Leeds United

Adam Pope
BBC Radio Leeds reporter

Image source, Getty Images

There is no sign of Leeds United decelerating into the final fixture, but relegating West Ham United is not the motivation, according to manager Daniel Farke.

"We are not responsible for where a different team finishes.," he said this week.

"You still, of course, have empathy for each colleague who is not in the best position, but this won't disturb us from trying to be at our best level."

Another three points are worth around £2.6m but that is not Farke's focus.

He explained: "When I think about the table right now, I want to finish as strong as possible with this group of players, for the honour, for this badge and the pride of Leeds United. I'm not thinking about what it means in terms of money from TV or the budget for next season."

However, United are depleted, especially in midfield, where Sean Longstaff has joined Anton Stach and Ilia Gruev on the sidelines, but the players have been immense in digging out results with resources stretched.

There will be some schadenfreude amongst the fanbase if a fatal blow is delivered to condemn West Ham to the Championship. But if they survive, some Leeds United supporters have admitted publicly that it is an equally agreeable alternative to see Spurs go.

You can hear Leeds United at West Ham United on all BBC Radio Leeds frequencies and on BBC Sounds

Listen to West Yorkshire Sport Daily, weeknights at 18:00, and subscribe to BBC Radio Leeds' Don't Go To Bed Just Yet podcast on BBC Sounds

I am going for Spurs to lose at home to Everton, but can West Ham get the win they need to have any chance of staying up?

I can't see it myself. Hammers midfielder Mateus Fernandes said his side lacked fight in last weekend's defeat by Newcastle, which is really damning, and they have lost form at the worst possible time.

In contrast, Leeds are well organised and playing with so much confidence. I am a big fan of their manager Daniel Farke and I don't see him losing this.

There will be loads of drama and probably loads of chances at both ends too, but I am going for a draw which would send West Ham down to the Championship for the first time since 2011-12.

Sutton's prediction: 1-1

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Sophie Brown
BBC Sport journalist

West Ham need to beat visitors Leeds to have any chance of avoiding relegation.

Two years after parting company with manager David Moyes despite finishing ninth in the league, West Ham need a favour from his current side Everton if they are to avoid relegation.

The Hammers must beat Leeds and hope Tottenham slip up against Everton or they will be relegated from the Premier League for the third time after 2002-03 and 2010-11.

Current form does not spark much optimism – West Ham have lost their past three Premier League games, and could lose four in a row for the first time since 2022, when Moyes was still in charge.

Yet there are also straws to clutch onto – when playing their final league game of the season at home, West Ham have lost just one of the last 19 (W11, D7), and that was in 2010-11, when they were already relegated.

If West Ham are relegated (football statisticians Opta put it as an 85.52% chance), it will no doubt mean a big exodus of players, which could include Crysencio Summerville, who has been a rare bright spot for the Hammers since joining from Saturday's opponents Leeds.

Also likely to be on the move if West Ham go down is their talismanic captain Jarrod Bowen, who has provided assists for eight of their last 12 Premier League goals and looks set to be their top goalscorer for the fifth season in a row, despite not having scored in the league since 31 January.

While West Ham are struggling, Leeds have found a new lease of life, and are currently unbeaten in eight league games (W4, D4), their longest streak since a 13-game run in 2001.

With Premier League safety assured, their aim on Sunday will be to go unbeaten in the final nine games of a top-flight campaign for the first time since 1994-95.

Key to their survival has been Dominic Calvert-Lewin – eyebrows were raised when Leeds gambled on signing him last summer but the former Everton striker has proved his doubters wrong.

Calvert-Lewin has spent the past few seasons struggling with both form and fitness – just 17 league goals across the past four campaigns – but has been revitalised at Leeds, where he has found the net 14 times this season.

It hasn't quite been enough to earn him a place in England's World Cup squad, but it has helped ensure that Leeds will be playing Premier League football again next season.

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your views on Dominic Calvert-Lewin being omitted from Thomas Tuchel's England squad for the World Cup.

Here are some of your comments:

Jamie: I feel sorry for him, but it's great for Leeds. Rest over the summer and come back firing. If Harry Kane stays fit the others will get very few minutes anyway.

Gavin: After Harry Kane, Calvert-Lewin must be England's next-best typical English centre forward as his hold up play is excellent and he is always a threat. It's disappointing he has been overlooked after such a good season.

Simon: I think it's England and England fans who are the unlucky ones that Calvert-Lewin is not in the squad. He has shown he has ability and the right mentality and will keep growing.

