Leeds analysis: Farke decides to twistpublished at 18:27 GMT 29 November 2025
18:27 GMT 29 November 2025
Image source, Getty Images
During a pretty abject first period Leeds United's gameplan appeared to totally revolve around long balls towards Daniel James and Lukas Nmecha.
The problem was that they simply had no support and were unable to retain the ball when it went forward.
Yet with the potential for the scoreline to get ugly, Daniel Farke decided to twist, rather than stick, by reverting to a 3-5-2 formation and playing with two centre-forwards after the break.
It was a brave decision from the German, who has received criticism for Leeds' lack of adventure and goals.
Yet it almost reaped dividends with both Nmecha and Dominic Calvert-Lewin scoring as their more direct approach unsettled Manchester City and laid the platform for a brave fightback that was only spoiled by Phil Foden's late intervention.
Man City 3-2 Leeds: What Farke saidpublished at 18:18 GMT 29 November 2025
18:18 GMT 29 November 2025
Media caption,
Farke proud of Leeds display after 'heartbreaking' defeat
Leeds boss Daniel Farke told BBC Sport: "We came here not for compliments or warm words, we came here for points. We had the worst possible start to this game. Normally, if you want points here you have to win the set-pieces. I have to give many compliments to my lads. We deserved to equalise. Both teams could have won it.
"Heartbreaking for my lads. We're disappointed because we deserved something but my boys should be proud of how they reacted to the worst possible start. They should take lots of confidence out of this."
On half-time changes: "We changed a bit our pressing. The execution wasn't great [in the first half]. Change our structure in possession to have better passing angles."
On whether this performance gives them belief: "We had the belief before the game, during the game and after the game. Or else you can't come back with a performance like that. We have great unity and fighting spirit.
"We didn't reach the Premier League in a lottery. We fully deserve to play in this league. Except Arsenal away we've had tight games and sometimes been the better side. One of toughest places against one of best teams in the world. I'd have preferred points but I'm very happy with the performance.
"We do our speaking on the pitch. Actions speak louder than words. We've shown a really good performance. We played against sone of the best team in Europe. We've shown wherever we go if we are concentrated and focused we have the quality to win points."
Did you know?
Leeds United have now lost four consecutive Premier League matches, equalling their longest losing streak from their previous top-flight campaign in 2022-23, which ended with relegation (four games in October 2022, under Jesse Marsch).
Lukas Nmecha has scored in his last three Premier League appearances for Leeds United, equalling his longest scoring streak as a player within Europe's big five leagues (3 for Wolfsburg – October-November 2021).
Man City v Leeds United: Team newspublished at 14:07 GMT 29 November 2025
14:07 GMT 29 November 2025
Manchester City make one change from their Premier League defeat to Newcastle last Saturday.
Tijjani Reijnders comes in for Rayan Cherki, while the likes of Erling Haaland and Phil Foden both start after coming on as substitutes in the Champions League loss to Bayer Leverkusen last Tuesday.
Man City XI: Donnarumma, Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O'Reilly, Foden, Gonzalez, Silva, Reijnders, Doku, Haaland.
Leeds United make five changes to the team that started their 2-1 loss to Aston Villa last weekend. Daniel James, Ao Tanaka, James Justin, Wilfried Gnonto and Ilia Gruev all come in as Gabriel Gudmundsson, Brenden Aaronson, Noah Okafor all drop to the bench with Sean Longstaff and Anton Stach missing out.
You can also listen to today's 5 Live Premier League commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Sunderland v Bournemouth" or "ask BBC Sounds to play Everton v Newcastle", for instance.
Sutton's predictions: Man City v Leedspublished at 12:00 GMT 29 November 2025
12:00 GMT 29 November 2025
It was Leeds' home defeat to Aston Villa that cost me in my predictions last week, because I went for a draw, but I was at that game and they could easily have got something from it.
It feels like they put so much into the first half, that they were not able to maintain that intensity and, from what I saw, there must also be question marks over whether they are going to score enough goals.
