Leeds United's 6-0 home win over West Ham United shocked the entire Premier League.
Generally speaking, the first round of a new season is always difficult, but Leeds United have been in amazing form from the start.
With Liverpool drawing away, the White Rose's victory looked even more impressive.
Manchester City also performed brilliantly in the first round.
Guardiola's team beat Arsenal 2-0 away with goals from Sterling and Harry Kane.
So after the first round, Leeds United were first, followed by Chelsea and Manchester City, with Crystal Palace fourth. They also won 2-0 away at Fulham in the first round.
Leeds United going top in the opening round once again caused a strong reaction in the British media.
The key was not the big win and the top spot, but that after selling so many players, Leeds United could still perform like this. It could only mean one thing, that Leeds United's talent pool was truly strong.
Vardy and Mbappé both scored twice.
Vardy's performances in recent years have always been reliable. Although he has never been the team's number one center forward, he has been steady and played the role of second scorer well.
He has often played on the wing.
But his scoring output has consistently been in double figures every season.
Every team has players like this. They are not flashy or eye-catching, and they do not often speak out about the team or demand higher wages.
Some fans who are not very familiar with the team might not even remember that such a player is there.
But they contribute steadily every year.
It could be double-digit goals, steady output during midfield rotations, or solid defensive work.
It is precisely this group that is easily overlooked, yet actually very strong.
In the past, Vardy was always such a player. Even after joining the England national team, he still lived in the shadow of Harry Kane and had few opportunities to play.
But now that Harry Kane has left, he proved his presence with a brace.
Many fans unfamiliar with Leeds United suddenly realized there was such a player in the team.
Moreover, he is already 31 years old.
When the media listed the numbers, everyone was surprised to find that Vardy's scoring efficiency at Leeds United had been quite high in recent years. Looking back five seasons, the fewest goals he scored were in the 13/14 season.
In the next four seasons, he scored at least 13 goals, including cup competitions.
Last season, he scored 23 goals, 15 of which were in the league, making a great contribution to Leeds United winning the Premier League and FA Cup and reaching the Champions League final.
Because of this, Leeds United offered him a contract extension right after the season ended, with a weekly wage of £100,000. This was certainly not on the level of young stars like Harry Kane, but Vardy did not hesitate and signed immediately.
In an interview with the Yorkshire Post, Vardy said he had never thought about leaving Leeds United.
"I'm 31 years old, and the club is willing to give me a three-year contract with a pay rise, which makes me very satisfied."
"I hope to retire at Leeds United."
After Harry Kane left, Vardy became a flagbearer on Leeds United's front line.
In Leeds United's technical plan, Vardy's role is transitional, and the one they truly look forward to is Haaland.
But Haaland is only 18. Although he has appeared in cup matches for the first team, he is still too young.
Players at that age cannot be used too heavily.
Therefore, Leeds United plan to proceed step by step and take two to three years to develop Haaland.
In addition, there are several other highly valued players, such as Sancho and Vinicius, who are both 18.
Among them, Vinicius will get more opportunities this season.
Once Mbappé leaves, Leeds United's left side will rely on several homegrown players, as well as the highly promising Vinicius.
…
After the first round, Leeds United had a week of rest.
A week later, in the second round of the Premier League, Leeds United traveled south to London to visit Selhurst Park and face fourth-placed Crystal Palace, coached by former England manager Hodgson.
Hodgson took over Crystal Palace last season and brought the London club from lower mid-table to mid-table. Facing Leeds United, he set up a strict defensive plan.
West Ham United's crushing defeat in the first round had clearly sounded a warning for Hodgson.
Even at home, he still adopted a deep defensive approach and looked to counterattack, giving Leeds United no space. It is worth mentioning that former Leeds United player, Belgian striker Benteke, was now at Crystal Palace.
Hodgson lined up in a 4-5-1, with three defensive midfielders, focusing on quick wing counterattacks and leaving Benteke up front as a target man.
This approach caused Leeds United a lot of trouble.
After Harry Kane, Leeds United lack a traditional center forward.
In the first round, they beat West Ham United with a fast, direct attacking style led by Mbappé, Vardy, and Dembélé.
