Leeds United

Matthew Howarth
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Leeds boss Daniel Farke changed his entire forward line in a bid to get his team firing at Craven Cottage, replacing Wilfried Gnonto, Lukas Nmecha and Daniel James with Noah Okafor, Calvert-Lewin and Aaronson.

The visitors may have created the better opportunities before the hour mark, but the bold move failed to pay off as the visitors' run without a goal from open play stretched to four league games.

Calvert-Lewin should have done better with his first-half header, although the former Everton man may have been just offside to meet Aaronson's cross, while Longstaff was unfortunate to see his thunderous drive graze the top of the bar.

Nmecha, James, Gnonto and Jack Harrison all made appearances in the second half, but by that point Fulham had already swung the tide in their favour.

Gabriel Gudmundsson's late own goal was a cruel end to a game neither side deserved to win, but Leeds will need to improve in attack at bottom club Wolves next weekend to stand any chance of returning to winning ways.

Wales winger James, though, will be a doubt after being forced off through injury late on.

Leeds boss Daniel Farke spoke to BBC Match of the Day after his side's defeat away to Fulham: "Yeah, of course, as we all know, sometimes football can be cruel and can be heart-breaking.

"Sometimes you are on the lucky side and today we were definitely on the unlucky side. I feel for the lads, after a couple of difficult weeks, we showed an excellent away performance - we were rock solid.

"We did not give any chances away then in the 95th or 96th minute, pretty much the last situation of the game to lose with an own goal, it was not even a chance. The circumstances before when it was a throw-in for us and they changed their decision - it was heart-breaking for us.

"Football can be like this but I'm just proud of the performance and how we dealt with the offensive threats of Fulham, how controlled we were. For 65 minutes, we looked the side more likely to win this game."

On the Gabriel Gudmundsson own goal: "I've worked a long time in football but such a strange situation, I've not seen [before]. Even a striker would struggle to score such a header. I think maybe we was concentrated on the blocking and lost his balance and was then a bit surprised.

"It's difficult to explain. Of course, he's the most heartbroken in the dressing room so he doesn't need any criticism from me. He needs an arm around the shoulder.

"It was an excellent performance and it was tough for him, tough for the lads, who deserved more."

On the attack: "They did very well. It's never easy, first game for Noah [Okafor] and Dominic [Calvert-Lewin] and it's a difficult away game. It's a bit easier to come in in a home game but I got the feeling today was the right time.

"Noah went for as long as he could and was excellent, I'm glad he could play for 70 minutes. Same as Dominic after such a long break. I was pleased with them and Brenden Aaronson was fantastic - I've never seen a winger defend that left-side of Fulham like he did.

"We had good situations and could have been a bit more effective in those situations."

Did you know?

• Leeds have scored just one goal in the Premier League so far this season (v Everton on MD1), with this being their fewest after four games of a league campaign in the club's history.

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

Have your say on Fulham's performance

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Marco Silva makes one change to the Fulham side that lost to neighbours Chelsea at Stamford Bridge two weeks ago.

Harry Wilson comes in for Timothy Castagne, who is joined on the bench by fit-again Issa Diop and deadline-day signing Kevin.

Fulham XI: Leno, Tete, Andersen, Bassey, Sessegnon, Lukic, Berge, Wilson, King, Iwobi, Rodrigo Muniz

Subs: Lecomte, Jimenez, Cairney, Adama, Castagne, Kevin, Diop, Smith Rowe, Robinson

Daniel Farke makes five changes to the Leeds team that drew 0-0 at home to Newcastle last time out.

Fit-again Ethan Ampadu returns to the side, while Karl Darlow, Brenden Aaronson, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Noah Okafor all come in.

Daniel James, Lukas Nmecha, Wilfried Gnonto and Ilia Gruev drop to the bench, while goalkeeper Lucas Perri misses out through injury.

Leeds XI: Darlow, Bogle, Rodon, Struijk, Gudmundsson, Longstaff, Ampadu, Stach, Aaronson, Calvert-Lewin, Okafor

Subs: Meslier, James, Nmecha, Bijol, Harrison, Tanaka, Justin, Gnonto, Gruev

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

• Arsenal v Nottingham Forest (12:30)

• Bournemouth v Brighton

• Crystal Palace v Sunderland

• Everton v Aston Villa - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Fulham v Leeds United

• Newcastle v Wolves - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

• West Ham v Tottenham (17:30) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Brentford v Chelsea (20:00)

Kick-off times 15:00 BST unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

You can also listen to today's 5 Live Premier League commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Everton v Aston Villa" or "ask BBC Sounds to play Newcastle v Wolves", for instance.