I am at this game too, for Radio 5 live, but there is no way I am predicting that Leeds will get anything this time.
Their home form has been decent, but away they have struggled - and the last time they kept a clean sheet anywhere was the end of August.
Manchester City have had a bad week too, with defeats to Newcastle and Bayer Leverkusen.
City boss Pep Guardiola made 10 changes for the Leverkusen game which was a strange thing to do, and it backfired massively because now his team have got work to do to make the next round.
Before the international break, their recent form suggested they had turned the corner and were going to go on a run to really push Arsenal. Two defeats in a week in two different competitions tells a different story, though.
Even so, I don't see City having any problems here. Playing Leeds, at home, is a great opportunity for them to get back on track.
This is the game where everyone who does Fantasy Premier League, myself included, is thinking triple-captain Erling Haaland and he will score a barrel-load.
Manchester City v Leeds United: Key stats and talking pointspublished at 19:16 GMT 28 November 2025
19:16 GMT 28 November 2025
Jordan Butler BBC Sport journalist
Manchester City will hope for a much-improved performance and all three points as they host 18th-placed Leeds on Saturday (15:00 GMT). BBC Sport explores the key themes ahead of this clash.
'Too many changes'
It's been a week to forget for City who have suffered back-to-back defeats for the second time this season, with Pep Guardiola taking "full responsibility" for the latest of those in midweek.
Guardiola's decision to make 10 alterations to his side on his 100th Champions League game in charge of the club backfired as they were beaten 2-0 at home by Bayer Leverkusen.
"Too many changes," admitted the 54-year-old in his post-match press conference. "It was the first time in my life I've done it and it was too much."
Haaland's hundred
Erling Haaland was one of those rested on Tuesday and he will surely start this weekend as Guardiola seeks to return to winning ways. The Norwegian is one shy of 100 Premier League goals and it would be fitting if his landmark strike came against a club for which he has strong feelings.
Haaland was born in Leeds as his father, Alf-Inge, played 92 times for the West Yorkshire side between 1997 and 2000 and the City goal machine often wore a Leeds kit as a child. The 25-year-old scored twice at Elland Road in a 3-1 victory in December 2022 and his celebrations were subdued. He explained afterwards that it was due to his respect for the opposition.
Should Haaland find the net on Saturday, then he would top an illustrious list as the fastest player to reach a century of Premier League goals, achieving the feat in 14 fewer appearances than the division's all-time top scorer, Alan Shearer.
City will take confidence from the fact that they have won 23 of their past 25 Premier League games against promoted opposition, drawing the other two. However, the last time they lost to a top-flight newcomer was at home to Leeds United in April 2021.
Leeds better than results suggest
Three successive Premier League defeats and five in their past six games has increased the pressure on Leeds boss Daniel Farke.
Fans appear divided on the German coach's future and although he has credit in the bank after last season's 100-point title success in the second tier, he is swiftly using that up.
Leeds have scored first in the past two matches but have been unable to convert those leads into points and they are the second-lowest scorers in the league, with 11 goals from 12 games.
However, the underlying stats suggest that Leeds are playing like a mid-table side and, according to Opta's model, they should have scored four more Premier League goals and conceded almost six fewer.
Leeds have a better expected goals total than Tottenham, Aston Villa and Sunderland this season and lower expected goals against than Spurs and Manchester United.
Farke also has previous when it comes to defeating Guardiola's City. His newly promoted Norwich side defeated the Sky Blues 3-2 back in September 2019.
The 49-year-old could become just the second manager to beat the Citizens while in charge of two different promoted clubs following Bryan Robson, who did so twice with Middlesbrough in 1995-96 and once with West Bromwich Albion in 2004-05.
City are a different beast these days, however, and if Farke can mastermind another victory at the Etihad, it would certainly dwarf Robson's achievements.
Leeds playing 'pretty good, but inefficient football' published at 11:38 GMT 28 November 2025
11:38 GMT 28 November 2025
Chris Collinson BBC Sport statistician
Leeds have been playing a like a mid-table side with their eyes closed. Pretty good football, but inefficient.