Chelsea: I'm so gutted DCL isn't going to the World Cup. He's proven he can stay fit and he's a proven poacher. He fully deserves a place on the plane ahead of Ivan Toney!

Phil: I think he is worth a spot as he plays in a much better league than Toney. Having said that, at least he will be fit for the start of next season.

Ash: I think DCL is a bit unlucky, but it's hard to look past the form of Ollie Watkins towards the end of the season. Shame there wasn't room for both.

David: Tuchel will rue not having a genuine target man as an option off the bench.

Tyrese King
BBC Sport journalist

Leeds United boss Daniel Farke has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game against West Ham at London Stadium (kick-off 16:00 BST).

You can listen to the audio above or here on BBC Sounds. Below are the key lines from his news conference:

• On team news: "I can confirm that Ilia Gruev is still out, that Gabi Gudmundsson is still out, that Noah Okafor is still out."

• He also said: "Obviously, with Anton [Stach], a bit mixed news. So bad news that he is not available for this game. Good news is it is not a major injury. He just needs to be stitched anyhow."

• Farke also said Sean Longstaff is out due to a "hernia surgery", so he will not be available for this game.

• However, Pascal Struijk is back in training, but they are waiting to "see how his body reacts" and "hopefully" he is available.

• He added: "Jayden Bogle is back in training. Could be that he is perhaps available. We have to wait right now on how his body reacts to this load."

• On beating the drop: "We work at the moment with a smile on our face that's for sure. Of course, when it was confirmed two game days ago there was a big relief and big joy. We had some time between the games to celebrate."

• He added: "We enjoyed the moment, but as professional footballers, coaching staff members and as a manager you are also drilled to be competitive and this is what I feel this week. On the training pitch, it was competitive, everyone was on it! It wasn't a relaxed mood playing football on the beach. Everyone wanted to win in the training game, and exercises."

• On the future of players whose contracts are expiring in the summer: "Not yet if I'm honest. I mentioned in my last press conference that right now is the time for us to talk about a few things and sit together."

• He added: "Obviously we know that we have a couple of contracts running out, and we will make a decision pretty soon and it will be announced as soon as it's spoken about."

Listen to West Ham United v Leeds United - BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

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Leeds United got to face West Ham on the final day of the Premier League season with a part to play in the relegation battle. Jonny Buchan, Adam Pope and Kaiser Chiefs' bassist Simon Rix look ahead to the final game on the latest episode of Don't Go To Bed Just Yet.

Listen below or on BBC Sounds here - and don't forget to subscribe to get each episode into your My Sounds feed.

Explore all Leeds United content on BBC Sounds

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Leeds' Dominic Calvert-Lewin has been left out of Thomas Tuchel's 26-man World Cup squad.

How unlucky do you think the United striker is to miss out? Is there anyone he should have gone instead of?

You can get in touch with your views here

Image source, Getty Images

BBC Radio Leeds' Adam Pope believes Leeds United must hand goalkeeper Karl Darlow a new contract after an "excellent" season.

Darlow has cemented himself as Daniel Farke's number one between the sticks, holding off competition from Illan Meslier and last summer's signing Lucas Perri, who many thought would become the first-choice keeper at Elland Road.

Pope says it is an "absolute credit" to Darlow that he has managed to make the position his own and help the Whites secure their Premier League status comfortably.

Speaking on the latest Don't Go To Bed Just Yet podcast, Pope said: "In my opinion, you have to give him a new deal.

"His distribution [against Brighton] was absolutely amazing. He's pinging balls across the park. He's been excellent, and yes, I'm not saying he was content to be number two, but he knew he was coming into the season as number two, which was harsh. He's seen off everybody.

"Absolute credit to him and to keep motivated and credit to the coaching staff and manager as well, but for him personally to enhance his career when he started on the back foot at the start of the season.

"Incredible. He's made so many point-saving or match-winning saves."

Listen to the full episode below or find it alongside more Leeds United content on BBC Sounds

Adam Pope
BBC Radio Leeds reporter

Image source, Getty Images

No sooner had the empty beer bottles and wine glasses been swept up by the catering staff after ushering the corporate ticket holders from the Norman Hunter, Lucas Radebe and Billy Bremner Suites after heartily celebrating Dominic Calvert-Lewin's late winner against Brighton on Sunday, work began on Elland Road's John Charles Stand.

There is nothing like an added-time winner to round off a home season, especially against a European-chasing outfit. It served as a reminder that Leeds are already a competitive force in a Premier League in which they are assured of another campaign.

