Mighty Leeds Weblog

By Kyle Newbould Leeds United host Blackburn Rovers on New Year’s Day and a club legend will be present. Leeds United have confirmed their former captain, Liam Cooper, will be a special guest at Elland Road during Wednesday’s visit of Blackburn Rovers. Cooper called time on a 10-year spell in West Yorkshire over the summer, following the expiration of his contract with Leeds. The Scotland international had been linked with a number of Championship rivals before making the surprise decision to join Bulgarian outfit CSKA Sofia. Uncertainty surrounding Cooper’s future dragged into the summer and so fans were denied the chance to give their long-standing captain a proper send off. But that is now set to change, with the 33-year-old flying back from Bulgaria to attend an Elland Road fixture for the first time this season. In a post on social media, the club said: “Former #LUFC captain Liam Cooper will be our special guest at tomorrow’s game against Blackburn Rovers, with fans able...

By Graham Smyth Leeds United's hectic schedule has prevented Daniel Farke from conjuring up a New Year's resolution but there is something he would dearly love to do at the very outset of 2025. Farke and Leeds will begin a new year at Elland Road with a game against Blackburn Rovers. Such is the dominance that Leeds have enjoyed on home soil of late that the identity of the opposition should not matter enough to cause any fear. They have won nine on the bounce at Elland Road and were well worth victories over both Sheffield United and Middlesbrough during that run. But if Farke's Leeds at home represent an unstoppable force then Blackburn bring with them an immovable object in John Eustace. In each of their last three battles Eustace has come out on top, masterminding 1-0 wins and clean sheets for his Birmingham City and Blackburn outfits. The November 30 meeting at Ewood Park was Leeds' last defeat and a classic of the genre that has produced the Whites' only...

Same again? Written by: Rob Conlon Sam Byram followed his smiling, fist-pumping teammates down the tunnel at Pride Park, turned to a member of Leeds United’s media team, and smirked. “Bit of a slog, wan’it?” Daniel Farke was soon making the same journey, winking at the camera. “These are the best wins, I tell you.” It’s hard to believe, but since losing at Elland Road at the start of December, Derby have been decent. In the four games preceding Leeds’ visit to the East Midlands, they’d lost just once, held Burnley to a 0-0 draw, beat West Brom, and thrashed Portsmouth 4-0. Crucially, those two wins were at home, where before Leeds came to town they’d won six of eleven matches, in comparison to just one of twelve away fixtures. Their biggest game of the season attracted their biggest crowd of 2024/25, and they’d even brought a drum. Welcome to hell. There’s a Greggs by the megastore. Leeds have been guilty of making themselves feel like guests at other teams’ homes this season, ...

By Leon Wobschall HEADING into 2025, Leeds United are undeniably in a good place. As far as Daniel Farke is concerned, it is not the sight of his side topping the Championship standings at the start of the new year that carries the most significance, more the number of points that have been accrued so far. Sunday's 1-0 victory at Derby took Leeds past the 50-point milestone for the season. Ahead of their home game with Blackburn on New Year's Day, United have 51 points from 24 matches - at an impressive average over two points per game. It's the exact same number they registered from the same amount of games in Marcelo Bielsa's first campaign at the club in 2018-19. In the promotion season of 2019-20, United managed 48 points from 24 matches. While Leeds' current total from that number of games is an eye-catching six points better than the figure last year. After a testing summer in the aftermath of a shattering play-off final loss to Southampton in late...

By Graham Smyth Chief football writer Daniel Farke does not know if he can count on Sam Byram to start a third game in seven days after a 'crazy' and unexpected amount of football for the defender. When Byram came back to the club as a free agent signing in Farke's first summer in charge, it was a piece of transfer business that had an asterisk if not a question mark. His 'injury CV' as Farke would call it made it doubtful that the veteran would be able to start every game of a brutal Championship campaign. But while there were hamstring problems to contend with in the 2023/24 season, Byram played a lot more than some might have anticipated. He started 24 games and came off the bench a further nine times, accumulating almost 2,000 minutes of action at right-back and left-back. Junior Firpo's run of form and availability at left-back, coupled with the arrival of Jayden Bogle at right-back, took the pressure off Byram at the start of this season. He did no...