A lack of goals is a real issue for Daniel Farke's side. Only Wolves' tally of seven is fewer than Leeds' 11.
They are having shots, though. So far, they have registered 146 shots, which is more than 11 other Premier League clubs, including Aston Villa and Crystal Palace.
It is converting those shots to goals that is letting them down - Sunderland, for example, have taken 31 fewer shots than Leeds yet have scored three more goals this campaign.
And it is only bottom of the league Wolves (6.2%) that have a worse shot-conversion rate than Farke's side.
Defensively, only three teams have conceded more goals than Leeds this season.
Both of Leeds' goalkeepers have been among the worst shot-stoppers in the league - Lucas Perri has let in 1.6 and Karl Darlow 1.8 more goals than they should given the quantity and quality of chances they have faced.
Only Wolves have a worse goal difference, but Leeds have a better xG difference than Tottenham, Aston Villa, Sunderland and Fulham.
So it comes down to where blame lies for Leeds being in the relegation zone. How much should be laid at Farke's door and how much at the performance of the players or the summer recruitment?
Leeds have enquired about re-signing Kalvin Phillips, 29, on loan from Manchester City but a deal is unlikely to happen, leaving the midfielder to consider offers from France, Spain and Germany. (Mirror), external
'Farke is showing no sign of falling on his shield'published at 17:13 GMT 27 November 2025
17:13 GMT 27 November 2025
As if the task of facing Manchester City to end a three-match losing run in the Premier league was not hard enough in itself for under-fire manager Daniel Farke, the prospect of doing so without two experienced midfielders has exacerbated it.
Calmly and stoically, as is his way, he delivered the news that Sean Longstaff could be out until the New Year with a calf injury while Anton Stach's concussion means, as expected, he cannot be involved at Etihad Stadium (Saturday, 15:00 GMT).
Having given an impassioned plea post the defeat to Aston Villa that the slings and arrows coming forward Brenden Aaronson's way should desist in their volume, Farke refuted suggestion that this was the time to protect his player by taking him out of the side. Not that he expects the USA international to play the entirety of all three matches over the next week but the unfortunate injury situation suggests that he could not deflect the blast of Aaronson's detractors even if he wanted to by shuffling his diminishing deck.
However, Farke spoke with a confidence in his methods and mantra. He remains insistent that his players are committed to the plan and that survival will be achieved.
"To finish position 17th would be a great success," he said. "We've had to work with limited resources due to PSR rules and we had our challenges in the summer transfer window."
To the outside world the sword of Damocles may be above Farke's head but he still talked of the longer term saying how the January transfer window could present an opportunity where "perhaps we need to add" to improve the efficiency in attack and defence.
The marginal gains required to turn the results in Leeds' favour he expects to find.
"Of course tough periods are coming, but we should be over the line once the season is finished," he added. "I'm fully convinced by this group. I'm a big believer in that you always get what you are willing to invest."
It may take the owners to enter the market, whether Farke is here or not, to supplement what he sees is the unswerving effort of his players but he is showing no sign of falling on his shield.
Farke on Longstaff injury, his future & dealing with Haalandpublished at 14:35 GMT 27 November 2025
14:35 GMT 27 November 2025
Leeds United boss Daniel Farke has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Manchester City at Etihad Stadium (15:00 GMT).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
Farke confirmed Sean Longstaff will be out for around four to six weeks with a calf injury he picked up in last weekend's defeat by Aston Villa.
Elsewhere, Anton Stach will "definitely" miss the visit to Manchester as he is the concussion protocol period, while Sebastiaan Bornauw is a doubt with "some MCL problems".
On the Whites dropping into the relegation zone: "We are fully concentrated. We were fully prepared that such a situation would happen. There is always outside noise even after our best season in history last season. We fully expected this would happen this season."
On the relegation battle: "The goal at the start of the season was to finish 17th or above. To finish 17th would be a great success because no other team in the last promoted sides has had the chance to stay in this league. I didn't expect it to be an easy ride."