Find out more about how to listen to Premier League football on BBC Sounds

For once, I am very confident I will get this prediction right.

Leeds might fancy their chances at Craven Cottage but you only have to look at their respective squads to see the difference in quality between the two sides, player for player, including on the bench.

Fulham did not have much luck with the decisions that went against them in their defeat by Chelsea last time out, but they were able to bring on Adama Traore, Emile Smith-Rowe, Raul Jimenez and Harry Wilson as they chased that game.

Leeds just do not have that kind of depth and they were well beaten on their last trip to London, a 5-0 defeat at Arsenal a couple of weeks ago.

This will be closer, but with the same end result.

Sutton's prediction: 2-0

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Sophie Brown
BBC Sport journalist

Goals might be scarce when Fulham and Leeds United meet at Craven Cottage, with both sides struggling to find the net this campaign.

Fulham are one of four Premier League teams yet to win in this season's competition. They have scored just twice, although that tally would have been greater, had Josh King's goal against Chelsea last time out not been disallowed, a mistake acknowledged by the Premier League's Key Match Incidents panel this week.

Last season's top scorer, Raul Jimenez, is yet to score in the league although did bag a goal in the EFL Cup, as well as finding the net for Mexico in midweek. Rodrigo Muniz, their next top scorer from 2024-25 has netted twice but one was an own goal.

Fulham have conceded from either an own goal or penalty in each of their league games this season. In fact, they have given away a penalty in each of their past five top-flight matches – a sixth would set a new Premier League record.

Leeds were always going to be reliant on the fortress-like qualities of Elland Road this season, and their pre-international break draw against Newcastle was a second consecutive clean sheet at home, and took their unbeaten home league run to 22 matches.

But they need to pick up points away from west Yorkshire, and their 5-0 drubbing at Arsenal last month was not a good omen. In fact, it meant they had lost their past eight away Premier League matches in London, conceding 26 goals in those defeats.

Head coach Daniel Farke said on transfer deadline day that "in order to be competitive and to survive in the best league in the world, we need to do a bit more in the offence", but Leeds still look short of goalscorers who can be relied upon to stay fit, with free transfers Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Lukas Nmecha both injury-prone.

Leeds' only league goal of the season has come from the penalty spot, while their first and only shot on target against Newcastle last time out came in the 90th minute from Calvert-Lewin. In their previous league game against Arsenal, they also only had one shot on target.

BBC Radio Leeds' Don't Go To Bed Just Yet podcast gets into the talking points as Leeds go in search of a first away win, and a first goal from open play.

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

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Former Leeds midfielder and fan-favourite Stuart Dallas has been named as a club ambassador.

Dallas made 266 appearances for the Whites across a nine-year spell and was a key figure in Marcelo Bielsa's team that achieved promotion from the Championship and a ninth-place finish in the Premier League.

He also earned 62 caps for Northern Ireland before being forced to retire through injury in 2022.

A club statement read: "Stuart's infectious personality, along with his dedication to Leeds United and the wider area, will see him regularly attend matches, community visits and club events, whilst he will also be a mentor for a number of young players within the Academy at Thorp Arch in his new role."

Adam Pope
BBC Radio Leeds reporter

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He talked of a club so used to making headlines it didn't need to act all big time. He talked of a club which was bullish and confident after a decent start to Premier League life, to now show a quiet humility. He talked of a club, so often with its back against the wall, not requiring its leader to deliver motivational speeches to his players.

This apparent ambiguity from Daniel Farke came in his first press conference following the disappointing finale to the summer transfer market, which the club's managing director Robbie Evans admitted had been a bad day to end a good window.

Farke, with his usual candour, told the media the non-appearance of a number 10 hardly had him dancing on the table but that he would "adapt to the reality".

"My job is to get the best out of these players. Do not be too arrogant," he told us at Thursday's media gathering.

Farke added: "Do our job and concentrate on what we can influence which is to win as many points as possible to prove the doubters wrong."

