Saturday 4th October 12.30pm | Elland Road
Leeds United will put their unbeaten home record on the line when they host Tottenham Hotspur at Elland Road in Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off, though history offers little encouragement for Daniel Farke’s side. Leeds have lost nine of their last eleven league meetings with Spurs, including each of the last four, and early starts have not been kind either — the Whites haven’t won a Premier League fixture kicking off before 3pm since beating Chelsea back in August 2022. Injuries also cloud the build-up: Dan James faces up to six weeks out after rolling his ankle, Wilfried Gnonto is also sidelined, while goalkeeper Lucas Perri is back in training but not yet ready to return.
Last week’s draw with Bournemouth was frustrating in the circumstances, but as CJay noted, most supporters would have taken a point beforehand. It kept Leeds ticking along steadily, and performances rather than pure results are giving cause for optimism. Spurs, however, pose a sterner test. Under Thomas Frank, they’ve only lost once in nine matches in all competitions — and that single defeat came at the hands of Bournemouth, proof that they are beatable. With a statement win away at Manchester City already in their locker, Spurs’ quality is obvious, but their recent struggles, including a poor showing against Wolves, give Leeds reason to believe.
From a tactical standpoint, Frank has Spurs playing a possession-based 4-3-3, but CJay highlighted the fluidity of their shape: full-backs pushing on to form a back three in possession, or morphing into a 4-2-3-1 when the situation demands. They rank high for progressive passing and are not shy about going long, sitting second in the league for direct balls forward. Defensively, they’ve conceded among the fewest in the division, anchored by the combative Cristian Romero. New signing Mohammed Kudus has looked sharp with three assists already, while Richarlison offers a relentless threat up front. It’s a side with multiple weapons, but one that has shown inconsistency.
Farke, who knows Thomas Frank well, was respectful in his assessment: “I rate him not just as a manager but as a human being. His teams are always well structured and coached.” But he stressed Leeds’ focus remains internal. “What I like about our start is that we’ve not won points lucky but lost points unlucky. Sometimes it’s healthy that we are not in a top position so we can fly under the radar. We need to deliver with consistency.” On the team news, he confirmed James and Gnonto will miss out, Harry Gray is a doubt, and Perri will return only after the international break.
The German was also keen to highlight the individual contributions that matter most in games like this. He praised Joel Piroe as “the best finisher I ever worked with,” even if rotation means his minutes vary, and underlined the importance of staying organised at set-pieces, noting Sean Longstaff’s recent deliveries have added a new dimension. On Calvert-Lewin, he again pointed to the leadership shown in recent weeks, both in his finishing and his professionalism, and insisted Leeds must find the right balance between resilience and risk.
So the challenge is clear: Leeds face a Spurs side who on paper bring one of the league’s most effective possession games, but who have stuttered of late. Elland Road remains a fortress and history will weigh heavily on the visitors too. For Farke’s men, the key lies in discipline, seizing the moments to bypass Spurs’ midfield press, and turning the atmosphere into an advantage. It might take patience, it will certainly take organisation, but if Leeds can blend their recent resilience with sharpness in attack, then Saturday’s early kick-off may just bring a statement of their own.