On how to deal with Leeds-born Erling Haaland: "It's a good question. We spoke about how to stop him. It's about how to stop the crosses and balls through. At the moment, he is the best striker in the world. We have to try and handle this and not get many situations."
On the noise surrounding him and his future at the club: "I don't need to hide. I was aware of this passionate club on the first day I walked in. We played the best season in club history last season. Several times there were questions. If you can't handle it, don't become manager or a player of Leeds United."
Will this week define his Leeds career?: "Not at all. I'm not focused on myself or the outside noise. I quite like that outside noise is on the manager and not the players. I'm just fully focused on the team."
'We need to step up... but we will figure this out' - Gudmundssonpublished at 17:38 GMT 26 November 2025
17:38 GMT 26 November 2025
Image source, Getty Images
Leeds defender Gabriel Gudmundsson insists the dressing room remains united and is focused on sticking together and adapting, despite a difficult run of form.
The Whites are 18th in the Premier League with just three wins from their opening 12 games, and four defeats in their past five have piled on the pressure.
Speaking to BBC Radio Leeds, Gudmundsson said they are committed to riding out the tough spell.
"We are all behind everyone in the club. We are working to come through.
"We know we have a plan each game to play with, and it's football; things happen. We need to adapt to certain games depending on which team you're playing and their qualities. We have to accept sometimes that we are losing, and when we are winning, we are winning.
"When we are playing at home, we feel very good - I think everyone can see that as well. But when we are playing away, we need to step up. The performances are there, but we just need to make sure we get the points.
"It's such a good group of players. We are so close to each other and want to help each other all the time. We are not focusing on [poor results] too much. We know we have a big game ahead, and we are going to help each other.
"It's only November and nothing is going to be decided here. We are all sticking together and working hard. We know what we can do, we have a good group - and we will figure this out."
Leeds 'have been competitive' and Farke's 'done a fair job' - Suttonpublished at 14:09 GMT 25 November 2025
14:09 GMT 25 November 2025
Media caption,
Former Premier League striker Chris Sutton hopes "the fans are still with Daniel Farke" because Leeds' performances "have been competitive" despite suffering a third straight loss to the hands of Aston Villa.
Sutton's thoughts were echoed by Joe Hart, who said Villa only came away with the three points due to "an absolute bit of quality" from goalscorer Morgan Rogers.
"I always felt Leeds were going to be in a relegation battle this season, but I think they have been competitive," said Sutton on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club."Their recent run is the poorest run of the season but they are still there and scrapping.
"If I was a Leeds fan, then I am not totally distressed. They need to score more goals - that is evident - and in recent games they have leaked too many, but on another day they may have been able to break and get something out of Aston Villa.
"I hope the fans are still with Daniel Farke and this does not turn ugly in a short space of time with negativity towards the manager. I think he has done a fair job."
Hart added: "I agree because the performance did not concern me. I thought they were excellent first half and their energy was through the roof.
"They were putting Villa under so much pressure. Unai Emery was really concerned because he was pacing.
"Leeds had to shift tactically second half to adapt to what Emery did with his team, but once they did, it was a fair old ding-dong.
"It took a bit of absolute quality from Morgan Rogers to win it. Leeds looked like a competitive Premier League team."
So why is there pressure on Leeds manager Daniel Farke?
His name was cheered before the game and he was applauded afterwards. However, in the second half, a man carrying a Leeds scarf was apprehended in the technical areas having entered from the stands to berate the home boss.
"There is a sense that Farke is loyal to the players that the fans are not on board with," said The Observer's football correspondent Rory Smith. "I don't think it is anything more specific than a worry Farke cannot keep them up.
"I do wonder if that is influenced by the fact he has been relegated before at Norwich.
"There are certain selections that seem unpopular. Brenden Aaronson being one which I think is unfair because he is a good player and his work rate is astonishing.
"There are a few that Elland Road has never been entirely convinced by."
