Of all the statements that Leeds United have made since returning to the Premier League, this was perhaps the most emphatic yet.
In clinically dismantling a Leicester side rated as dark horses for the title, Marcelo Bielsa’s men hinted at the possibilities which lie ahead in the remaining 18 games.
Leeds can forget about relegation – a sixth away win of the season moved them 15 points clear of the bottom three – and start thinking about a top-half finish.
That is the testament to the alchemist’s touch of their Argentinian head coach, whose histrionics during the 90 minutes were a sight to behold.
Bielsa, much like his players, fizzed with energy throughout; pacing his technical area, barking orders, cajoling. Inspiring.
Few heeded his messages more than Patrick Bamford, who scored a beautifully-executed 11th of the season and laid on goals for Stuart Dallas and Jack Harrison.
Leicester, missing Wilfred Ndidi and Jamie Vardy through injury, led through Harvey Barnes’ superb 13th-minute strike but Leeds could certainly not be described as unworthy winners.
They swiftly drew level through Dallas and, after keeping the Foxes at bay during the second half, Bamford put them ahead before Harrison made the game safe with six minutes remaining.
Leeds “deserved to win”
Brendan Rodgers, whose side’s nine-match unbeaten sequence in all competitions ended, said: “We have won games without those players [Ndidi and Vardy] but we missed their physicality.
“Jamie gives you that penetration even when he’s not scoring, but we didn’t defend well enough and weren’t quite at our level. I have to give Leeds credit. They deserved to win.”
Bielsa, who lost club record signing Rodrigo and winger Raphinha to injuries either side of half-time, denied it was Leeds’ most impressive victory so far this term.
“The result is very important because the quality of the rival indicates it, but I thought we were better at Aston Villa [a 3-0 win in October],” he said.
“Here, we knew how to survive in the difficult moments and we managed the offensive actions we wanted to create.”
Patrick Bamford will receive praise for his selflessness against Leicester, but Leeds manager Marcelo Bielsa has long known that the striker is about more than goals.
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Leicester led when Barnes played a delightful one-two with James Maddison and rifled home a low right-foot shot.
Two minutes later, though, Leeds drew level as Bamford’s astute pass allowed Dallas to stride into the penalty area and shoot low past Kasper Schmeichel.
Ayoze Perez and Mateusz Klich both had efforts ruled out by VAR before Schmeichel produced fine saves to deny Raphinha and Harrison.
Leicester then lost Timothy Castagne with an injury and at the break, Marc Albrighton was replaced by Caglar Soyuncu as Rodgers switched to a back three.
Leeds goalkeeper Illan Meslier also shone but chances grew scarcer in the second half before Bamford made the vital breakthrough in the 70th minute, latching onto Raphinha’s pass and hitting a blistering left-foot shot which flew into the top corner.
England boss Gareth Southgate was in attendance at Leicester again and would have been impressed with the pivotal contribution of Bamford, who showed intelligence to seal victory for Leeds late on.
A fine counter-attack involving Dallas and Klich saw Bamford break clear and, as he bore down on Schmeichel’s goal, the striker squared for Harrison to fire home.
Bielsa said of Bamford, who ended a four-game goal drought: “Patrick was unselfish and thought of the team. I value that more than anything.”
Significantly, with Rodrigo and Raphinha having departed with injury, the Leeds side that finished the game all played in the Championship last season.
Bielsa added: “Clearly, this level is totally different to the Championship but when the club built the squad for this campaign, the players stayed because we felt they would do well.”
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