The 2020–21 season was Leeds United's 101st season in existence and it is their 51st season in the top division of English Football. It was their first season in the Premier League since the 2003–04 season. In addition to the league, they also competed in the FA Cup and EFL Cup.
Review
September
Leeds began their Premier League campaign against Liverpool at Anfield on 12 September 2020, live on Sky Sports, losing by a score of 4–3. Mohamed Salah opened the scoring for Liverpool after just four minutes, converting a penalty conceded by Leeds' new signing Robin Koch. Jack Harrison equalised for the visitors eight minutes later through a low right-footed shot, only for Virgil van Dijk to restore Liverpool's lead with a header. Leeds would again equalise in the 33rd minute, with Patrick Bamford scoring after an error from van Dijk, though Salah scored Liverpool's third only minutes later, concluding a 'chaotic' first half. Leeds equalised again after 66 minutes through Mateusz Klich who scored with a ‘perfect first touch and volley,’ though Leeds' new signing Rodrigo conceded a late penalty after a 'shocking challenge' on Fabinho, which Salah converted, completing his hat-trick and consigning Leeds to a 4–3 defeat. The following week, Leeds won 4–3 at home to fellow newly promoted side Fulham. Hélder Costa opened the scoring for Leeds in the fifth minute, scoring off the underside of the crossbar, before Koch conceded a penalty in his second successive match, allowing Aleksandar Mitrović to level the scores after 34 minutes. Leeds regained their advantage after Klich converted a penalty won by Bamford after 41 minutes, before Bamford and Costa scored early in the second half to put Leeds 4–1 up. Bobby Decordova-Reid and Mitrović got goals back for Fulham as Leeds won 4–3. Leeds continued their winning ways with a 1–0 away victory against early strugglers and Yorkshire rivals Sheffield United on 27 September, with Bamford heading in from a Harrison cross after 88 minutes to score the only goal of the game.
October
After going behind to Manchester City at home on 3 October, Leeds equalised in the second half with a 59th-minute reply from Rodrigo – his first goal for the club – to finish the match 1–1. Following the international break, Leeds suffered their second defeat of the season on 19 October, with a 1–0 defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers. However, on 23 October, Leeds picked up their third victory of the season with a 3–0 victory over Aston Villa, who had won their first four league games. Bamford scored a second-half hat-trick to secure Leeds' victory; the first goal came from a few yards out into the corner of the net after 55 minutes, whilst the second was a shot into the top corner from 20 yards 12 minutes later. He sealed his hat-trick in the 74th minute with a curling finish following a pass from Costa.
November
Leeds' opening match of November saw them defeated 4–1 at home by Leicester City, who took the lead after just two minutes when Jamie Vardy intercepted Koch's backpass and set up Harvey Barnes' opener and doubled their lead after 21 minutes through Youri Tielemans. Leeds got a goal back in the 47th minute through a goalbound cross from Stuart Dallas, but late goals from Vardy and Tielemans secured Leicester's win. Leeds again lost 4–1, this time away to Crystal Palace; Palace took the lead after 12 minutes through a Scott Dann header and Bamford had an equaliser controversially ruled out by the video assistant referee as his arm was offside. Shortly after, Palace went 2–0 up through Eberichi Eze, but Bamford did score after 27 minutes, firing into the bottom corner from a Klich assist. Palace restored their two-goal advantage in the 42nd minute: Patrick van Aanholt's cross deflected off Leeds midfielder Costa, before they scored their fourth through Jordan Ayew in the 70th minute. Leeds' following match was a goalless draw at home to Arsenal, in which Leeds hit the woodwork three times after Arsenal's Nicolas Pepe was sent off for headbutting Ezgjan Alioski. Leeds recorded their first victory of November with a 1–0 win away to Everton. After Everton had two goals ruled out for offside during the first half, Raphinha scored his first goal for the club with a low shot from 20 yards in the 75th minute.