Leeds United

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Leeds United centre-back Jaka Bijol could hardly contain his emotions after capping his debut goal with a resounding 3-1 win against Chelsea in the Premier League.

Speaking to BBC Radio Leeds, Bijol reflected on the significance of the moment and the atmosphere that followed, describing the goal and the reception from the home crowd as unlike anything he had ever experienced.

He stressed the importance of staying focused to see out the victory, but admitted that scoring in front of the Elland Road faithful fulfilled a lifelong dream and has only made him hungry for a repeat.

"I'm buzzing today," Bijol said. "It was really something fantastic that I dreamed of my whole life because I watched the Premier League as a kid, and for that to happen today was incredible.

"It was so early that I still have to focus on the whole game and bring the three points home. To have a victory at home against such a team is an incredible feeling. We have to go forward again.

"When I saw it in the net and the fans in front of me, I went crazy. It was such a good feeling, there's no feeling like it, honestly. I know what the ex-players say when they say they miss some feelings. Just incredible. I look forward to have nights like this more often."

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We asked for your thoughts on Wednesday's Premier League game between Leeds United and Chelsea.

Here's what you said:

Leeds fans

Kalwant: The best performance of the season. Truly outstanding against an old enemy. It was classic, battling Leeds United. We fought for everything. Two strikers up front for a whole match - what a difference to the non-committal one striker nearly every team plays. 5-3-2 became 3-5-2 and 3-3-4 at times - that is how you attack.

Patrick: Great game, a real throwback to the 70s. Great performance from Leeds who played with great intensity and to their strengths. It appears we've found a system for the Premier league.

Mary: Delighted for Daniel Farke as he is such a great bloke. The players are fighting for him and what a weapon Dominic Calvert-Lewin is! Can't score goals they said, well Lukas Nmecha has three in four and Calvert-Lewin two in two. Scoring machines! Of course, we are staying up.

Thomas: Unbelievable performance from Leeds who worked so hard and fully deserved their win. Fantastic for Farke as I've been one of his supporters that says he needs time. A lot of Leeds fans need to get behind the team and manager and learn to understand it takes time to build a squad. Chopping and changing isn't good for any team.

Chelsea fans:

Jeffersson: Another miscalcuation from the manager. All Chelsea fans knew what to expect at Leeds so why didn't Maresca? Five changes in the line-up. Really? We needed to be strong at the back and we were not. Did he really expect Liam Delap to be a key figure in defending? I knew this was not the the game to play Estevao and Joao Pedro. We just handed an out-of-form Leeds side an easy win.

Kev: When will Maresca wake up and realise that rotating the defenders does not work? As soon as I saw Tosin Adarabioyo and Benoit Badashile were playing, I knew we would struggle. If he didn't realise that Leeds away would be tough, something is very wrong. We need in order: a top manager, top goalkeeper, top centre-back and a world-class striker. Any chance, Santa?

Steve: I struggle to understand Maresca's mindset. All the good work that went in to building the momentum is undone. Tinkering is fine but you have to keep a consistent spine in the side. Chalobah has been our standout centre-back this season so why play him at right-back? Reece James was outstanding in midfield against Arsenal so why leave him out, especially with Moises Caicedo missing? Overall, the changes made us far too passive and that played into Leeds' hands.

Jack: Absolutely shambolic. Maresca's line-up was diabolical. With the form we had going, why would you make so many changes? We cannot get a rhythm going or any consistency. I cannot tell you what our starting XI is and that doesn't help the players as they can't get partnerships going.

Emily Salley
BBC Sport journalist

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From the outset against Chelsea, things felt different for Leeds.

Just as he did in the second half against Manchester City in Sunday's 3-2 defeat, Daniel Farke switched to a 3-5-2 formation - a tactic that had proved effective at Etihad Stadium.

"If you are promoted you have to be flexible and adapt to the opponent. I'm not married to a formation, but married to principles," said Farke.

It worked again on Wednesday. Leeds looked dynamic in attack as they raced out of the blocks with a new-found intensity.

"It's the first time he has played this system at Leeds this season and I have to say it looks to be a blueprint," ex-Manchester United defender Gary Neville said on Sky Sports.

"Three big centre-backs, legs in the middle of the pitch, very good in the wide areas and two forwards who run and run.

"The boost of coming out of the bottom three will be big but the even bigger boost will be they've won a big match and they've maybe found a way forward."