Here the message was anything but mixed. It was clear that he and his players require no extra motivation to survive, to defy the odds as he feels "all, if not 99 per cent of the pundits" are tipping United for the drop.

"No fighting messages from me", said Farke on how he communicates with his group.

"They need a manager who is concentrated on making the players better and on backing the players who are there. That is what I will do."

After 30 minutes of being asked to reflect on events over which he now has no influence it was clear where Farke's immediate focus was - how to beat Fulham on Saturday. As for the bigger mission, the message was equally unequivocal. There will be no better feeling than to stop the fate of recently promoted clubs from repeating.

"If we can be the first team to break the curse, this is the big target and the big goal," Farke added.

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

Nat Hayward
BBC Sport journalist

Leeds United boss Daniel Farke has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Fulham at Craven Cottage (15:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Farke also said a "late decision" will be made over the inclusion of Ao Tanaka and Ethan Ampadu after the pair returned from their respective knee injuries to train with the team this week.

• There are a "few question marks" over Lukas Nmecha who suffered a "hit on his foot" and missed training yesterday while Joel Piroe has a "bruise on his calf".

• The Leeds boss also confirmed summer signing Lucas Perri has been ruled out of the trip to Craven Cottage with a quad issue and will also miss the visit of Wolves the following weekend.

• He backed Karl Darlow who is likely to replace Perri in goal: "I'm not worried at all. We all trust Karl. He's experienced and has many Premier League games behind him. He doesn't crack under pressure."

• On Dominic Calvert-Lewin: "The longer he stays fit and is in team training, the more likely it is he gets minutes. He's in contention to play."

• Reflecting on the transfer window, Farke said: "I don't feel sorry for myself. You won't hear a bad word from me after a transfer window has closed. Once the situation is done, I adapt to the reality. There's not one thought of me to be disappointed or down. I'm fully focused on the next game."

• On retaining key players this summer: "It was not negotiable that one of our big players should go for a big transfer fee. We didn't even discuss this as no-one wants to weaken their squad."

• On pundit predictions suggesting Leeds will struggle this season: "Let them write us off. We will stay humble. There'll be no fighting messages from me. We'll concentrate on the hard work required to get the points we need."

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

Adam Pope
BBC Radio Leeds reporter

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In the capital this weekend there will be Leeds United supporters visiting one of the world's most famous front doors on Downing Street as well as Craven Cottage. They will all know who resides behind the former but as to who will occupy the number 10 for the Whites at Fulham is a mystery.

After United missed out on a bespoke signing for the role, forward Willy Gnonto was asked if he was being considered as an option.

"I don't think I'm a good person to answer," he told me. "I've done it before, even last season, not a lot, but I've done it. It's just about how the coach wants to play. Wherever he wants to play me I'm ready to play and help the team.

Gnonto, 21, has started each of Leeds' Premier League games on the left wing and is bullish about the side's chances on Saturday.

"Really positive - I think every game, to be fair, we know we have a chance and we know that we are really strong," he adds. "Away is always tough but we are ready to play and we're going to try and be as competitive as possible."

The Italy international knows he has to shoulder some of the goalscoring burden with United yet to score from open play.

"It's time. Obviously playing up front we are always going to be judged for our goals and our assists," Gnonto added.

"We've struggled a bit scoring goals and creating chances but I'm sure that it's going to come. We have the quality so I'm sure we're going to score."

With United having won once in 14 attempts in the 'Big Smoke', whether Gnonto plays at 10 or not, it's time to do a number.

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

Adam Pope
BBC Radio Leeds reporter

Image source, Getty Images

At 21, Wilfried Gnonto is an experienced player - a senior Italy international with 122 appearances and 22 goals for Leeds United.

After signing from Zurich for £4m three years ago, Gnonto is on his second stint in the Premier League where the competition for his place is fierce after the arrival of Noah Okafor from AC Milan.

With a characteristic smile, Gnonto is taking the threat in his stride.

"Obviously when you play in the Premier League you are going to have competition," he told BBC Radio Leeds. "You have good players and you can't do anything to stop this.

"I'm quite focused on myself and am sure of my abilities. I'm just happy for him. I know he's a good player."

Gnonto is now a senior member of Daniel Farke's squad so, with 10 new team-mates, he is well placed to assess if Leeds are better equipped to survive in the top flight this time around.