The joyous riot on the final whistle and beyond maybe tempered the sadness of the dawning realisation that one facade of the club's ancestral home will, over the next three and a half seasons, be transformed beyond recognition.

The West Stand is the beginning of the uplift of the ground's capacity to eventually more than 50,000 once the Don Revie Kop end is enhanced afterwards.

Vital to the project is the provision of either a light rail or tram from Leeds city centre with a stop at Elland Road and then on to the White Rose area. Club director Peter Lowy, founder of the Lowy Family Group who are developing the 30 acres around the stadium, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Mayor of West Yorkshire Tracy Brabin and leader of Leeds City Council James Lewis committing all parties to the vision.

Lowy, who was speaking at a UK Real Estate Investment and Infrastructure Forum event in the city, said: "The key to the investment in Leeds is the redevelopment of the stadium, because if you can't get the stadium to be more than 36,000 seats, you can't raise the money to build a Premier League football team.

"So, once you do that, the stadium redevelopment is the anchor for us to be able to do a major redevelopment on a piece of land that hasn't seen anything in 40 years. It's also one of the most deprived, South Leeds is in the lowest 5% of the economic ladder of the UK.

"Through regeneration and development as we did in Stratford (in London with his former company Westfield), you can actually totally and utterly change the economic area around the development that you do. And so we came here and I took on one of the hardest jobs I've ever done. It's the most fun I've ever had, and to see the stadium [work] start is unbelievably exciting."

Brabin, who is as passionate as Lowy about the project, revealed Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is on board too.

"There was a briefing that came out of number 10 saying the Prime Minister supports the tram," Brabin said. "So we have all the political backing, we just need to make sure that we can be innovative and dynamic in the process so that whether it's phasing, however we do it, your success is my success and we are going to deliver that tram."

Listen to West Yorkshire Sport Daily, weeknights at 18:00, and subscribe to BBC Radio Leeds' Don't Go To Bed Just Yet podcast on BBC Sounds

Adonis Storr
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

After a tremendous finish to the season, Daniel Farke has called for Leeds United to invest heavily this summer.

Since beating Chelsea with a new-look formation in December, the Whites sit a staggering sixth in the form table. Had Farke found the formula faster, Leeds would be challenging for Europe.

With meaningful investment and using these tactics from the start of next season, United could realistically place much higher than their current position of 14th.

"Leeds have had one good season in the Premier League in the last 25 years, the [first] season with Marcelo [Bielsa], and we didn't build on it," said Farke before Sunday's win over Brighton.

The German was referencing the summer of 2021.

Five years ago, then-manager Bielsa had also found a style of football that allowed the club to compete in the Premier League.

Following a ninth-place finish, Leeds made just three purchases for the first team: Dan James, Junior Firpo and Jack Harrison (who had been on loan at the club since 2018) - all of whom were still young and unproven prospects.

At the time, Leeds had not signed a central midfielder for more than three and a half years.

When asked by a fan who the new midfielder would be on social media during that window, then-owner Andrea Radrizzani had replied: "Adam Forshaw." Forshaw was the last midfielder Leeds had bought and he had been plagued by injuries.

Not investing sufficiently was a disastrous policy and 185 days after the infamous 'Forshaw' tweet, Bielsa was sacked.

By the time Farke arrived two years later, Marcelo's legacy was in tatters and the club was a mess; and most of the problems the German inherited could be traced back to that pivotal summer of 2021 and the failure to invest.

Under Farke's tenure, the club have again forged a formula that works in the Premier League, but this time Leeds must seize this moment at all costs.

Find more from Adonis Storr at The Roaring Peacock, external

Image source, Getty Images

BBC Radio Leeds' Adam Pope says Dominic Calvert-Lewin's role in this Leeds United side has been "absolutely essential" after he scored again to help the Whites beat Brighton at Elland Road on the weekend.

The England international took his goal tally for the season to 14 in the league and Pope believes it is a "tremendous return" for a striker leading the line for a team trying to stay in the Premier League.

Calvert-Lewin signed for the club last summer as a free agent and many did not expect to see this sort of level from the former Everton striker, who had failed to net more than 10 league goals in a single campaign since the 2020-21 season.

Speaking on the latest Don't Go To Bed Just Yet podcast, Pope said: " You could've maybe thought at points in the season, does he do his job? Does he get 10 goals, which was probably going to exceed my expectations?

"30 starts and he has 14 goals, but if you look at it like that it's a tremendous return for a side that's trying to stay in the division.

