20-goal prediction, Tanaka preparation & Geordie Shore verdict in Leeds United off-camera moments vs Newcastle
Good day, bad day and off-camera moments from Leeds United’s 4-1 Premier League win over Newcastle United on Monday.
Leeds United will spend at least the next few days third in the Premier League following Monday’s emphatic 4-1 win at home to Newcastle United. Three goals in 14 first-half minutes effectively ended the contest with Daniel Farke’s side dominant from start to finish.
Here's the YEP take...
Good day
Ao Tanaka: It would be fair to say the last year or so has been up and down for Tanaka but it now feels very much up. The 28-year-old looks to have worked his way back into Farke’s first-choice XI and not only that, has a claim to have been Leeds’ best player across the last two Premier League matches. He ran the show on Monday, harrying Newcastle midfielders and showing great composure when their high press came chasing. It’s always felt like a confidence or rhythm thing with Tanaka but at the minute, he’s got both in bucketloads.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin: The Whites frontman was utterly unplayable on Monday night, giving Sven Botman and Malick Thiaw - a defensive pairing worth £65m combined - an absolute beating. Won just about every long ball, linked play well and got his goal… eventually. Will no doubt be doing all he can to claim Jayden Bogle’s goal but it matters not. England talk has inevitably resurfaced.
Bad day
Sven Botman: Calvert-Lewin might have been unplayable on Monday night but Botman did himself no favours. The Dutchman was so easily thrown around by Leeds’ leading man despite his obvious physicality. Battering-rammed in the air by Calvert-Lewin for the second goal and then sent for a hot dog for the third.
Off-camera moments
Okafor and Jaissle having a nice catch up early doors as the players headed out onto the pitch pre-match. The pair worked together for two years at RB Salzburg.
Staff members getting absolutely soaked by the Elland Road sprinklers while laying out a Premier League flag across the turf.
A Leeds mascot predicting a 10-10 draw before kick-off. It wasn’t quite the 20-goal thriller he’d hoped for but a great night nonetheless.
Tanaka preparing for Newcastle’s press by doing some high kick-ups and glancing over both shoulders with the ball in the air. He was then last down the tunnel after sticking around for some extra shooting practice. Both paid off.
Birthday boy Ampadu getting a warm round of applause as the players headed close to the Kop after shooting practice. He then welcomed every starting teammate over with a two-handed high-five before some shuttle runs to finish the warm-up.
Leeds and Newcastle fans joining forces with a Gary Speed chant in the 11th minute, followed by a nice round of applause from the South Stand and away end. Speed made a combined 597 appearances for the two clubs,
Calvert-Lewin having a good look at the angry away end after knee-sliding in celebration for 3-0. Ampadu also had a cheeky smile aimed towards the Newcastle fans, who had been giving him stick while preparing for a long throw-in.
Farke running down the tunnel at half-time, keen not to see a repeat of Chelsea.
Calvert-Lewin being told by the referee his header deflected off and was awarded to Bogle. He kept mentioning it to teammates and later joked the goal will be appealed.
The South Stand expressing their distaste for reality show Geordie Shore in song form at 3-0 shortly after half-time. The exact lyrics of their chant cannot be written in print.
Farke holding court with Ampadu and Justin at full-time. Both looked annoyed after conceding late to lose the clean sheet.
A Disney-like version of happy birthday blaring out the home changing room after full-time for Ampadu, who turned 26.