness at home this calendar year. In their last seven games at Elland Road, Leeds have lost just once while they are unbeaten in their last four games on the trot in West Yorkshire. Although it is worth noting that they have won just one of those games.

Their resilience at Elland Road is largely due to their defence. In their last seven games there, they have kept four clean sheets and conceded just three goals. In fact, they have conceded just six goals at home in their nine such games in 2021. Despite their strong defensive record though, the Whites could be deemed susceptible from set-pieces. So far this season, they have conceded more league goals from dead-ball situations than any other team (15 excluding penalties) including 11 from corners (also the highest in the division).

On target

In front of goal, Bielsa’s side are a team that have excelled from distance. In all, 24 per cent of Leeds’ goals this season (12/50) have come from outside the box – the highest proportion of any team in the division. In fact, no side has scored more from distance in total than the Yorkshire outfit.

Patrick Bamford has been Leeds’ main threat in front of goal this season and has certainly impressed with 14 goals already to his name, however, he has been out of sorts in recent weeks. Starting the campaign in electric form with seven goals from his first eight games, the striker has scored only four times in his last 17 games, while he has not found the back of the net in any of his last five outings – his longest goal drought since February, 2020.

We, on the other hand, have scored in each of our last 11 games - the longest current run in the competition. Only Manchester City have scored in more different games (31) than us (28) this season.

In the dugout

On the touchline this afternoon, there will be an age difference of 35 years and 327 days between 29-year-old Ryan Mason and 65-year-old Leeds manager Bielsa. It will be the second biggest age gap between two managers meeting in the history of the Premier League, after Bobby Robson and Chris Coleman (37 years, 112 days) met in April, 2003, when Robson’s Newcastle took on Fulham at Craven Cottage.

Ryan made history in our last outing (4-0 win over Sheffield United) as he oversaw his second Premier League victory from as many games to become the fourth Spurs manager in the history of the competition to win each of his first two league games in charge. He joined Glenn Hoddle, Mauricio Pochettino and Jose Mourinho in that exclusive club. All three of them went on to lose their third game in charge. No Spurs manager has ever won their first three Premier League games. Here's hoping Ryan can make history on that front today.