For the second time in two days, a set of jubilant away fans celebrated victory at the home of their rivals by belting out the chant “we’re gonna win the league”.

Like Liverpool fans at Manchester City on Sunday, those Leeds United supporters celebrating a 3-1 comeback win at Bramall Lane over second-placed Sheffield United now believe they will be Championship title winners in May.

The symmetry is neat. In 2020, the season halted, delayed and then restarted in front of no supporters because of the Covid-19 pandemic, Liverpool won the Premier League and Leeds won the Championship, returning to the top flight after a 16-year absence.

Daniel Farke’s side are now five points ahead of Sheffield United, who are in the other automatic promotion place, and seven in front of third-placed Burnley. After Saturday’s visit by West Brom to Elland Road, 10 out of Leeds’ last 11 games will be against teams outside the top 10.

In all likelihood, work will be going on behind the scenes to try to make Leeds’ next top-flight campaign far different to their last, which ended in relegation after three seasons.

Making an impact will not be easy.

In the past 15 years, 42% of all promoted teams have dropped back to the Championship in the first season. That rises to 50% in the past decade.

Source: BBC