Leeds United are riding high after hammering Newcastle United 4-1 at Elland Road on Monday night to move into third place in the Premier League table.
The Yorkshire giants have made a brilliant start to the season and are unbeaten after four Premier League games, with two wins and two draws.
Their win over Newcastle further showed how far Leeds have come since last season, and there is now genuine hope the club will finish in the top half this season.
They take on a Palace side that have lost three of their four Premier League games on Sunday, and the Whites go into the game as massive favourites to win at Elland Road.
However, it will be a huge moment for one man at Elland Road who has been waiting for his opportunity for years.
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Premier League has named a debutant referee for the Leeds vs Palace clash
Leeds United’s clash against Palace at Elland Road will be Adam Herczeg’s first Premier League game as a referee, and a momentous occasion.
He is one of the fast-tracked referees in Pro-Ref’s system, and he was refereeing in the National League just four years ago. The 33-year-old officiated in the Championship last season and will now make his Premier League debut at Elland Road.
Herczeg has been a referee since he was 15, and his rise over the last few years has been remarkable. He is seen as one of the bright young referees in English football.
He will hope that he doesn’t become the headline after the game, and Leeds and Palace will hope that he makes decisions down the middle.
Elland Road is a tough ground for a young referee, and he will get an earful from the home crowd if they feel he isn’t giving Leeds the decisions.
With referees grabbing headlines for all the wrong reasons last weekend, Pro-Ref will hope Herczeg proves England still has talented young referees in the system.
Leeds will hope to keep their form going on Sunday
Daniel Farke has done his best to keep expectations in check, but Monday night’s emphatic victory over Newcastle has inevitably changed the mood around Leeds.
The challenge now is to back that result up when Crystal Palace visit Elland Road on Sunday. With Leeds riding a wave of confidence, dropping points would feel like a missed opportunity.
Palace have endured a difficult start to the season and will also be without several important players who could have offered more threat in attack.
Leeds must make their home advantage count. If European football is genuinely going to be part of the conversation, these are the games where Farke’s side will need to pick up maximum points.
The early-season performances have raised the bar, and Leeds now have to show they can maintain that standard rather than letting Monday’s victory become an isolated high point.