Neville added: "Leeds fans were wondering 'has the coach got a plan B? Is he going to be able to get us out of this mess?' There was pressure building but tonight the way they played will maybe see them pick up a lot more points."

Read full article here

Match of the Day pundit Shay Given was equally impressed by Leeds' performance: "Much more positive from them. Farke started [against Chelsea} with the same system [he used against Man City], having never played that way in the Championship or in the Premier League so far this year.

"Sometimes managers stumble along a system, and this feels that's the case.

"I would stick to the system 100%, I really would. The season has been just OK at home. They've been given a real lift. Farke has been under pressure in the last week or two, and now they've stumbled upon the system.

"Let's go with it."

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Former Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock says Leeds' 3-1 win over Chelsea, following on from their encouraging second half against Manchester City, can "change their season".

The Whites overturned a 2-0 deficit at Etihad Stadium on Saturday before eventually losing 3-2 late on, but deservedly beat Enzo Maresca's side on Wednesday at Elland Road, with the strong performance propelling them out of the relegation zone.

"I think it's a big result for Daniel Farke," Warnock told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast. "A huge result. They had one win in eight going into this game.

"I think the second half against Manchester City gave them different belief. That allowed them to come out of the traps so quickly against Chelsea and put in a huge performance.

"I don't know if he'd have lost his job if they had lost this game, but I think there would have been a lot of people calling for his head. I was at the Villa game and there was a guy who got down to the dugout shouting and questioning his decisions.

"A lot of the fans were dismayed at some of the changes that he made - or those he didn't.

"But the last game and a half could change Leeds' season with that new system, that new belief, and they look a completely different team.

"They look more organised, more compact and also carrying a threat going forward, which is what you have to have to stand a chance of survival in the Premier League.

"They played balls forward quickly that lifted the crowd and got them on their side. It changed the atmosphere within the stadium."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Pundits Danny Murphy and Shay Given join host Gabby Logan to bring you the action and talking points from Tuesday and Wednesday's Premier League fixtures.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

Daniel Farke spoke to BBC Match of the Day after Leeds' victory against Chelsea: "For nights like this, we were so desperate to bring the club back to the top level. Elland Road was back to its best. A great shift form my lads, a great performance against one of the bst sides in the world.

"To win the game in this manner, deserved by chances, expected goals, goals, shots on target, set pieces. Of course they had more possession, I would have liked to have controlled the game a bit more, but overall a well deserved win, complements to the lads.

"The key today was to return to our best behaviours in terms of defending, in our last games we didn't give much away. For us it was crucial to reduce Chelsea to little, they didn't have one proper chance in the first half.

"After they scored it was important not to allow any more chances. The key was to be rock solid at the back. As a side that dominated and won the title [last season] I would rather stick to a base formation and give a bit more consistency and safety in the processes, but it's fair to say we are not the side with the highest quality in this league, we have to accept this.

"As a promoted side you have to concentrate to take the strength of the opponent away, mirror the opponent, play more pragmatic. I want to play more direct like we used to, but if you are promoted you have to be flexible and adapt to the opponent. I'm not married to a formation, but married to principles. I want to see the same principles on the pitch. It's important for the future for us to be unpredictable and adapt to different scenarios."

Dominic Calvert-Lewin spoke to Sky Sports: "You look at the performances we've put in over the course of the season, sometimes we've deserved more. Today it all came together, more forward, dynamic and on the front foot. Knowing we were at home we knew we had to start the game like that. It's always good when a plan comes together.

"I realised straight away the passion of the fans and what it [playing Chelsea] means to them. You feel that straight away. My job is soring goal so that's the best way I can repay them and for the support they've give me since joining the football club."

Did you know?

Leeds' 3-1 win over Chelsea came with just 28.6% possession; their lowest share in a league victory since a win over Reading in the Championship in December 2016 (23.2%).

Listen to Farke's chat with BBC Radio Leeds here

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

Have your say on Leeds' performance

What did you make of Chelsea’s display?

Come back on Thursday for a selection of your replies

Striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin replaces injured winger Daniel James as Leeds make four changes from the 3-2 weekend defeat to Manchester City.

Under pressure manager Daniel Farke appears to have moved into a back five for Chelsea.

The visitors have made five changes with Moises Caicedo serving the first of a three game ban after his red card in the 1-1 draw with Arsenal.