Gossip: Rodgers a priority if Farke exitspublished at 14:09 GMT 25 November 2025
14:09 GMT 25 November 2025
Brendan Rodgers, a free agent since leaving Celtic, heads Leeds United's manager shortlist, with Daniel Farke at serious risk of being sacked after the weekend defeat by Aston Villa. (TeamTalk), external
Ferdinand's record breaking move - on this day in 2000published at 12:35 GMT 25 November 2025
12:35 GMT 25 November 2025
Nat Hayward BBC Sport journalist
Image source, Getty Images
It is November 2000.
Ken Livingstone has become the first elected Mayor of London, Big Brother has aired in the UK for the first time, and the last game played at the old Wembley Stadium has just led to Kevin Keegan's resignation as England manager.
Westlife are dominating the charts but would be beaten to Christmas number one by Bob the Builder, Madonna is soon to marry Guy Ritchie, and Leeds United are spending big.
On 25 November 2000, they broke the British transfer record by signing Rio Ferdinand from West Ham for £18m.
The then 22-year-old became the world's most expensive defender and took Leeds' spending in two years under David O'Leary to £64.3m.
In his first season at Elland Road, Ferdinand was part of a side that finished fourth - then the Uefa Cup qualification place - in the Premiership and reached the semi-finals of the Champions League.
Despite a difficult debut in a 3-1 defeat by Leicester, the England international's quality soon shone through and, by the end of the campaign, his impact was such that he was regularly captaining the team in the absence of Lucas Radebe.
There were also big goals. Ferdinand scored in the Champions League quarter-final first-leg win over Deportivo La Coruna, in a big 2-1 league win over Liverpool at Anfield in April 2001, and on his return to Upton Park in a 2-0 victory a week later.
Image source, Getty Images
He was given the captain's armband permanently by O'Leary before the 2001-02 season and performed admirably once again as Leeds reached the Uefa Cup last 16 but finished fifth in the league and failed to break back into the Champions League.
However, Ferdinand's spell at Elland Road was as short as it was sweet, with the failure to qualify again for the Champions League finally bringing to the fore the club's perilous financial situation.
In March 2002, Leeds announced pre-tax losses of £13.8m for the final six months of the previous year, with the failed £100m gamble on players in a bid for European success beginning to make the accountants nervous.
By July, Ferdinand had left to join fierce rivals Manchester United for £30m - again breaking the British transfer record and again becoming the world's most expensive defender.
After he was inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame in 2023, Ferdinand said he "played some of my best football" at Leeds and revealed he is still in a WhatsApp group with the likes of notable former Whites stars Mark Viduka and Lee Bowyer.
While his move to the Red Devils is still a touchy subject for some, Ferdinand told a BBC podcast in 2023 that knowing there are those who are still angry "wrecks my head".
"I understand the rivalry, but sometimes you've got to understand the situation and the context," he added.
"Unfortunately the club was run a particular way that they had to sell all of the assets. They had to sell me. I had to go. So it didn't matter where I was going."
No 'knee-jerk reaction' but next three games 'crucial' for Farke prospectspublished at 08:01 GMT 25 November 2025
08:01 GMT 25 November 2025
Image source, Getty Images
BBC Radio Leeds' Adam Pope believes this next run of games is "crucial" for Whites boss Daniel Farke's future at Elland Road.
Losing 2-1 to Aston Villa at home on Sunday left Leeds in the Premier League's relegation zone and with just one win in seven games.
However, Pope believes there will be no "knee-jerk reaction" from the board after that defeat.
Farke's side face an ominous trip to Etihad Stadium to face Manchester City on Saturday, before hosting second-place Chelsea on 3 December and then Liverpool on 6 December.
"If it goes horribly wrong over the next three games, then of course they [the board] will be seriously thinking about making a decision", Pope told the Don't Go To Bed Just Yet podcast.
"This period is crucial. It really is. And if it goes badly then clearly they are going to thinking about making a decision.
"You're not going to make a knee-jerk reaction based on the Villa game. I don't think that's how this outfit [owners] work.
