Leeds United games are always a fascinating spectacle thanks to Marcelo Bielsa.
The Argentine considers every tiny detail ahead of a game and few, if any, managers in the Premier League know more detail about their opponents than Bielsa.
The latest test for Bielsa came at Goodison Park on Saturday against Everton. Carlo Ancelotti boats a tremendous pedigree in management, having worked for the likes of Juventus, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Milan.
For that reason alone it promised to be an enthralling encounter between the two sides, and that was clear from the moment the two sides submitted their teamsheets. Ancelotti has predominantly used a 4-3-3 this season before switching to a 3-4-3 against Fulham last time out.
He stuck true to that against Leeds, while Bielsa showed a similar loyalty to the 4-1-4-1 formation that he has become so well known for at Elland Road. Ostensibly, it posed some interesting questions for Leeds - the 3-4-3 could, in theory, facilitate overloads down the flanks that overwhelm the Whites.
Equally, their dedication to intense high pressing would need to be perfect in the event a third centre-back joined the attack.
By the end of the first-half those fears had been allayed, however, with Leeds summoning 13 shots to Everton’s seven. Bielsa’s side's energy overwhelmed Everton, but just as important was their game management. Like an accordion, they compacted without the ball and expanded when they had it, with the full-backs and wingers working harmoniously.
The same could not be said of Everton’s wing-backs. Ancelotti named Alex Iwobi and Tom Davies as the wide-midfielders, and the pair looked uncomfortable in their roles. Instead of trying to defend the threat, Leeds posed their own from wide areas, and pinned Iwobi back in his own half (Ancelotti would eventually substitute him for Andre Gomes and move Doucoure out wide).
It was a different story entirely for Leeds winger Jack Harrison. The former New York City FC man will be frustrated he did not break the deadlock early on when a sweeping counter-attack saw Raphinha square him the ball, only for Harrison to put it wide. He would be denied again later in the half when a back-post header crashed against the post.
Attacking intent away from home will come as no surprise to Leeds fans, however. Only Liverpool have created more chances than Leeds this season, and but for a better defensive performance they would be higher up the table. The fact they were able to keep a second consecutive clean sheet on Saturday felt like a considerable achievement.
That was not to say that Illan Meslier was untested. After six minutes Abdoulaye Doucoure poked a shot at goal that was well saved by the Frenchman.
The main threat on the day was James Rodriguez. The Colombian is far and away Everton’s star man, and he highlighted that during the first half when he brought the ball down on the byline and shuffled inside before scoring. It was only the assistant referee’s flag that denied him a well-taken goal.
The same was true of Ben Godfrey when he was judged to be in an offside position from a corner.
When a goal did finally arrive it was a well-taken effort by Raphinha. The Brazilian has made a bright start to life at Elland Road, and after receiving a pass from Harrison on the edge of the box, he took a moment to compose himself before firing it low into the corner of the goal.
You’d be hard pressed to find an Everton fan that would disagree with the eventual 1-0 result. Leeds outshot their opponents 23 to 15, and while talk may persist of poor shot-conversion rates, this Leeds side are starting to build momentum. Bielsa’s identity is clear and well-documented, but, on the same evening that Mike Tyson climbed back into the ring it is worth reminding ourselves of something he said of his own talent.
"Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the mouth,” Tyson said.
Leeds are starting to land punches, and that should scare their Premier League rivals.