Leeds XI: Perri, Bogle, Bijol, Rodon, Struijk, Gudmundsson, Stach, Tanaka, Ampadu, Nmecha, Calvert-Lewin

Subs: Darlow, Justin, Gruev, Bornauw, Aaronson, Gnonto, Harrison, Okafor, Piroe

Chelsea XI: Sanchez, Chalobah, Tosin, Badiashile, Cucurella, Andrey Santos, Fernandez, Estevao, Joao Pedro, Gittens, Delap.

Subs: Jorgensen, Acheampong, Hato, Gusto, James, Palmer, Neto, Garnacho, Guiu

There are six games in the Premier League on Wednesday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Arsenal v Brentford

• Brighton v Aston Villa

• Burnley v Crystal Palace

• Wolves v Nottingham Forest

• Leeds v Chelsea (20:15)

• Liverpool v Sunderland (20:15)

Kick-off times 19:30 GMT unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

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Leeds United defender Jayden Bogle, speaking to BBC Radio Leeds before Wednesday's game against Chelsea: "I think with the quality we have, we can hurt any team in the league. We have to take confidence, especially from that second half against Manchester City. We have to take confidence into the Chelsea game and I think we'll get chances.

"It's frustrating conceding goals, but there's no individual blame to put on anyone. There's different things in each goal that you could could pick out from anywhere on the pitch where we could have avoided it. So we're not looking at it as 'we conceded from the left', we're conceding as a team, but we have to be better in that and we know that.

"We've got a great squad with great quality, it's just about getting everyone's confidence up to the top. We know chances are going to come. It's just about taking them in the right moments of the game."

On Leeds supporters: "Even when we've lost the game [at Manchester City], they stood up applauding us because we've shown them what what we can do. They respect that. They want to see fight, they want to see hard work, they want to see us competing, and in a few of the other games, we haven't done that. As players, sometimes you deserve that stick when you know you haven't been on it.

"When we give the minimum, which is working hard, battling for each other, being aggressive with and without the ball, that's what they want and we have definitely done that."

On Brenden Aaronson: "He's a great player. His work ethic, on and off the ball, is fantastic. He's easy to communicate with.

"I think for a defender, it's important when you've got someone in front of you that listens and slides in when you haven't got the ball, and is ready to press when we're ready to go.

"He's a fantastic player as long as he's playing with confidence, I think that's when we get the best out of him."

Listen to the full interview on BBC Sounds

Matthew Hobbs
BBC Sport journalist

Chelsea continue their bid to keep pace with leaders Arsenal as they travel to a Leeds United side on a run of four defeats.

BBC Sport examines some of the key themes ahead of their meeting at Elland Road.

Card-happy Chelsea

Chelsea's 1-1 draw with Arsenal on Sunday was creditable in the sense that Enzo Maresca's side earned a point against the league leaders despite playing almost an hour with 10 men.

Moises Caicedo's first-half red card was the fourth that Chelsea have received in just 13 league games this season - at least double the tally of any other team - although the issue of indiscipline has undermined Maresca's men for far longer.

Since the start of 2023-24, the Blues have been given 229 yellow cards and 10 reds - both the most of any Premier League club.

Maresca called his players "outstanding" after they took the lead with 10 men against Arsenal and, although they were unable to hold on, it did demonstrate their ability to cope without Caicedo.

Chelsea have gone 1-0 up in their past eight Premier League outings, a happy tendency that has somewhat masked the costs of having a player sent off.

Should they fail to keep 11 men on the pitch on Wednesday, they may find proceedings harder than predicted given their poor record at Elland Road.

Chelsea have won just six of their 48 away league games against Leeds (drawn 13, lost 29), their worst win ratio against teams they have visited at least 20 times, after Sheffield Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Chelsea boss Maresca has lost both of his previous league games against Leeds, while managing Leicester City in the Championship in 2023-24.

Leeds bidding to end losing run

Daniel Farke's side have lost four consecutive Premier League matches, equalling their longest losing streak from their previous top-flight campaign in 2022-23.

Leeds are on 11 points after 13 games and, while eight teams have had 11 points or fewer at this stage and survived - most recently Nottingham Forest in 2022-23 - Farke will want the losing streak to end as soon as possible before a congested run of fixtures in December.

Leeds' biggest problem so far this season has been an inability to shut other sides out.

They have conceded at least once in each of their past 10 Premier League games, having kept a clean sheet in two of their opening three matches this season - a failing that came back to haunt them after shipping a late goal to lose at Manchester City on Saturday.

