/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/68594504/1293639367.0.jpg)
Leeds United were almost playing a different sport to West Bromwich Albion as they won 5-0 at the Hawthorns.
Gotta love that style!
— Leeds United (@LUFC) December 29, 2020
Leeds took an early lead through a fairly comedic own goal from Romaine Sawyers. The midfielder played a backpass to Sam Johnstone, but the keeper had moved wide of the goal and Sawyers instead passed it into the goal.
Inexplicable el gol que regala el West Brom al Leeds. Sawyers ni siquiera mira donde estaba Johnstone y Johnstone estaba en cualquier lado. Combo fatal. pic.twitter.com/rZiergcRlJ
— Fútbol Vertical (@futbol_vertical) December 29, 2020
Leeds battered West Brom for the entire first half and Ezgjan Alioski and Jack Harrison both scored excellent goals, Harrison’s coming after an excellent one-two with Patrick Bamford. Leeds topped the half off through a deflected Rodrigo goal following an excellent team move.
Raphinha made it five with a screamer from 20 yards, but the play from the team before it was just as good, an excellent goal to top the game off.
Time now to look at each player and how they performed. As always you can tell me how wrong I am @mightywhitespod or @ThruItAllLUFC on twitter.
STARTING LINEUP
Illan Meslier - Did well with a couple of crosses in the first half. Really poor pass to gift a chance to Grady Diangana, but made a great save to make up for it. 7/10
That is a proper battering. Five unanswered goals. 662 completed passes to West Brom's 155. Barely laid a glove on Meslier.
— Phil Hay (@PhilHay_) December 29, 2020
Some nice words between Bielsa and Sammy Lee at the end. What can you do but hold your hands up? #lufc
Stuart Dallas - Excellent piece of defending to cover after Furlong beat Harrison and crossed. Excellent breaks going forward to contribute to attacks. 8/10
Luke Ayling - Not much to do defensively. Brought the ball out excellent both with ball carrying and passing. 8.5/10
Pascal Struijk - Not much to do defensively but his passing out from the back was very good . 8/10
This Ayling-Struijk CB is so good. So nice to have a dangerous progressive CB on either side. Both run well and pass between the lines well.
— All Stats Aren't We (@AllStatsArentWe) December 29, 2020
Ezgjan Alioski - Made it 2-0 with a thunderous finish from the edge of the box, a truly great strike. Did everything you would want from him throughout the match. 8.5/10
West Bromwich vs Leeds United 0-2 gol goal Ezgjan Alioski pic.twitter.com/AfEFdNrUfT
— mignola arbeloa (@mignolaalvedon) December 29, 2020
Kalvin Phillips - Kept possession well and produced an excellent pass to get the move going for the fourth goal. Not his most spectacular game, but did everything well throughout the match. 8/10
Raphinha - Quieter first half compared to those around him barring one piece of skill to send Lee Peltier to the shops before having a good shot saved. Lit up the second half with 20 minutes to go when he cut inside from the right and scored a fantastic goal from 20 yards. 8/10
FIVE-STAR @LUFC
— Amazon Prime Video Sport (@primevideosport) December 29, 2020
SIMPLY UNSTOPPABLE FROM RAPHINHA! #PLonPrime #WBALEE pic.twitter.com/bqlrENfd7H
Mateusz Klich - Got the assist for the Rodrigo goal and looked much more like himself in the first half. Went off early in the second half. 8/10
56 - Leeds almost concede as Klich, who looks done, goes down and Meslier tries a pass to Phillips with players bearing down. Keeper makes a save, Klich and Ayling exchange words. Shackleton ready.
— Graham Smyth (@GrahamSmyth) December 29, 2020
0-4
Rodrigo - Bit of luck with the deflection on his goal to make it 4-0 but the shot was on target and a good one. Much more involved than in the last couple of matches. 8/10
Look away now @WBA fans.
— SPORF (@Sporf) December 29, 2020
@LUFC add a FOURTH through Rodrigo.
pic.twitter.com/s74aaVc9ME
Jack Harrison - Excellent one-two, followed by the turn and finish to make it 3-0. Some good crosses and lots of good attacking involvement. 8.5/10
@LUFC are on fire!
— SPORF (@Sporf) December 29, 2020
Jack Harrison smashes home a third at the Hawthorns.
pic.twitter.com/xJ089bbayp
Patrick Bamford - Good return pass to set up Harrison to make it 3-0. Was involved a lot and dropped off the front well. Just missing his goal but played well. 7.5/10
SUBSTITUTES
Jamie Shackleton (for Klich, 57mins) - Excellent play both to win the ball back, and with his passing in the build up to Leeds’ fifth goal. 7.5/10
Pablo Hernandez (for Rodrigo, 70mins) - Did well in possession, although the match was very one-paced for his time on the pitch. 6.5/10
Helder Costa (for Raphinha, 81mins) - N/A