By Graham Smyth The YEP’s take and off-camera moments from Sunday evening’s win at Derby County. Leeds United ended 2024 on a high with a late but deserved winner at Derby County on a day when boo boys were silenced. The Whites went unbeaten in December, dropping only two points from a possible 18 with that draw at Preston North End. Derby at Pride Park represented a difficult test but Leeds made them look dreadfully poor for the vast majority of the contest before winning it with Brenden Aaronson's goal 11 minutes from time. Here's the YEP take on Sunday evening’s 1-0 success. Good day Jayden Bogle Booooo! It was still panto season in Derby as the home fans let Bogle know they had not forgotten his decision to leave Pride Park. Or perhaps they were chanting 'Booooogle.' Either way the right-back put in a second excellent performance in quick succession and looked like he relished every second of it. Leeds' right flank looks potent going forward this sea...

By Graham Smyth Perfection is neither realistic nor attainable but that does not mean Leeds United should strive for anything less because they are so capable. Pride Park has been the scene of Leeds-related near perfection. Most recently, Mateo Joseph scored no fewer than four goals in a single outing against the Rams Under 21 side. Prior to that, Mateusz Klich was breakdancing on the pitch after a still-merry Leeds team defied their headaches to win 3-1. The facial expression Ben White pulled at full-time said it all about how ropey he and his team-mates felt and yet they were well worth the victory. That day was remembered fondly on Sunday evening by an away end that reminded their Derby counterparts of the guard of honour Leeds received as champions. By the time this latest battle of the two old clubs was done, Rams boss Paul Warne was virtually standing to applaud Leeds as champions elect. A 1-0 victory, which followed a 2-0 win at Stoke City, was Leeds' third win on th...

By Lee Sobot Another clean sheet from Illan Meslier helped Leeds United to victory at Derby County. Illan Meslier has made a double Leeds United admission amid a personal milestone moment and saluted a particular Whites teammate. Sunday evening’s Championship clash at Derby County represented a landmark outing for Meslier as the Whites no 1 made his 200th appearance for the club. Despite his team dominating, the outing looked set to end in frustration as Leeds squandered a host of chances in front of goal despite limiting Derby to very little at the other end. Meslier was rarely troubled and was then finally able to celebrate an all important goal at the other end of the pitch in the 79th minute as Brenden Aaronson finished off a beautiful Whites move for the only goal of the game in a 1-0 success. Speaking post match to LUTV, Meslier admitted the contest had been a tough game against the stubborn Rams and also admitted his frustration at his team missing so many chances to...

The Whites boss made four changes to his side for Sunday's win at Derby Daniel Farke admitted he took a risk making four changes to his Leeds United line-up for Sunday's 1-0 win over Derby County, but felt his bravery paid off. The Leeds boss brough in Ao Tanaka, Mateo Joseph, Largie Ramazani and Wilfried Gnonto for the game at Pride Park - although it was not until he made second-half changes that the Whites finally broke the deadock. Brenden Aaronson's goal meant Leeds will begin 2025 on top of the Championship table after a dramatic day of action. With fixtures coming thick and fast - Leeds host Blackburn Rovers at Elland Road on New Year's Day - Farke insisted he had to rotate his squad, and was thankful it paid off in the end. "It was risky to make the changes," admitted Farke. "It would not have been risky if the gameplan worked. All credit goes to the players for scoring. Overall it is important to make changes. In this moment we have to us...

By Joe Donnohue Leeds United skipper Ethan Ampadu says he will be back to his best soon following his recent injury lay-off. Ampadu sat out two months with a knee injury earlier this season but in recent weeks has returned to play an important role in United's festive schedule. Leeds first defeated Oxford United 4-0 at Elland Road, in which the club captain made his return at centre-back, before a 2-0 win over Stoke City on Boxing Day, with Ampadu back in midfield. Following the hard-fought 1-0 win over Derby County at Pride Park, the skipper admitted there was still some 'rust' but he is feeling close to getting back to his best. "I'm okay. I give thanks to the physios and the staff for the rehab that I did. I feel quite good out there, but I know there's still a little bit of rust, so I'm just trying to shake that off." "Hopefully sooner rather than later," Ampadu said, on when he believes he'll be back to 100 per cent. "...

