Daniel Farke on brink of 'massive' feat with Leeds United fate to be decided in London — Leeds Live 10/5/26

Whether at the London Stadium or the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Leeds could finally reach their primary goal this weekend

Isaac Johnson Leeds United reporter

Leeds United could be safe from relegation before they kick another ball. In many ways their most important match this weekend is not their own against Tottenham Hotspur on Monday.

Should West Ham United lose to Arsenal later today then the Whites cannot be caught by the 18th-place Hammers. Even a draw would not be sufficient in reality given Leeds - who currently sit seven points ahead - boast a greater goal difference of 14.

Daniel Farke does not mind his players keeping track of how rivals do and it would seem odd if any Leeds squad member was not sat watching what goes on at the London Stadium later today. Farke himself might not be with them as he recovers from illness but an Arsenal win would make him feel a lot better.

In his absence, assistant coach Edmund Riemer took on pre-match press conference duty and explained survival would be a “massive” achievement given the fate of the last six promoted clubs and the intensity of this year’s relegation battle.

“If you see our previous seasons, it seems like every season has to be a special season to achieve what we want to achieve,” he said, in reference to last season's final-day Championship title win that saw Leeds reach a club record 100 points.

“Usually you talk about one point per game - now you feel like it might not be enough. We have now achieved 43 points. It's truly something special, especially if you see what the promoted teams did the last few years.”

By virtue of West Ham’s result, Leeds will hope the trip to relegation rivals Spurs is a free hit rather than a six-pointer. Should the Hammers somehow produce a win over Arsenal then Leeds would be required to beat Tottenham to mathematically secure safety.

Riemer says Farke and his staff are aware that Roberto De Zerbi has had “an impact on the players” at Spurs, giving them so much renewed confidence that they now look "a different Tottenham team”.

Back-to-back wins have seen the club climb out of the relegation zone with supporters now galvanised behind the players rather than on their backs. Riemer said he expects a "really heated" game as a result.

Leeds will have to cope with the in-form Noah Okafor, who has sustained a calf injury after scoring six goals in seven Premier League games, and reliable left-back Gabriel Gudmundsson.

However, this team has shown it has the ability to deal with key absences this season and they remain unbeaten in six away games having lost just once on the road since November.

Nevertheless, the mood going into the contest will depend on what has happened the day prior. “We prepare in the best possible way,” said Riemer, who tried to play down this dynamic.

“Of course, we take it however it comes, but we want to be ready, whatever happens. We don't want to be surprised. Now we need to refocus, so the focus will be there. We will travel, and then we'll be ready to play.”

Farke is expected to be back from illness and on the touchline on Monday. Should Leeds get over the line, regardless of how, it will have marked an astonishing turnaround, having appeared to be on the brink of losing his job in November.

He will have also shaken off the relegation cloud that, rightly or wrongly, hung over him from his time at Norwich City, and that reportedly prompted owners the 49ers to consider a summer managerial swap.

At the end of the Burney game, fans were heard chanting his name with loud abandon. “I was very pleased for him,” said Riemer on this.

“Because he also gets a lot of stick if it doesn't go our way - most of the time, I feel it’s undeserved. So I'm very pleased because he deserves it [fan praise], and has done a brilliant job so far.”

By Sunday evening, or Monday night, it might well be job done in London.