Affairs at the other end of the pitch are more positive however, with Lukas Nmecha on a scoring run of three successive matches. If Leeds can match improved performances in attack with a tighter defence, they may yet fight their way out of trouble.

Leeds lumped it in the second half against Manchester City and it almost got them a point.

They were lucky to still be in the game at half-time but fair play to Daniel Farke for making the substitutes and changing the system, because he has been accused of not being proactive enough during games.

As lively as Leeds were, they still ended up empty-handed, however, and it means they really need something here.

You know they will give it a go but, again, it is going to be hard for them to get anything out of a Chelsea side who are in really good form.

There might be a bit of an edge to this one, because going back to my time as a Chelsea player there was always a rivalry here.

I don't think it will be as rough and tumble as it was when these teams met in the 1970 FA Cup final, but I'm going for the same outcome, which is a Chelsea win.

Sutton's prediction: 0-2

Read the full predictions and have your say

Adonis Storr
Fan writer

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Daniel Farke is in trouble.

Leeds have been treading water for most of the season with no real attacking threat. And it isn't all the players' fault.

When Farke switched to a 3-5-2 for the second half at Manchester City on Saturday, Leeds looked a dynamic force. Two strikers at the top of the pitch and players who can attack well in possession.

In the Championship, the Whites dominated the ball and most of the matches were played in the middle of the pitch or just inside the opponent's half.

In the Premier League, Leeds' games are more stretched so a 3-5-2 makes more sense with an extra defender helping at the back and an extra striker helping at the front.

The wing positions have also been an issue. Brenden Aaronson has never looked natural in possession and Leeds have conceded a lot of goals down the left-hand side.

With Pascal Struijk helping on the left, Leeds looked more solid there.

Farke still seems to be figuring out how to survive in the top flight - but he may be running out of time. It has been reported senior figures at the club think he may be sacked if Leeds don't earn any points in the next two home games.

But the fixtures are not kind and Farke's side have dropped points at vital moments in games this year - early after kick-offs, late in stoppage time. It shows a lack of focus and character. But the Leeds boss has to take some of the blame for that.

Fans have been calling for him to switch formation and to make more aggressive substitutions. He finally acted at half-time against Manchester City but United were 2-0 down at that stage.

Farke has shown he can adapt, but is it too little, too late?

Find more from Adonis Storr at The Roaring Peacock, external

Katie Stafford
BBC Sport journalist

Leeds United boss Daniel Farke has been speaking to the media before Wednesday's Premier League game against Chelsea at Elland Road (kick-off 20:15 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Daniel James has injured a hamstring tendon and will be sidelined for at least eight weeks, but "it could be worse" if he requires surgery.

• On another setback for James: "It is disappointing news. It's tough. He has fought so hard to be back in his best shape. I have never seen him so disciplined in terms of training and after with nutrition. He was a bit heartbroken."

• Farke said James' injury does "influence" their plan for the January transfer window but they are not thinking that far ahead yet.

• Anton Stach has returned to training so is "definitely available" for Wednesday's game.

• Dominic Calvert-Lewin is fit enough to start the next game, with Farke adding: "He probably would have been able to start the Manchester City game, he might have even been annoyed he didn't. He should be annoyed he didn't as a striker. I wanted to be extra careful."

• On a possible change in formation after switching to a back five in the second half against Manchester City: "I am never married to base formations. I was always addicted to principles, but against different opponents you have to adapt a bit."

• He said Wednesday's opponents Chelsea are "one of the best teams in this country and Europe" so Leeds will need to be at their best level. Farke added: "We never play with fear. We play with confidence. We don't want to just deliver a good performance like the second half against City, we want to win as many points as possible."

Hear more from Farke on BBC Sounds

Follow all of Tuesday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

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This was a question addressed on the latest episode of BBC Radio Leeds' Don't Go To Bed Just Yet podcast, with Simon Rix saying: "It's making it very hard to sack him, because it's good performance after good performance, isn't it? But no points.

"It's difficult being Daniel Farke, because he's trying to win football matches in the Premier League - which is very, very hard - but also have a system and an identity. You can't just rip it up at this point when you've done a lot of work to get everybody up to speed.

"I don't know if he's even complicated for himself by doing something good and it working. He really complicated Wednesday [against Chelsea]. If he goes back to 4-3-3 and we lose, then that's a whole load of abuse for him. If he changes it to what we did in the second half and we lose, he's more and more in a no-win situation - other than if he wins.