By Graham Smyth Daniel Farke saluted his side’s ‘poetic’ winner as Leeds United went top of the Championship by two points with a 1-0 win over Derby County. Leeds squandered a host of golden chances to win a second away trip on the bounce, with Brenden Aaronson, Mateo Joseph, Largie Ramazani and Daniel James all guilty of profligacy. But a beautifully-worked and patient passing move eventually broke down a stubborn Derby defence and Joel Piroe slid the ball through for Aaronson to win the game. “In the second half my feeling was we missed too many chances to win such an away game,” said Farke. “Even before the goal we had situations with Mateo, Largie, Brenden, Joe Rodon with a free header. But then we scored for me the goal of the season, unbelievable. I put it straight away into my poetry album and this on such a difficult pitch. A perfect team move, Brenden with a perfect calm finish.” Piroe was one of two substitutes involved in the winner, having received the ball from Man...

The Whites will start the new year top of the Championship table after beating Derby County Leeds United can look forward to 2025 with much anticipation after the highs and lows of the current year. Manager Daniel Farke was delighted with his side's 1-0 win over Derby County which sees them end 2024 on top of the Championship table. Brenden Aaronson's goal gave the Whites a 1-0 victory at Pride Park following a battling performance and after Sheffield United had drawn 1-1 with West Brom earlier in the day. While Farke was keen to play down the importance of being top of the table at this stage of the season, he had a positive message for the fans, who had to endure Wembley heartache in May, and watch as big-name players such as Crysencio Summerville and Georginio Rutter were sold in the summer. "It was a fully deserved win in a tough place," Farke said. "We were respectful because they are red hot at home. We started well on the front foot and we were in to...

Whites end 2024 with another important win. Leeds United rounded off 2024 in style with an impressive victory over Derby County away from home, with Brenden Aaronson’s late strike proving the difference at Pride Park! Having made four changes to the team that recorded a 2-0 victory over Stoke City on Boxing Day, Daniel Farke’s side started brightly in Derbyshire, dominating the ball and looking to use the flanks to make the early inroads. Jayden Bogle, against his former side, worked it cleverly into the path of the overlapping Wilfried Gnonto who flashed a dangerous delivery across the face of goal which Jacob Widell Zetterstrom parried away. Italian international Gnonto, then in space on the left, was slid in behind the Rams’ defence by Sam Byram and picked out the onrushing Mateo Joseph though, under pressure, the striker was unable to bundle home. The Whites, on the evening in yellow, were in the ascendency and looked particularly potent in the wide areas; an incisive pas...

Brenden Aaronson’s late strike helped Leeds go two points clear at the top of Sky Bet Championship as they secured a 1-0 victory over Derby at Pride Park. The Rams were happy to invite Leeds pressure and failed to register a single shot in the first half while Mateo Joseph came close on three occasions for the visitors in a goalless first period. Leeds piled on the pressure in the second half but Derby stood firm largely thanks to Jacob Widell Zetterstrom, who made four saves including Dan James’ one-on-one effort. Leeds were not to be denied though and it was Aaronson who was the hero with his seventh goal of the season 11 minutes from time, finishing a fine team move. The win moves Leeds back above Sheffield United, who were held to a 1-1 draw by West Brom, as they finish the year on top of the Championship. Daniel Farke decided to bring Largie Ramazani in for his first start since October alongside Joseph, Ao Tanaka and Wilfried Gnonto, while Derby remained unchanged from ...

By Lee Sobot Leeds lined up at Derby with the chance to move back top and two points clear. Leeds United will end the year top of the Championship and with clear daylight to key rivals following Sunday evening's 1-o win at Derby County. Whites boss Daniel Farke made four changes to his side including a triple alteration to his front line. Mateo Joseph, Largie Ramazani and Wily Gnonto were all brought into the XI as Joel Piroe, Manor Solomon and Dan James dropped to the bench along with Joe Rothwell as midfielder Ao Tanaka came back into the team. The Whites dominated and created a host of chances but none of them were taken and Leeds appeared to be running out of time. Leeds, though, finally made the breakthrough in the 79th minute as a beautiful passing move ended with substitute Joel Piroe playing in Brenden Aaronson who clinically finished from the middle of the box. Leeds made a very bright start and the Whites squandered a particularly good chance in the sixth mi...