"The fans have been with him from the start, once he got a regular place and he was back fit. The fans have been with him even when he wasn't scoring. His role in that side is absolutely essential."

Speaking about Calvert-Lewin's winner against the Seagulls, BBC Radio Leeds' Jonny Buchan described it as "top-class number nine play".

"His touch is brilliant, it is the perfect touch to take the goalkeeper out of the game," he said. "He then has the foresight and vision to see a defender is coming, he gets himself steady while being tackled, so he has the strength of that.

"It is absolutely top-class number-nine play. Absolutely brilliant."

Listen to the full episode below or find it alongside more Leeds United content here

A 1-0 win over Brighton brought the curtain down on the home element of Leeds United's season on Sunday.

BBC Radio Leeds' Jonny Buchan and Adam Pope are joined by Kaiser Chiefs' bassist Simon Rix to reflect on the game and talk about the futures of Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Karl Darlow.

You can hear it all on episode 207 of the popular Radio Leeds podcast - Don't Go To Bed Just Yet.

Listen below or on BBC Sounds here - and don't forget to subscribe to get each episode into your My Sounds feed.

Explore all Leeds United content on BBC Sounds

We asked for your thoughts after Sunday's Premier League game between Leeds United and Brighton.

Here are some of your comments:

Leeds fans

David: Thought it was a pretty even game. Brighton looked dangerous when attacking and so did we. Looked like a 0-0 then Dominic Calvert-Lewin capitalised on a Brighton error and we won the game. We defended brilliantly throughout the match. Great win.

Rob: Fantastic win. We carried on playing until the final whistle, soaking up pressure and taking our chance is how you survive in the Premier League. We weren't lucky, just doing our job. I love it.

Mark: Leeds' never-say-die approach is just awesome. Opponents consistently underestimate what a good Premier League team they have become. MOT.

Christine: So proud of Leeds and how they have handled their return to the Premier League. Their tenacity and determination has been first class. To all the so-called fans who were crying out for Daniel Farke's head earlier in the season, bet you are celebrating this win. It annoys me so much when, as soon as a team isn't performing, they want the manager sacked. I have supported Leeds since 1966, lived through the highs and lows and still supported the team. That's what true Leeds fans do. Well done, Leeds, so proud to be a supporter.

Brighton fans

Barry: Extending Fabian Hurzeler's contract now looks questionable after a result like this. Brighton would do better without him.

Joe: Well, the thought of Champions League football next season was a fun one, but let's be honest, we haven't got the attacking strength and depth to compete in the Champions League. Welbeck will need a replacement before long, Rutter has the yips and, for me, Minteh and Gomez are barely top-half Premier League level, let alone Champions League.

Chris: Wasteful is the best way to describe this performance. Wasteful with chances, and wasteful of the opportunity to secure European football again. Brighton have done it the hard way a lot of times in our history, and we are going to have to beat Manchester United to ensure we get it again. That will be some atmosphere at the Amex.

Kevin: Can sum that performance up as Sunday league stuff. Too many sideways or backward passes, no conviction up front and a schoolboy error (again) from Van Hecke, which could cost us a place in Europe. Such a disappointment. When we needed the team to shine, no-one did!

Sebastiaan Bornauw says it's "amazing playing for Leeds", as the defender joins Jaka Bijol to reflect on Premier League survival and Sunday's stoppage-time win over Brighton.

Click play above to hear the chat or listen on BBC Sounds here

John Bennett
Final Score reporter at Elland Road

Image source, Getty Images

Fitness issues are often cited as the reason why there would be doubts around Dominic Calvert-Lewin heading to the World Cup this summer, but all you have to do is watch his winning goal against Brighton for evidence of just how strong he is feeling at the end of this season.

It had been a gruelling 90 minutes for the striker. He had been chasing scraps, with Brighton having most of the ball and creating the majority of the chances.

But then, deep into injury-time, Calvert-Lewin was there to sprint at full pace on to an awful Jan Paul van Hecke back pass, as if it was the first minute of the game, before calmly touching the ball around the goalkeeper and finishing things off from a tight angle.

If there was any tiredness, you would have never guessed it. His celebration even involved a sprint across the penalty area, with his team-mates struggling to catch him as he threw his shirt off.

The message from that goal to England boss Thomas Tuchel was that he is fit, firing and raring to go, if he gets on that plane to the United States this summer.

For more proof of what a great season Calvert-Lewin has had, when Leeds did a lap of honour after the final whistle, the striker got the second biggest cheer from the Elland Road supporters, with the biggest being reserved for manager Daniel Farke.