"Do I think they have someone waiting in the wings to come in? I'd say no at the moment.
"This is very different now to the emotionally driven Leeds United we have seen before.
"They have to be in the race to stay up by Christmas. They can't fall way behind the run-rate, they just can't.
"One win could change it. You can't rest it on one result or defeat."
'The manager is fully in the firing line'published at 17:09 GMT 24 November 2025
17:09 GMT 24 November 2025
Molly Whitmore Fan writer
Image source, Getty Images
Where to even begin?
Walking out of Elland Road, it felt less like leaving a match and more like stepping off a malfunctioning rollercoaster - shaken, nauseous, and wondering why on earth you got on in the first place.
The atmosphere was thick with tension, frustration and a strange, sinking feeling like we are teetering on something. A slippery slope? No. This feels like we have already slipped and are tumbling down it head first.
And the whispers in the South Stand around me were not subtle. The manager is fully in the firing line. As for Brendan Aaronson, I've heard more positive noise coming out of a broken speaker. And Lucas Perri? The goalkeeper criticism could probably be heard all the way in Beeston.
Let's not sugar coat it, the manager absolutely, unquestionably, without a shadow of a doubt needs to go. His substitutions are tragic. The timing? Tragic. The choices? Even more tragic. We were screaming for Dan James to be introduced at least 10 minutes before he eventually appeared. By the time he arrived, Villa had already picked out the picnic blanket and poured the prosecco.
Driving home and listening to Radio Leeds, I couldn't have agreed with Ade White more when he said that the decision not to start James is no longer about injury - it's a choice. A maddening, baffling, unjustifiable choice. If he's fit enough to play, he's fit enough to start, so why is he watching others stroll about before he gets a kick? It's getting ugly now. Really ugly.
And here's the heartbreaking bit: I've been going to Leeds games home and away for about 17 years with my old man. Week in, week out, through the good, the bad, and the 'Championship on a cold Tuesday night'.
It's been our thing. Something I loved most about life. But right now? The desire is slipping away, and I hate admitting that. When football stops being joy and starts being dread, something's badly broken on the pitch and off it.
As for who played well? Hard to say because 'well' might be a stretch. Aaronson and Perri certainly didn't cover themselves in glory. The best of a bad bunch were Joe Rodon and Sean Longstaff, who at least visibly show passion, frustration, and that refusal to hide attitude we desperately need. I'd normally throw Bogle in with them, maybe some touches yesterday justify it but ever since that shocker at Brighton away, I'm struggling to find the words.
Morgan Rogers' second goal? I can't write about it. I genuinely don't know what happened. Still waiting for a replay that makes sense as to what on earth our boys were doing.
So now we head to the Etihad on Saturday. Perfect. An awful performance and result leading into a trip to football's equivalent of walking willingly into oncoming traffic. I'm glad it's at least a Saturday at 3pm and I'm getting the train with my friends. You can rarely have a bad day out when it's a Saturday 3pm which comes round every blue moon (literally…). But I'm sure the football will find a way to ruin it. Probably by 15:02.
And yet, despite all of this, we'll be there. Because that's what we do. Even when it hurts. Especially when it hurts.
Marching On Together… though at this point, we're mostly limping.
'Remembered more for selling vacuums' - 30 years on from Brolinpublished at 13:36 GMT 24 November 2025
13:36 GMT 24 November 2025
Adam Pope BBC Radio Leeds reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Following on from Tony and Gareth and their recollections of Tomas Brolin, my memories of him are a little different.
After all, he arrived at Elland Road 10 years before I started covering Leeds United, but when I did, we used his name in vain for our post-match phone in.
We would ask fans to rate the team's performance as either 'Bremner or Brolin?'. At one point he considered legal action when he found out!
He was a spectacular flop at Leeds United and as I recall, he was remembered more for owning a restaurant called Undici (11 like his number), selling vacuum cleaners, owning race horses and playing poker.
Brolin made his first start for Leeds against Blackburn Rovers in the League Cup on 29 November 1995.
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