Adam Pope What do Leeds need? The prevailing view is they need a natural number 10. Much like the tears of the 'Widows of Bielsa', supporters still mourn the hole left by Pablo Hernandez. Boss Daniel Farke says he is happy with his squad and to expect a quiet January but has not ruled out a significant move if the opportunity presents itself. Emi Buendia has been linked before but the one-time Aston Villa record signing's arrival at Elland Road even after only playing 48 minutes of Premier League football this season seems unlikely. What sort of business are they likely to do? Another long-term injury may force their hand. Leeds have suffered from several lengthy lay-offs already this campaign, notably to first-choice midfielders Ethan Ampadu and Illia Gruev. Another number nine would be welcome but the sum of the parts of a side that is spreading goals around the front four has meant that Joel Piroe's nine goals in 14 league starts has compensated for Mat...

By Joe Donnohue Leeds United have reaffirmed the club's 'zero tolerance' policy towards tragedy chanting and discriminatory behaviour after a viral clip surfaced on Boxing Day, the content of which appeared to take place within the Whites' away end at Stoke City. The club have reminded supporters discriminatory chanting could be deemed illegal by authorities after a song referencing Israeli international winger Manor Solomon and the State of Palestine was sung by section of Leeds' travelling support at the Bet365 Stadium. A Leeds United spokesperson told the YEP: “Discriminatory language or chanting is not acceptable and supporters could be breaking the law. The club condemns this behaviour and has a zero-tolerance policy towards discrimination abuse of all kinds. “Tough measures and sanctions are in place across all English football leagues to tackle illegal behaviours within football grounds, and this involves but is not limited to, discriminatory behaviou...

By Joe Donnohue Leeds United defender Max Wober remains a doubt to feature against Derby County this Sunday as the Austrian international has been unable to train since reporting pain after back-to-back performances against the Rams and Middlesbrough earlier this month. Wober has made just four appearances and one start in the Championship this season, largely due to a knee injury for which he underwent minor surgery earlier in the campaign. Daniel Farke says the player has still been experiencing pain in the knee, which was operated on a couple of months ago, following his most recent outing against Middlesbrough. He has been unable to make the matchday squad in either of Leeds' last two games against Oxford United and Stoke City and was an unused substitute in the previous fixture at Preston North End. Speaking ahead of Leeds' second trip to the Midlands in the space of three days, Farke said: "He feels a bit of pain in the knee, still a bit sore, so the knee whe...

By Joe Donnohue A collection of off-camera moments from Leeds United's 2-0 win over Stoke City, as well as those who had a good and bad Boxing Day for different reasons. Good day Joel Piroe The Leeds striker hit a brace and was good value for his two goals in the Potteries, producing one of his best displays of the season with composed finishes and good centre-forward play. Illan Meslier Like Piroe, the goalkeeper has received criticism from supporters and elsewhere for his performances of late but produced exactly what was needed when it mattered. Had Lewis Koumas' 2nd-minute effort found the back of the net, Leeds would have been in for a very different fixture - but Meslier was on hand to deny the youngster and Stoke barely had another sniff. Daniel Farke The manager went with Piroe and Brenden Aaronson as his No. 9 and No. 10 and the pair combined for Leeds' opening goal. Jayden Bogle It took him a short while to get to grips with his new surrounding...

By Joe Donnohue Leeds United manager Daniel Farke says the number of games with quick turnarounds over the festive period was a deciding factor in choosing to leave Japan international Ao Tanaka out from the start against Stoke City on Boxing Day. The 26-year-old has been in fine form for Leeds since signing from Fortuna Dusseldorf in the summer, coming into the side in the wake of knee injuries to Ethan Ampadu and Ilia Gruev. While the club captain has returned to the starting XI in recent weeks, Gruev remains absent. Tanaka, though, was named on the substitutes bench for the visit to Stoke, the first time he has been out of the starting lineup since late September. Speaking after the 2-0 win over the Potters, in which Tanaka was brought on late in the game, Farke explained the decision. "For Ao Tanaka, he was, and is and will be, a key player for us. I think he's done outstanding for us in the recent weeks. But we must not forget we are right now in a period with e...

