Leeds United will need a big performance from Illan Meslier in Sunday’s Championship play-off final with Southampton.
The two sides are set to go head-to-head at Wembley to compete for the final remaining place in next season’s Premier League, having both come down together just 12 months ago.
Though Leeds did finish above Southampton in the regular season, there was only three points between them. The Saints were also the one side to complete a league double over Leeds.
In order to come out on top at the third time of asking, Leeds will need their defence and Meslier to be at the top of their game.
Only the top two scored more goals than Southampton during the season, while Leicester City were the only side to create and miss more big chances, showing how potent they are in attack.
Meslier shares what he’s about to start doing ahead of Leeds vs Southampton
Based on those aforementioned statistics, Meslier could well be a busy man in the capital on Sunday afternoon.
The 24-year-old had a shaky end to the season and was statistically one of the worst goalkeepers for preventing goals in the Championship.
However, after his incredible save in the second leg to deny Josh Sargent, he should be full of confidence. And given how tight this match-up looks, it may not just be 90 minutes in which Meslier is required for.
Last season’s Championship play-off final between Coventry City and Luton Town went all the way to penalties and it really wouldn’t be a surprise if it did so again this year.
In fact, pundits Ally McCoist and David Prutton have both backed Leeds to win via a shootout, and if that was to happen, it would almost certainly mean Meslier has played a big role.
In an interview with the Athletic ahead of Sunday’s game, Meslier has opened up on just how he will prepare for the prospect of it going to penalties.
He said: “To be honest, I do both [remembering and written down]. It’s important to have both so you’re not distracted by just your sheet or your bottle. You can miss information when the player is coming to take the penalty.
“We haven’t started it yet. Norwich, I was prepared for them. But tomorrow and during the week, I’ll have my work here and at home, to analyse everything.”
What is Meslier’s penalty record with Leeds?
Meslier will have to vastly improve on his penalty saving record in a Leeds shirt if Daniel Farke‘s side are going to come out of a shootout victorious.
Excluding the one shootout he has been involved in for Leeds, Meslier has saved just one of the 19 spot-kicks he has faced, which came against West Ham United back in March 2021. Jesse Lingard actually went onto score the rebound anyway.
That said, in the one penalty shootout Meslier has been involved in for Leeds against Fulham in 2021, he did make one save to help his side to a 6-5 victory.
At around 6ft5, Meslier should be an imposing figure between the sticks in such pressurised situations and if it does go as far as penalties, he needs to make use of every inch he has.