Leeds United 0 Crystal Palace 0: Whites remain unbeaten after second-half VAR reprieve — YEP 20/9/26

By Kyle Newbould

Leeds United weren’t at their best but defended well to keep an important clean sheet.

Leeds United were unable to match Monday’s electric performance but remain unbeaten in the Premier League after Sunday’s 0-0 draw at home to Crystal Palace.

Daniel Farke named an unchanged line-up for the third Premier League game running, with Ao Tanaka keeping his place in a midfield three and Nico Elvedi picked over Jaka Bijol. The only squad change saw Ilia Gruev return from a five-month absence to replace the injured Harry Wilson on the bench.

Palace had the first real opening inside 10 minutes, with Quinten Timber finding a pocket of space and sliding in Jorgen Strand Larsen. The striker got in behind Elvedi but was thwarted by a well-timed Tarik Muharemovic sliding tackle.

The away side almost forged another opportunity when Strand Larsen nudged Muharemovic aside and played in Kamada, but his shot was blocked and rolled towards Trafford. Leeds’ best chance of the opening half-hour fell to Tanaka after a long throw fell his way but with the ball rising his effort cleared the crossbar.

Noah Okafor was the main attacking threat for Leeds and twice inside a few minutes went flying down the left, but the winger was unable to create a chance on either occasion. On the other side, a blocked Jayden Bogle shot brought handball claims but Tyrick Mitchell’s arm was by his side.

Palace had two chances inside the first four second-half minutes. Yeremy Pino saw a free-kick tipped round the post by James Trafford with half-time substitute Jefferson Lerma blazing over after a corner ball dropped at his feet.

They looked to have gone ahead in the 52nd minute when Anan Khalaili’s cross deflected off James Justin and felt at the feet of Mitchell to score. But after a VAR review the goal was disallowed with the sleeve of Khalaili’s shirt offside.

Leeds then came close and should have scored, with Calvert-Lewin meeting a Justin cross perfectly but striking his effort straight at Palace goalkeeper Walter Benitez. A strike either side of the Argentinian shot-stopper would have been a goal.

Farke looked to get a better grip on the game by switching to a back four just after the hour-mark, with Bogle and Tanaka replaced by Brenden Aaronson and Dan James. He then brought on Lukas Nmecha in place of Okafor 10 minutes later, reverting to a back three with two physical options upfront.

But Palace kept enjoying the better moments with Daichi Kamada aiming a back-post header just wide of the far post in the 85th minute. Muharemovic was then forced to make another crucial tackle after substitutes Eddie Nketiah and Ismaila Sarr almost combined on the counter attack.

Neither side had any further chances in three minutes of added-time, with the spoils shared. A point extends Leeds’ unbeaten start to the Premier League season and leaves them fifth heading into the international break.