Leeds United are performing strongly in the Championship this season, aiming for promotion. They are level on points with Sheffield United in second place, both competing for the league title in the second tier. The difference between Leeds and Burnley, their rivals from Lancashire, is only two points.
Several of Leeds’ key attacking players are in excellent form this season. Daniel James has been outstanding, contributing ten goals and nine assists so far. Striker Joel Piroe has also played exceptionally well, scoring 15 goals and providing six assists.
On the other end of the field, Leeds goalkeeper Illan Meslier has experienced a more challenging season.
Meslier’s 2024/25 Season
This season has been difficult for Leeds’ number one, Meslier. The French goalkeeper, who has represented his country at the under-21 level, has been a consistent presence in goal for Leeds throughout the season.
He has played in all 35 Championship matches, conceding 22 goals and achieving an impressive 20 clean sheets. However, he has also made critical errors that have cost Leeds valuable points.
One of the most notable mistakes occurred against Sunderland in October. With Leeds leading 2-1 in added time, Meslier mishandled a flick-on from a Sunderland attacker, allowing the ball to slip under him and into the net.
Described as a “hindrance” by BBC Sport fan writer Lewis Deighton, Meslier’s statistics indicate he is among the less effective shot-stoppers in the Championship this season.
According to Sofascore, he has a goals prevented metric of -1.33, which is better than only 13 other goalkeepers in the league. In comparison, Sheffield United’s goalkeeper Michael Cooper has prevented 4.92 goals.
Despite Leeds’ overall strong performances, Meslier’s form has been a concern at times. The club once had a player who could have been a significant upgrade in goal, but he was sold for a modest fee.
Leeds Already Sold a Dream Meslier Upgrade
Leeds fans might find it frustrating to observe Kasper Schmeichel’s accomplishments since his departure. He played for Leeds for one season in 2010/11 before leaving and achieving considerable success elsewhere.
Kasper Schmeichel, son of former Manchester United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel, made 40 appearances for Leeds in all competitions 15 years ago. His record at the time was not exceptional, with 55 goals conceded and ten clean sheets.
In June 2011, Schmeichel moved from Leeds to Leicester City for a reported £1 million fee. The subsequent years have been very successful for him.
Schmeichel played 479 games for Leicester, conceding 586 goals and keeping 187 clean sheets. His career highlight was winning the Premier League in 2015/16. He also won the FA Cup and Community Shield in 2021.
Statistics from Squawka suggest that Schmeichel has outperformed Meslier in several key areas this season.
| Schmeichel vs. Meslier Key Stats 2024/25 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Stat (per 90) | Schmeichel | Meslier |
| Saves | 2.3 | 1.7 |
| Goals conceded | 0.6 | 0.7 |
| Clean sheets | 0.7 | 0.6 |
| Save percentage | 79.27% | 72.15% |
| Pass accuracy | 94.55% | 78.42% |
| Stats from Squawka | ||
Former Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers praised Schmeichel as one of the “top keepers” in the Premier League in March 2021, highlighting his quality. These qualities could have greatly benefited Leeds.
Leeds might regret not keeping Schmeichel beyond the 2010/11 season. He could have been their reliable, long-term goalkeeper.
Vihaan Mehrotra