Anfield Stadium, Liverpool, on the evening of August 9.
In the opening match of the Premier League's first round, Liverpool hosted Leeds United.
This was the first match of the new season, a highly anticipated clash between Liverpool and Leeds, and also the first season in which VAR (Video Assistant Referee) was officially implemented in the Premier League. A brief ceremony was held before kickoff.
But once the match began, both sides immediately engaged in fierce, close-quarters combat.
Klopp's team, taking full advantage of their home ground, launched a ferocious attack on Leeds United from the opening minutes.
The attacking trio of Origi, Firmino, and Salah continuously bombarded the White Roses' defense.
This summer, Robertson and Arnold had joined Liverpool from Leeds United in a 200 million euro deal. Now, they were taking turns attacking their former club's defense from both flanks, much to the delight of the Anfield faithful.
It was clear to everyone that Liverpool, at full strength, were trying to make a strong statement to kick off the new season.
Both Robertson and Arnold were making their Liverpool debuts, and facing their former club, they naturally gave extra effort, eager to avoid being accused of going easy on their old teammates.
In the 19th minute, Arnold drove into the right side of the Leeds penalty area, forcefully breaking past Cucurella, then linked up with Salah in a series of quick passes.
Ruben Dias reacted quickly, cutting off the ball's path and blocking the play, but Firmino still managed to pick up the loose ball.
The Brazilian striker slid a pass through the defense, and Salah made a diagonal run into the right side of the box and slotted it home, giving Liverpool the lead!
The former Leeds United winger received thunderous support from the Anfield crowd.
This was the Premier League's first goal of the new season.
Leeds, however, were not to be outdone and responded immediately.
Sancho dribbled past his marker down the right wing, creating space before delivering a sharp cutback to Bruno Fernandes, who had made a late run into the box.
The Portuguese midfielder unleashed a powerful shot that nearly broke Liverpool's net, sending shockwaves through the stadium.
The two sides then traded blows in a high-paced, end-to-end match.
Though Liverpool had the lead, Leeds were just as dangerous.
The intensity was through the roof.
Early in the second half, Liverpool launched another attack. Robertson broke into the penalty area from the left and cut the ball back from the byline. Firmino darted forward and poked the ball toward goal, but Alisson made a brilliant one-handed save to push it out for a corner.
It was a very dangerous chance.
But Leeds' goalkeeper delivered at the crucial moment, denying Firmino a near-certain goal.
In the 62nd minute, Sancho once again cut inside from the right wing, beat two defenders, and sent a beautiful diagonal pass behind the defense. Vardy timed his run perfectly between the two Liverpool center-backs, caught up to the ball, controlled it with his left foot, and hammered it home with his right.
The score was level at 1-1!
Just two minutes later, Leeds intercepted the ball in midfield and launched a quick counterattack.
Grealish drove the ball toward the left side of the penalty area. Faced with Joe Gomez and Fabinho, he chose to cut it back diagonally to Bruno Fernandes, who was unmarked at the edge of the box.
The Portuguese midfielder, who had already attempted a long shot in the first half, let fly again.
This time, his thunderous strike crashed off the crossbar, rebounded into the area, and caused chaos.
Valverde, just outside the box, outjumped Wijnaldum and headed the ball to the right side, where Sancho charged in and smashed it into the net.
2-1!
A stunning comeback!
Leeds' young players were elated.
Liverpool pushed hard in the final minutes, but Leeds stood firm and protected their lead.
In the end, with two goals in three minutes, they came from behind to beat Liverpool 2-1!
Later that evening, Manchester City thrashed West Ham 5-0 away. Arsenal edged Newcastle 1-0 on the road. Manchester United also secured a home win over Chelsea.
...
On the evening of August 14, at Besiktas Park Stadium in Istanbul, Türkiye.
In the UEFA Super Cup, Champions League winners Leeds United faced Europa League champions Chelsea.
In the 15th minute, Leeds intercepted the ball in midfield and quickly countered. Ruben Dias passed to Bruno Fernandes, who controlled the ball, shrugged off a defender, and delivered a diagonal pass behind Chelsea's backline.
Sancho made a blistering run, brought the ball under control, shifted it around, and drove into the right side of the box. Under intense pressure from Chelsea left-back Emerson, he found a half-angle at goal and struck with the outside of his foot, rifling the ball into the Chelsea net.
1-0!
But in the 36th minute, Kovacic lofted a diagonal ball forward, and Giroud found space before calmly finishing into the far corner from the top left of the six-yard box.
1-1!
After the break, Leeds pressed again.
In the 48th minute, Calvin Phillips, under pressure, lobbed a pass forward.