But the problem with this style is that against tight defenses, pace cannot be fully used and the threat is greatly reduced.
In fact, shortly after kickoff, Leeds United's attack was threatening.
Kimmich's through ball sliced open Crystal Palace's defense and sent Mbappé through on the left side of the area.
When he received the ball on the left, Mbappé did not shoot immediately, but took another touch, missing the best shooting window. Then when he cut inside, he could not find a shooting angle.
This is also a current problem for Mbappé, his left foot is not strong enough.
Leeds United failed to capitalize on that chance and could not create further threats after.
No matter how Leeds United combined, pulled, or switched play, Crystal Palace's defense was airtight.
Hodgson specifically used Wan-Bissaka on the right to track Mbappé and limit the French winger's threat.
The match was one-sided in possession, but without penetration.
Obviously, after several years of development, more and more teams have improved defensively. They are no longer as afraid of repeated attacking waves and possession play as they were a few years ago.
In this kind of battle against a deep block, the role of a center forward becomes particularly important.
But Leeds United lost their center forward when Harry Kane left.
Hodgson anticipated this.
…
"Gao really has a plan that leaves nothing to chance."
In the visitors' technical area, Pochettino sighed with satisfaction.
"There is still a big gap between me and him, not only in tactics, but in every aspect."
Pochettino truly admired Gao Shen.
"Yes, great coaches are great for a reason, the results speak," said assistant coach Miguel D'Agostino.
Before the season, Gao Shen specifically reminded Pochettino to be prepared with a second and even third plan, because more teams would use defensive tactics against Leeds United this season.
It was only the second round, and Crystal Palace were doing just that.
But with that warning in mind, Pochettino and his staff were ready.
By the 30th minute, the match was still deadlocked. Leeds United had over 70 percent possession but could not break through. Pochettino walked to the touchline and signaled adjustments.
Five minutes later, during a Leeds United attack on the left, Crystal Palace's defense was drawn inside, and Robertson passed to Bernardo Silva.
After receiving the ball, the Portuguese midfielder escaped his marker, carried it a few steps, shifted the point of attack, and suddenly lofted a long pass into space on the right side of the 30-meter zone.
Arnold arrived, controlled, made a slight adjustment, and sent a 45-degree cross toward the front of the six-yard box.
A tall white-shirted figure surged forward, got in front of Crystal Palace center back Mamadou Sakho, rose high, overpowered him, and headed at goal.
The ball glanced off his forehead, changed direction, and flew straight into the Crystal Palace net.
Goalkeeper Hennessey could do nothing.
1-0.
"Milinkovic-Savic!"
The Serbian midfielder roared with excitement.
Leeds United players rushed over, surrounded him, and celebrated the excellent goal.
Yes, Leeds United do not have a traditional center forward, but in midfield they have a 1.92-meter powerhouse with the physicality of a center forward.
Pochettino also celebrated on the touchline.
The goal came at the perfect time.
…
After the deadlock was broken, the match opened up.
Crystal Palace began to lose patience and committed more fouls.
Leeds United pressed the advantage.
Just before half-time, Bernardo Silva threaded a pass into the area. Milinkovic-Savic held off Mamadou Sakho, controlled, turned, and was about to shoot, but was tripped by Sakho.
The French center back committed two fouls in quick succession, and Milinkovic-Savic went down.
The referee pointed to the spot without hesitation, and Mbappé converted to make it 2-0.
Three minutes into the second half, Crystal Palace won a corner at the end of an attack but could not threaten. Leeds United countered quickly, Dembélé drove down the right and played a diagonal pass.
Mbappé burst forward at top speed, went one-on-one, poked past the goalkeeper, and scored to make it 3-0.
Another brace.
This is what Leeds United mean by building the team around Mbappé.
Once he starts to sprint, Mbappé is almost unstoppable.
The French winger's pace was fully displayed in this counterattack.
In the end, Leeds United beat Crystal Palace 3-0 away and made it two wins from two at the start of the Premier League.
But while Leeds United were winning back to back, Real Madrid suffered a heavy blow at the start of the new season.
(To be continued.)