Leeds United's excellent unbeaten start to the Premier League season has resulted in their odds being cut to secure European football.
Daniel Farke's Whites defied critics last term to achieve survival with three games to spare as they lost just five of their final 25 matches following a tactical tweak at the Etihad Stadium which transformed Leeds' fortunes.
The decision to deploy a three-man defence with wing-backs was a masterstroke by Farke, and Leeds have been on a positive trajectory ever since, demonstrating greater intent to play in the opposition half with a ferocious intensity that very few sides in the division can match.
There were obvious areas for Leeds to address in the summer transfer window, and the club have strengthened accordingly with the acquistions of James Trafford, Tarik Muharemović and Nico Elvedi, enhancing the spine of the team.
Such business has generated a feel-good factor inside Elland Road and that's translated into results on the pitch, with Leeds one of five Premier League sides yet to taste defeat - winning twice against Nottingham Forest and Newcastle United, and recording three draws against in-form Brighton, Brentford and Crystal Palace.
bet365's Steve Freeth said: "The model is rating Leeds as a top-half side, and the clues are there given they went off at 4/6 against Crystal Palace. Well-liked in the market, Leeds are creating chances and conceding few.
"The spine of Trafford, Muharemovic, Ampadu and Calvert-Lewin is settled, with the goalkeeper representing a major upgrade on Illan Meslier."
Starting the season at 33/1 to secure a top finish, Leeds have been cut into 12/1 to achieve UEFA Champions League qualification for the first time since finishing third in the 1999/00 Premier League.
To finish in the top six and secure a UEFA Europa League berth, Leeds have shortened from 9/1 into 4/1.
It's been an impressive start and Leeds' underlying numbers suggest they're unbeaten on merit.
Shelling out £40m to sign Trafford from Manchester City, the England international has so far proven to be invaluable, recording a league-high 20 saves and boasting the best save percentage in the Premier League.
While Trafford's numbers would suggest Leeds are vulnerable at the back, the reality is far from it with Leeds ranking fifth for xG conceded and third for percentage of shots faced from outside the box. Yes, Trafford has been tested, but Leeds have minimised the difficulty of the shots he's facing. Merge a confident goalkeeper with a watertight defence and Leeds are proving a difficult unit to penetrate.
The efficiency of Leeds as a defensive unit is showcased by their tally of interceptions, with no team racking up more in the Premier League.
Their ability to read the game and disrupt opposition forays is aided by the amount of distance the team covers, and Leeds' running stats are seriously impressive. Mercurial midfielder Anton Stach, versatile defender James Justin and captain marvel Ethan Ampadu all feature in the league's top 10 players for distance covered, demonstrating their commitment to putting in the hard yards whilst also showcasing quality in possession.
In attack, Dominic Calvert-Lewin is keeping himself healthy and continuing to score. Even Harry Wilson, arguably Leeds' marquee signing of the summer transfer window, hasn't found his feet yet at Elland Road, but Farke can afford to be patient with the Welshman whilst Stach and Ampadu fashion opportunities.
While Farke looks to improve Leeds' chance creation from open play, the Whites are menacing from set-pieces. They boasted one of the tallest squads in the division before the signing of Muharemović. and now Leeds have a glut of giants all waiting to pounce in the penalty area.
The result is Leeds accumulating the second-highest set-piece xG behind only Brentford, with Farke's men looking to capitalise from detailed corner routines and the long throw capabilities of Ampadu.
Besides all of the stats and figures, Leeds are a team in harmony. There's a strong unity in Farke's camp, and the players repeatedly appear prepared to run through brick walls for their German tactician.
Leeds have made a strong start, and it will be fascinating to see just how high the Whites can climb this season, but nobody in Farke's camp will be getting carried away.
Leeds United's Premier League odds
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All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