Vardy beat the offside trap and chipped the ball over the onrushing Kepa.
The Chelsea keeper made a good save but failed to hold onto the ball, and Rashford, lurking nearby, reacted fastest and calmly slotted it into the net.
2-1!
In the end, Leeds United defeated Chelsea 2-1 with goals from Sancho and Rashford, lifting their first ever European Super Cup trophy.
...
On the evening of August 18, in the second round of the Premier League, Leeds hosted Newcastle United.
In the 32nd minute, Achraf Hakimi surged down the right, received a pass from Valverde, and broke into the penalty area near the byline before cutting the ball back.
Sancho, stationed on the right side of the area, controlled the ball, cut inside, shook off his marker, and curled a beautiful left-footed shot into the far corner.
1-0, Leeds United took the lead.
The entire Amazon Stadium erupted in celebration for Sancho.
From the Community Shield to this match, Leeds had played four games this season—and Sancho had scored in all of them.
On top of that, he had contributed two assists. His form was sensational.
With a one-goal lead at the break, Leeds pushed hard in the second half.
In the 64th minute, Valverde passed to Hakimi, who cut inside and fired into the net.
2-0!
Just six minutes later, Leeds launched a counterattack. Sancho made a long run and, in a 2-on-1 situation, played it across to Vardy, who tapped it in with ease.
3-0!
Late in the match, Bruno Fernandes, who had missed several chances earlier, finally got his goal.
Vinicius Jr., who came off the bench, broke through and passed across the top of the box. Fernandes met it with a rocket shot that smashed into the net.
4-0!
Leeds United cruised to a 4-0 home win over Newcastle, with Sancho grabbing a goal and assist, alongside goals from Hakimi, Vardy, and Fernandes.
...
In the third round of the Premier League, Leeds hosted Chelsea.
Barely three minutes into the game, Chelsea struck first. Azpilicueta crossed into the box, and the tall striker Abraham outjumped Militão to head it in.
1-0!
But just three minutes later, Leeds responded with slick passing down the left. Vinicius, Grealish, and Rashford combined brilliantly, with Vinicius crossing from the left and Sancho sliding in to level the score.
1-1!
Their joy was short-lived. In the 17th minute, Mount cut in from the left flank, beat three defenders, and lashed a right-footed shot into the net.
2-1 to Chelsea.
In the 30th minute, Sancho and Hakimi linked up on the right. Sancho threaded a through ball to Rashford, who darted into the right side of the area and drilled it into the net.
2-2!
The moment of magic came in the 56th minute.
Grealish received the ball on the left side of the box, turned sharply to evade pressure, then cut across the edge of the area, weaving through five defenders before unleashing a thunderous shot into the bottom right corner.
The entire Amazon Stadium was stunned.
He beat five players!
It wasn't a long solo run like Messi's, but it was still jaw-dropping.
Grealish's lateral cut and dribble, especially his footwork in tight spaces, was pure brilliance.
3-2!
In the 72nd minute, Leeds earned a corner.
Veteran defender José Fonte rose highest just outside the six-yard box and headed home to seal the score at 4-2!
Leeds United defeated Chelsea 4-2 at home.
...
In the fourth round of the Premier League, Leeds visited West Ham United.
Sancho, who had been on a five-match scoring streak, was finally held scoreless in this one.
In the 28th minute, Hakimi crossed from the right, and Vardy finished from close range to make it 1-0.
In the 50th minute, Sancho picked up another assist, feeding Bruno Fernandes near the penalty spot, and the Portuguese midfielder slotted it home.
2-0!
In the 73rd minute, Sancho assisted again, this time for Vinicius Jr., who finished from a tight angle on the left side of the six-yard box.
3-0!
In the 80th minute, Valverde finally got on the scoresheet, blasting home a powerful strike to make it 4-0.
Leeds United earned a comprehensive 4-0 win away at West Ham, marking their fourth straight Premier League victory to start the season.
Counting the Community Shield and the UEFA Super Cup, Leeds had now won six matches in a row.
Unstoppable.
In the Premier League table, Leeds were the only side with four wins from four and sat at the top.
They were followed by Manchester City, Liverpool, Leicester, and Crystal Palace.
Chelsea were down in 12th.
This stunned the entire European football world.
Before the season, many believed Leeds United would collapse after selling 10 star players.
But not only did they avoid a fall, they were performing better than ever.
Sancho, Grealish, Hakimi, and Bruno Fernandes had all stepped up, which was a terrifying prospect for their rivals.
But Leeds weren't the only team thriving in the new European season.
(To be continued.)