Mighty Leeds Weblog

By Graham Smyth Daniel Farke has broken down Leeds United's approach to a dominant win over Crystal Palace. Leeds United came up with a complicated plan for Crystal Palace and Daniel Farke said his players' execution was 'outstanding' in their 4-1 win. The Whites bullied and battered their visitors in the air, on the deck, in the box and in the scoreline. That they scored all four goals from set-pieces was an obvious point for Oliver Glasner to focus on in his press conference but there was much more to it than that. The sight of Joe Rodon popping up high and wide on the right, like a supplementary winger, was enough to suggest Farke had done something differently for this game. "The problem is that no one really found a solution how to open such a compact Palace side, they were always so compact, so dangerous with quick transition moments," he said. "We played a back five against the ball, a back four with the ball. With the ball Joe Rodon was a ...

The striker has now scored in five straight Premier League games for the first time since October 2020. Mark Walker Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored twice as Leeds thumped Crystal Palace 4-1 at Elland Road to climb six points clear of the Premier League relegation zone. Calvert-Lewin’s double gave the Whites a 2-0 interval lead and captain Ethan Ampadu’s first league goal for the club in the second half all-but sealed a deserved win for Daniel Farke’s side, who gave their survival chances another big lift. Palace substitute Justin Devenny converted a stoppage-time penalty, but it was too little too late for Oliver Glasner’s side and the home side had the last word through Anton Stach’s free-kick. Free summer signing Calvert-Lewin has now scored in five straight Premier League games for the first time since October 2020 and notched a top-flight double for the first time since November of the same year. The former Everton striker took his tally to six in his last five league matc...

By Lee Sobot Leeds United took on Premier League highflyers Crystal Palace under the Elland Road lights. Leeds United produced a brilliant performance to bombard Premier League highflyers Crystal Palace who were given a torrid night at Elland Road en route to a 4-1 defeat against Daniel Farke’s Whites. Leeds no 9 Dominic Calvert-Lewin went into the game having netted in United’s last four Premier League games and chasing a record set by Mark Viduka set back in 2003 as the last Whites player to net in five consecutive top-flight matches. As part of a magnificent display, Calvert-Lewin netted not once but twice as his brace together with a clinical finish from Ethan Ampadu and brilliant late Anton Stach free-kick capped a night to remember for Daniel Farke’s Whites. A disappointing Palace side survived a big call just after the half hour mark as VAR eventually checked for a possible penalty after Brenden Aaronson was brought down by Tyrick Mitchell just inside the box. Mitche...

By Tom Coates Leeds United continued their Premier League resurgence with a surprise dismantling of Crystal Palace. Daniel Farke’s men have found form and while a win was not a total surprise, the complete control they enjoyed against top-half opposition was. Palace looked shellshocked as they caved under the weight of Leeds pressure, squandering a chance to head into their Carabao Cup quarter-final against Arsenal with some momentum. Dominic Calvert-Lewin continued his rich vein of form with a first-half brace, scoring goals that both stemmed from an Ethan Ampadu long-throw. Leeds’ captain weighed in himself to add a third, steering past Dean Henderson to make sure of victory. Justin Devenny converted a stoppage-time penalty to deny Leeds a clean sheet, although the three-goal advantage was restored when an Anton Stach free-kick made it 4-1. First half The inclusion of Brenden Aaronson ahead of Ao Tanaka raised some eyebrows ahead of kick-off, as fans pondered whether th...

No win in London, no problem Written by: Rob Conlon For 81 minutes and 53 seconds, this game went exactly as we have come to expect. Leeds United in London. A lack of cutting edge. A referee rolled onto the pitch straight from a lobotomy. A painfully avoidable concession ruining plenty of hard graft. Keith bloody Andrews. Brentford aren’t very good, but after the heart-punishing highs of the previous week, I can’t have been the only Leeds fan bracing myself for a sobering comedown heading into this weekend. There were valid reasons to fear the worst. Brentford had won five of seven at home in the Premier League. Leeds had lost six of seven away, not to mention nine consecutive top-flight defeats in London stretching all the way back to the mindfuck of a last-gasp win against a nine-man Brentford side with Robin Koch at right-back, Sam Greenwood in midfield and Joffy Gelhardt up front. A lot has changed since then, except Leeds’ tendency to freak out in the capital. A 4-0 capitu...

