Farke's tactical shift has Leeds looking to thrive, not just survive

Leeds United finished last season 14th in the Premier League, eight points clear of relegation, but that comfortable finish masked a difficult start to the campaign. The club won only three of its first 13 matches and lost eight, putting pressure on manager Daniel Farke and his squad.

The turning point came on 29 November, following a 3-2 defeat away to Manchester City, when Farke switched from a 4-3-3 formation to a 3-5-2 system. From that point on, Leeds lost just five more matches for the remainder of the season.

New season, same resolve

Captain Ethan Ampadu said the team had allowed opponents too much freedom during the first half of last season, and that the priority this season is to become more solid defensively while still playing attacking, creative football.

Leeds won only two away matches during the entire 2025-26 season, making a recent away victory at Nottingham Forest's City Ground particularly satisfying. Farke noted that away fixtures in the Premier League are always demanding and that a team's second season in the top flight can often prove tougher than the first.

After guiding Leeds to safety, Farke had suggested he might leave the club unless its ambitions matched his own heading into the summer. The club's hierarchy responded by backing him in the transfer market, spending around £80m on new signings.

Signings make early impact

Three of the new arrivals started in Leeds' season-opening match and showed early promise. Goalkeeper James Trafford, signed from Manchester City for a British-record £45m fee for a goalkeeper, made several decisive saves. Bosnia-Herzegovina defender Tarik Muharemovic performed solidly at the back and also threatened at the other end with a strong header from a set-piece. Harry Wilson, who joined on a free transfer after a productive season at Fulham, was denied a debut goal only by an offside call.

Ampadu praised the new players for showing quality and determination from the moment they arrived, saying they had demonstrated why they were signed to help the club progress further. Farke echoed the sentiment, praising the whole squad's performance and describing the mood around the club as positive. The German coach is now the third-longest-serving manager in the Premier League, behind only Arsenal's Mikel Arteta and Aston Villa's Unai Emery.