"Maybe we're lucky to have Daniel Farke. He has done some some good things, and if you compare it to the other relegation seasons, where it was [Jesse] Marsch and Javi [Gracia], the performances are better and more consistent. We're just not getting the points.

"Is that him? Is it the team? Is it the tiredness? Is it the tactics? Is it just the Premier League, which is stronger?

"I still think he's got time, because I don't know if [the board] think that anyone else can get any more out of these players. I think he'll get to January."

Adam Pope added: "Credit to the manager because they absolutely took it to Manchester City.

"A lot of people have come away with a bit of hope. The critics go: 'Well, we told you you need to change it and do something different.' But with limited resources going into the game, he made more changes than I expected him to.

"You get a feeling when the players are not having the manager any more, and that really doesn't seem to be a case right now."

Listen to the full episode of Don't Go To Bed Just Yet on BBC Sounds

A new episode of BBC Radio Leeds' Don't Go To Bed Just Yet podcast is now available on BBC Sounds.

Does a narrow defeat at Manchester City buy Daniel Farke some time as Leeds United boss?

Jonny Buchan, Adam Pope and Simon Rix discuss the match and what it means with a big week ahead.

Listen to the full episode here

Explore all Leeds United content on BBC Sounds

Chris Collinson
BBC Sport statistician

Teams sitting on 11 points or fewer after 13 Premier League games are usually in some trouble, but history shows survival is far from impossible.

Eight sides have managed to escape from that position, most recently Nottingham Forest in 2022-23, who had only nine points at this stage, yet pulled clear under Steve Cooper.

Perhaps the most striking example is Crystal Palace in 2013-14. The Eagles had just seven points after 13 matches and looked destined for relegation, but a managerial reset changed everything.

Ian Holloway departed on 23 October, Tony Pulis arrived a month later, and under the former Stoke boss, Palace surged to an 11th-place finish with 45 points. Caretaker Keith Millen bridged the gap with four games in between.

Interestingly, of the eight sides who survived from such a low base, only three made managerial changes mid-season: Palace (Pulis for Holloway), West Brom (Bryan Robson replacing Gary Megson) and Southampton (Mauricio Pochettino for Nigel Adkins).

For the others, stability rather than upheaval proved the route to safety - food for thought for West Ham, Leeds United, Burnley and Wolves who are either at or under that 11-point mark through 13 games this season.

We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Man City and Leeds.

Here are some of your comments:

Man City fans

Gene: After scoring early and many missed opportunities, the complacency set in and then extended to the second half. This is the issue with this team - they get too comfortable passing the ball around without any sense of urgency to add to the advantage. The quality of players on this team should never put themselves in these common situations of fighting for a win in the waning moments.

Freddie: City were great in the first half, but after a change of tactics in the second half, we looked shaky and Leeds scored two. Great late winner from Phil Foden and he was amazing. Pleased to get the three points and keep Arsenal within reach. move on to Fulham on Tuesday.

Selim: Manchester City really had to dig themselves out of a hole with Foden rescuing the points. Just what happened to Haaland is a puzzle but I suspect he only relishes being the centre of attention. He wasn't on Saturday.

Martin: City were way too unconvincing. Dominant in the first half and should have been out of sight. However, Leeds changed things at half time and City started to implode. Leeds were by far the more threatening team. Only a moment of brilliance from the excellent Foden saved the day and broke Leeds' hearts. Haaland was anonymous but received little to no service.

Leeds fans

Steve: Shocking first half. A good tactical change at half-time, but why didn't Farke set us up like that for the off? City play exactly the same way every match - we should have planned to start the way we did in the second half.

Philip: This shows if we go down we go down fighting and we go down together.

Mark: Clearly a better second half than first. We learned how to keep Haaland quiet. The manager appears to have listened with team selection and earlier intervention with subs. Calvert-Lewin can score goals. There was real fight and effort and I appreciate that a lot. Didn't expect anything, got no points, but learned a lot.

Zach: Great performance, especially the second half. The lads showed fighting spirit and togetherness, and that's exactly what we need. Another game where we've more than matched our opponents. Farke deserves a lot of credit for that second half - he was bold and nearly got something from it. Hope our luck will turn soon and we starting getting the points we deserve.

Pundits Danny Murphy and Joe Hart join host Gabby Logan to bring you the action and talking points from Saturday's five Premier League fixtures.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

And listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Man City 3-2 Leeds

• Sunderland 3-2 Bournemouth

• Everton 1-4 Newcastle