By Graham Smyth Good day, bad day and off-camera moments from Leeds United's hard-fought 1-1 draw at Brentford on Sunday. Leeds United are unbeaten in three after once again coming from behind to secure a draw with a second half fightback. Brentford barely deserved their 1-0 lead at the Gtech Community Stadium but they weren't complaining when the ball hit the back of Lucas Perri's net. Yet Leeds showed the character that roared forth in the previous game against Liverpool and responded brilliantly to adversity. Dominic Calvert-Lewin's fourth goal in four games secured a result that few other teams have enjoyed at this ground, this season. Here's the YEP take. Good day: Daniel Farke. Another game in which his changes took effect for all to see. The introduction of Willy Gnonto led directly to a goal that gave Leeds a really valuable point at a very difficult ground. Farke is turning things around after a difficult spell and this was another important box t...

By Graham Smyth Leeds United did what a number of Premier League high flyers have failed to do this season and took a point at Brentford amid comparisons with a doomed predecessor. Mischievously or not, the Brentford matchday programme pointed out that Leeds' record this season prior to the game was equal to the one they compiled at the start of the 2022/23 campaign. A campaign which of course ended in relegation. But context is king. After scaring Manchester City and bloodying the noses of Chelsea and Liverpool, there could be a temptation to raise the expectations for the trip to Brentford. After all, the Bees do not have a squad that can hold a candle to that trio. But context, again. What they do have is an almost impeccable home record. A direct style that has brought goals, results and humbled some talented teams. The Gtech Community Stadium might not sound like a particularly daunting place to go yet very few take a result away with them. A point on the road in the Pre...

By Graham Smyth The Leeds United boss gave his thoughts on a hard-earned 1-1 draw at Brentford on Sunday. Leeds United boss Daniel Farke was caught between his belief that they should have beaten Brentford and seeing the value in a point. The Bees have compiled a fantastic record at the Gtech Community Stadium this season, beating teams higher up the table and scoring plenty of goals along the way. Aston Villa, Liverpool, Manchester United and Chelsea have all failed to win at Brentford, so a 1-1 draw was a result many Whites supporters would have settled for prior to kick-off. But the way the game went and the chances his side created left Farke feeling like they could have gone back up the road with all three. "I'm still a bit in between, I thought we should have won this game," he said. "It was tight overall but in the crucial statistics, big chances, in possession we were dominating. I wanted to go for it and win it after the late equaliser. It's a ...

Brentford 1-1 Leeds: Dominic Calvert-Lewin rescues point with ANOTHER goal as Daniel Farke claims he could return for England By LUKE POWER Dominic Calvert-Lewin for England? People would have laughed at the question in the summer. But after his goal to salvage a point here - his fourth in as many games - Leeds boss Daniel Farke floated the possibility. 'He has a chance to be in the spotlight,' he said. 'If Thomas [Tuchel] has any questions, he can come and speak. Thomas can always call me.' Calvert-Lewin, 28, was serenaded to the tune of 'Last Christmas' by the adoring away supporters and they will certainly back him to build on his 11 caps. For 70 minutes, this tie sucked the life out of west London. Residents in the flats overlooking the Gtech Community Stadium began to fear it might even damage their property's value. A ball going flat in the first half was an apt metaphor for proceedings. Then Jordan Henderson stepped up. Thank God. His st...

