Mark Viduka had scored goals wherever he had gone before David O’Leary signed him for £6 million in the summer of 2000, but United had just finished third in the Premier League to secure a Champions League qualifying spot, and it remained to be seen whether he could cut it at that level, after all his goals had come at a lower level of football in Australia, Croatia, and Scotland.
Viduka’s first season in the league went well as well, as he was the club’s leading scorer with 17 goals, helping his team to a fourth-place finish. It was believed that Viduka and fellow Australian Harry Kewell would make a lethal offensive three with Michael Bridges, but the physios spent more time with the latter two, and Viduka instead hit it well with Alan Smith. They first featured on the score sheet together on September 30th, in a 4-3 victory over Tottenham, where they each scored a brace.
Just six weeks later, on November 4, 2000, the Elland Road fans were rewarded to the league’s climax, an exhilarating 4-3 defeat of Liverpool, who had seized a two-goal lead. Viduka scored all four goals in a performance that showcased every single one of his skills, and it was easily the best performance of his career – let alone for us. Leeds were facing defeat after ex-skipper Gary McAllister pulled the strings for the Reds early on, but Viduka had other ideas; the first of his goals was a clever dink after Smith charged down a Christian Ziege clearance, and the second was a thumping header after a pinpoint cross from the marauding Gary Kelly.
Viduka completed his first hat-trick for Leeds when he received the ball from Oliver Dacourt with his back to goal before showing great strength and control to twist and turn away from two Liverpool defenders and, after buying himself half a yard, he unleashed a smart finish across goal and in off the post. The home crowd was buzzing and just two minutes later the roof came off when Viduka bagged the best of his four; he showed an instinctive touch to capitalise on a miscued shot from Dacourt and delicately chipped the ball over the rapidly advancing Sander Westerveld to secure maximum points.
Ups And Downs: The Inside Stories From Leeds United’s Biggest Matches by James Willoughby contains the behind-the-scenes account of that game. More than 70 exclusive interviews with former Leeds United players and coaches, including Eddie Gray, Johnny Giles, Howard Wilkinson, Gary McAllister, Lucas Radebe, Simon Grayson, and Jermaine Beckford, are included. In fact, James is giving away the narrative of Viduka’s outstanding performance in a free chapter, and contrary to popular belief, he didn’t have the best preparation for the game!