By Lee Sobot Leeds moved top of the Championship with Boxing Day evening’s 2-0 victory at Stoke. Whites forward Joel Piroe has declared how many goals his Leeds United side should have scored at Stoke City despite a shirt conditions issue. Leeds lined up for Boxing Day’s evening kick-off at Stoke knowing that a victory would take them top of the Championship and above Sheffield United on goal difference after a 2-0 loss for the Blades at home to Burnley. Daniel Farke’s Whites then won by the same score at Stoke thanks to a brace from Piroe who saluted the way his side coped with conditions in very thick fog and heavy mist which made visibility incredibly poor. Speaking to the YEP, Piroe said the issue was particularly taxing due to Stoke’s red and white shirts but that he never doubted that the game would be on. Piroe, though, declared that his very dominant side should have scored “four or five” for a rather more comfortable night at the Potteries. "To be honest we sh...

By Carl Livesey LEEDS UNITED manager Daniel Farke has challenged his team to “keep going” in the second half of the season after they moved to the top of the Championship with a 2-0 win away at struggling Stoke. Leading marksman Joel Piroe scored either side of half-time to move the Whites above Sheffield United, who were beaten by fellow promotion chasers Burnley earlier in the day, at the summit of the table on goal difference. Leeds had briefly dropped to third following Burnley’s victory, but a seventh win in their last nine games puts them in pole position with 23 out of 46 matches played. And Farke is keen to see his side make the most of the opportunity they have given themselves at the midway point of the campaign. “They’re on a really good run,” he said. “Out of the last four games we’ve taken 10 points, which is excellent. “But then over the day, because some other teams win some points, you drop – without making a mistake – out of the top two. And of course there...

By Joe Donnohue Daniel Farke doesn’t really care too much for the Championship table until what he calls the crunch period of the season, when at least 40 of Leeds' 46 league games have been played. At the halfway point, Leeds are top. He did make a point of mentioning only a couple of weeks ago that Leeds had gone to the summit of the table, for only the second time during his tenure, which suggests despite his occasional deflecting, he does keep abreast of the current standings, as you'd expect. More often, Farke likes to chart Leeds' progress against his own measure of success, which he believes is to average two points per game over the course of the season. After 22 games, Leeds were on course with 45 to show for their efforts - Stoke the final opponent still to be faced in 2024/25. You can also imagine him telling his squad 'you have to be there with a quite clinical away performance', especially when rivals slip up, as Sheffield United did at home to ...

By Joe Donnohue Leeds United manager Daniel Farke applauded his side rising to the challenge of going back to the summit of the Championship after Sheffield United dropped points at home to Burnley. Leeds' 8pm kick-off in the Potteries gave Farke's side the chance to leapfrog both the Clarets and Christmas table-toppers Sheffield United, if they could win on the road at Stoke City. Despite a shaky opening couple of minutes, in which Illan Meslier was called into action to save from Lewis Koumas, Leeds took the Potters to task, leaving with all three points, both goals on the night scored by Joel Piroe. "Happy with the result, happy with the win," Farke said at full-time. "Not that easy when you have to play the last game [of the day] after a long wait, especially on the road. It's sometimes tricky. "You always speak about focus on yourself, but the players are no robots, of course they hear about the other results, you drop out of the top two, ...

Whites claim the points on Boxing Day. Leeds United secured a big three points away at Stoke City thanks to a double from Joel Piroe, to move to the top of the Sky Bet Championship table. A Boxing Day clash away from home saw the Whites travel to the bet365 Stadium, to take on a Potters side looking to end a run of eight matches without a win. Under the lights in Staffordshire and contending with plenty of fog which was making visibility tough, Daniel Farke’s side were supported superbly as always by the travelling 3,300 fans in the far corner of the ground. The hosts started brightly and had the first opening. Junior Tchamadeu crossed low from the right and found Lewis Koumas, who struck first time, only to be denied by an excellent Illan Meslier save at full-stretch. Also from a low-cross into the box, Leeds came close to opening the scoring. Dan James burst free and was looking for Manor Solomon at the back-post, but between Ben Gibson and Ben Wilmot, the home side managed...