Leeds United are now three games unbeaten and climbing the table Dominic Calvert-Lewin believes Lees United's second-half performance at Manchester City is one of those moments which can define a season and ultimately be the game where his side set on the path to safety. Leeds may have lost against Man City, but the nature of their display in coming from two goals down before seeing a draw snatched away from them in the dying seconds, looked like it had galvanised Daniel Farke's men. What followed was an impressive 3-1 victory over Chelsea and then a 3-3 draw at home to Liverpool before again coming from behind, this time to earn a deserving point at Brentford. Calvert-Lewin scored for the fourth successive Premier League game to earn Leeds that point, and then made it clear what was the key moment in helping the Whites turn their campaign around. "There are certain moments in seasons where there are turning points. The second half (against Manchester City) was d...

Brentford 1-1 Leeds: The striker continued his excellent scoring form to cancel out Jordan Henderson’s opener George Sessions Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored for a fourth consecutive match to end Leeds' away-day blues with a 1-1 Premier League draw at Brentford. Daniel Farke's men had lost their previous four away matches in the league and looked set for another when Jordan Henderson's deflected 70th-minute effort put the hosts ahead. It was arguably against the run of play, but Calvert-Lewin headed home with eight minutes left at Gtech Community Stadium to extend Leeds' unbeaten run to three matches after a battling display on the road. Leeds momentarily dropped into the relegation zone earlier in the afternoon until Aston Villa produced a comeback win at West Ham but Nottingham Forest's victory over Tottenham dropped the visitors down to 17th at kick-off. Brentford, with Mikkel Damsgaard surprisingly on the bench, started well and captain Nathan Collins h...

By Stuart Rayner For a while it looked like being another Leeds United tale of what might have as they paid the price for skimping on strikers this summer. But what Noah Okafor was unable to do, Dominic Calvert-Lewin did, to earn Leeds points from an away game for only the second time this season, and for the first time in 10 trips to London. It could have been better than a 1-1 draw at Brentford but given that only two teams have taken points here in this season's Premier League, it certainly could have been worse. The visitors looked to have blown it when they allowed the Bees to go in front in a game they had been the better side in. But a towering header from Calvert-Lewin – a free transfer gamble in a transfer window when manager Daniel Farke also wanted options that came with more guarantees -did the job. It was the striker's fourth goal in as many games as for the third time in those matches a change of formation brought dividends for Farke. Calvert-Lewin...

By Huzaifah Khan Yorkshire Evening Post’s Chief Football Writer Graham Smyth has had his say on how Daniel Farke has turned Leeds United’s form around. Things are looking a lot more promising at Elland Road at the moment after two big results in the space of a week quietened any discontent aimed at Leeds United boss Daniel Farke, who looked like he could be close to being on his way out of the door if results didn't start to improve at a rapid rate. And they have, winning four points from two massively tricky home games against Chelsea and Liverpool, who boast an array of frightening players, but Farke found a way to push Leeds away from the relegation zone, and they currently sit in 16th. Speaking on the Inside Elland Road podcast, Yorkshire Evening Post’s Chief Football Writer, Graham Smyth, has explained how much the last two results mean for the German manager and what he has seen from the team in those performances. “This was a week that could have ended him, genuine...

A fundraising lunch saw the great and the good of Wilkinson’s 1992 title winning side show their support for their old manager Isaac Johnson Leeds United reporter When you do something special for Leeds United, supporters will make sure they return the favour, and then some. Fans clubbed together to fund a statue of Don Revie, unveiled in 2012. Marcelo Bielsa is muralised across the city on various architecture. John Charles, Eddie Gray, Gary Speed, Pablo Hernandez and Raphinha have all been the subject of artwork. So, many feel a permanent tribute to the great Howard Wilkinson is long overdue, and are doing something about it. The 82-year-old remains the last English manager to win the top flight while at Leeds and Thorp Arch was his brain child. Think of all the academy products and England internationals who have passed through those doors. Think of all the talent that has trodden the turf of St George’s Park, the base for national teams in which Wilkinson was instrumental...