The chances are that Calvert-Lewin won't make Tuchel's final World Cup 26-man squad, especially after the run Ollie Watkins has been on at the end of this season.

But, whatever happens, the Leeds number nine can look back on his 2025-26 campaign with immense pride. He has proven he is still one of the best English strikers in the Premier League.

Leeds United want to extend Wales midfielder Ethan Ampadu's contract with the club and expect the 25-year-old to agree as he is also keen on a new deal. (Football Insider), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column

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Pundits Dion Dublin and Mark Schwarzer join host Gabby Logan to bring you the action and talking points from Friday's and Sunday's Premier League fixtures.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

And listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Leeds 1-0 Burnley

• Brentford 2-2 Crystal Palace

• Newcastle 3-1 West Ham

Adwaidh Rajan
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

After flirting with relegation all season, Leeds United finally secured Premier League safety with three games to spare but they barely had any time to celebrate before Daniel Farke plunged his future into doubt.

On Friday, Farke said he is "not the right choice" to lead the club if the ownership fail to match his ambitions in the summer.

The German, however, has said he wants to stay on and Sunday's thrilling 1-0 victory against Europe-chasing Brighton was further evidence as to why Leeds need to back him.

Leeds were forced onto the backfoot all game and had to dig deep before finding the late goal from Dominic Calvert-Lewin - a perfect parting gift from Farke in their final game at Elland Road this season if he is to leave this summer.

It was Leeds' first win against Brighton in the Premier League after seven previous meetings (D3 L4) - and their tally of 47 points with one game remaining is much better than they have managed in their two most recent top-flight campaigns (31 and 38).

It all signals their upward trajectory under Farke, whose stock will only go up following this latest victory.

The only blight in a memorable afternoon at Leeds was an injury to midfielder Anton Stach, who had to be carried off on a stretcher after a challenge from Carlos Baleba, putting his World Cup hopes with Germany in the balance.

Leeds United boss Daniel Farke has been speaking to Sky Sports about the win: "I love my players and I always believe in them. These are a massive three points for us. It sums up our season perfectly.

"It was such a difficult game. We had to defend but we stayed in the game. It is a priceless three points for us."

On Dominic Calvert-Lewin's performance: "In the second half, we were getting more and more tired. We said at half-time that they would make more mistakes - but to stay awake that late in the game, finish it and stay composed, well done Dominic [Calvert-Lewin]."

On Anton Stach's injury: "We will have to assess him. I believe someone fell on his knee or his ankle. He couldn't carry on."

Forward Dominic Calvert-Lewin has also been talking to Sky Sports about his winner: "It is a great feeling for everyone involved. All of our families are here, as is the case for the final home game of the season.

"You have got to hang in there. The pitch dried up a little bit and I think that helped me. It shows the mentality we've got. We want to try to finish as high as possible up the table.

"I've loved every minute of this season. I'm so grateful to play in front of these fans. You see the reception I get when I score, the whole stadium is singing my name."

Did you know?

• Leeds United extended their Premier League unbeaten streak to eight games (W4 D4), which is their longest run in the competition since November 2001 (13).

• Daniel Farke's side have won three consecutive Premier League home games for the first time since August 2001 (5 in a row).

• No English player has scored more Premier League goals this season than Dominic Calvert-Lewin (14 - level with Morgan Gibbs-White and Ollie Watkins).

Whether you were at Elland Road or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Leeds' performance

What did you make of Brighton's display?

Come back on Monday for a selection of your replies

Leeds United boss Daniel Farke is forced into making one change to the side that drew 1-1 at Tottenham last week.

Injured Pascal Struijk is replaced by Sebastiaan Bornauw, who joins Jaka Bijol, Joe Rodon and James Justin in their backline.

Leeds United XI: Darlow, Ampadu, Rodon, James, Calvert-Lewis, Aaronsen, Bijol, Stach, Tanaka, Bornauw, Justin

Substitutes: Perri, Longstaff, Piroe, Nmecha, Byram, Gnonto, Chadwick, Cresswell, Lienou

Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler also makes a single change from the 3-0 win against Wolves last weekend because of an injury.

Japan winger Kaoru Mitoma, who suffered a hamstring injury, makes way for Joel Veltman.

Brighton XI: Verbruggen, Dunk, Van Hecke, Minteh, Hinshelwood, Baleba, Welbeck, Kadioglu, De Cuyper, Gross, Veltman

Substitutes: Steele, March, Rutter, Kostoulas, Milner, Boscagli, Gomez, Ayari, O'Riley