WHAT A WEEK Words by: Chris McMenamy Walking to Elland Road from town, piss wet through and coughing up glow in the dark phlegm, I contemplated watching Daniel Farke’s chaotic Whites from the comfort of a warm pub, or even TSB headquarters. “But sure we’ve already had Wednesday?” I tried to convince myself, but the magnetism of Leeds United facing Liverpool under the lights in LS11 was just too great to ignore. They couldn’t again, could they? They almost bloody did, coming from behind twice to draw 3-3. Farke came into this week staring down the barrel of a publicly discussed sacking, needing positive results from matches against Chelsea and/or Liverpool. Two games, four points and a whole lot of heart shown to fight back from being behind twice, it’s just shy of being a Christmas miracle. Despite Leeds’ best efforts to replicate their lightning start from Wednesday night, a much maligned Liverpool side appeared to have the quality and, more importantly, confidence to weather ...

By Graham Smyth The YEP’s take and off-camera moments from Leeds United’s incredible 3-3 draw against Liverpool at Elland Road. Leeds United fought back twice to earn a vital point against Liverpool as Daniel Farke proved he can change Premier League games. The Whites looked dead and buried at 2-0 down yet they ended the night all square and celebrating after the most entertaining and dramatic second halves at Elland Road. Here's the YEP take. Good day Daniel Farke A week that was largely expected to yield no points from three of the toughest games has resulted in four points. A team that was finding it so hard to score goals fired in eight against a trio of elite outfits. The win over Chelsea was truly impressive, the fightback against Liverpool arguably even more so. And it was the manager's substitutions that changed it. Willy Gnonto The winger has had the most frustrating season so far but his impact off the bench was integral in the comeback. A switch in form...

By Kyle Newbould Lessons learned from another brilliant night at Elland Road as Leeds United draw 3-3 against Liverpool. Leeds United capped off a brilliant week in dramatic fashion after twice coming from behind to draw 3-3 at home to Liverpool on Saturday. Goals from Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Anton Stach and a 96th-minute Ao Tanaka effort earned Daniel Farke’s side another big point in front of their own supporters. Like Manchester City a week ago, Leeds fought back from 2-0 down to draw level at 2-2 before then conceding a third, albeit this time they had another response. The point lifts Farke’s side up to 16th and below are the YEP’s key lessons learned from another great night under the lights in West Yorkshire. January transfer priorities have changed Lukas Nmecha’s midweek hamstring injury saw Noah Okafor start but he failed to offer the same level of physical presence, allowing the Liverpool defenders to focus on Calvert-Lewin and settle into the game between them. Nmec...

By Charlotte Coates Leeds United's supporters might have gone into the week with a sense of dread - but they have ended it with renewed hope of staying in the Premier League. Their heroic comeback to draw 3-3 against champions Liverpool at Elland Road capped an eight-days spell in which they picked up four points in three of their toughest fixtures. Sky Sports' Gary Neville summed up Leeds' week perfectly: "We thought it was a week that could condemn Leeds to the Championship, but it has been a week of hope for Leeds." When under-pressure Daniel Farke's side stepped out at Etihad Stadium to take on Manchester City on 29 November, they were locked in the bottom three. They fell behind in the first minute. City were expected to go on and post a cricket score after taking a 2-0 lead, but Leeds fought back to level the match - only falling 3-2 to a 91st-minute Phil Foden winner. Despite being on a four-game losing run, Leeds optimism was on the rise wi...

By Graham Smyth Daniel Farke was far from happy with substitute Ao Tanaka before his added-time equaliser against Liverpool. Leeds United midfielder Ao Tanaka felt his manager's wrath before saving the day with a stoppage time equaliser against Liverpool. Daniel Farke reacted furiously after watching second half substitute Tanaka step out of the side's defensive block and allow the Reds to attack right down the middle of the pitch as they went 3-2 up through Dominik Szoboszlai. Mercifully for the Japan international there was a chance to redeem himself and he grabbed it with both hands, firing in a 96th-minute equaliser to hand Leeds a precious point in their survival battle. "If you change the base formation and have to invest so much to come back and equalise, the easiest thing is how we want to act in a low block," said Farke. "It's 4-5-1 and we never step out of the centre. But with all the emotions, 2-2, we opened the passing gap, two passes, of ...