"We're stronger. We've had a little time to work on our tactics and get to know each other a bit more. I feel like we can just get better from now," he added.

"Every position is better, to be fair. We've improved at the back and in midfield. You've just talked about Noah but we have Dom [Calvert-Lewin], Lukas [Nmecha] and so many players up front as well, plus Jack [Harrison] coming back."

As for reclaiming a place in the Italy squad for next year's World Cup, Gnonto is yet to speak to head coach Gennaro Gattuso. However, he knows he has to force himself into contention.

"Being in the squad would be incredible for me," he said.

"At the same time, it's just a consequence of what I do here, so I'm just focused on doing my best by helping the team and hopefully it's going to come too."

Listen to the full interview 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

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Crystal Palace's French striker Jean-Philippe Mateta, 28, has no interest in a move to Leeds United but finds the prospect of joining Aston Villa enticing. (Teamtalk), external

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

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Adonis Storr
Fan writer

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As the smoke billowed around him at the open-top bus parade in Leeds in May, club chairman Paraag Marathe told the world, external that Leeds United are "going to be one of the best clubs in all of Europe".

It is the kind of statement understandable if it comes from a fan nestled in among the 100,000-plus others that lined the city's streets that day, drunk on promotion and dreaming of the future.

But, from a club chairman, it is the sort of statement that will be brought back up during any setback, and the end of Leeds' summer transfer window was the perfect lightning rod for criticism.

"In order to be competitive and to survive in the best league in the world, we need to do a bit more in the offence" manager Daniel Farke said before the transfer window closed.

The German made it clear he wanted "one or two" more attacking options.

Leeds have not scored a goal in open play in their opening three Premier League games this season and have only managed one shot on target in each of the past two.

The attacking additions brought in all have histories of injuries. No-one will be surprised if winger Noah Okafor and strikers Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Nmecha all miss significant portions of this season.

Robbie Evans, Leeds' new manager director, told media in a question and answer session last week, that "a number 10 type is the one thing we're still sort of missing".

Leeds have been missing a number 10 type player since Pablo Hernadez lost his place in United's first team under Marcelo Bielsa five years ago.

The success of the club's transfer strategy will ultimately be defined by results, but failing to back Farke's attack feels like a huge mistake.

Find more from Adonis Storr at The Roaring Peacock, external

Leeds United are considering a move for 32-year-old free agent Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, but Rangers and Everton are also interested in the former England international, who left Turkish club Besiktas at the end of August. (The Boot Room), external

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

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Leeds United, Aston Villa and Newcastle United are interested in Crystal Palace's 28-year-old France striker Jean-Philippe Mateta and could make a move in January. (Caught Offside), external

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

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Adam Pope
BBC Radio Leeds reporter

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Leeds United managing director Robbie Evans has stressed the club's owners San Francisco 49ers Enterprises have prevented the damaging scenario, allowed by the previous regime, whereby players were able to leave for little or no value upon relegation.

"I can say categorically we don't have any relegation loan clauses, which I found to be by far the most catastrophic," he says.

"Some players have relegation sale clauses. All of them are at a price, at or well above the price, paid for them and many of them don't. I'm pretty confident that any player that comes down either, we'll be in control of their sale or if they're sold, I'm comfortable with the return they'll have generated."

Leeds may not have sold anyone of significance but three strikers have been allowed to go. Patrick Bamford left permanently while both Mateo Joseph and Largie Ramazani are on loan at Mallorca and Valencia respectively in deals which favour United.

"We think very highly of Mateo, he has all those same characteristics of the right profile, skill set, etc, to play at any league in Europe, including in the Premier League. He needs the minutes and part of why his loan took as long as it did is that every team that was trying to take him on loan was requiring a buy option.

"We simply said there's no way you're getting an option on this player. Our hope is he has a phenomenal season at Mallorca and comes back. He's a favourite of the club and the chairman and so we hope he does great. Same story for Largie who also has no buy option because we insisted we had the option to bring him back to the club."

On Bamford, Evans said: "Daniel [Farke] made clear early in camp that Pat was not in his primary plans. At that point it felt fairest to Pat and to the club that he be let free to go and so we worked to get a mutual determination done that allows him that freedom. We love Pat, club legend, helped us get promoted twice, but at that point in time it was the fairest thing for everyone involved."

One player expected to leave was goalkeeper Illan Meslier who has fallen down the pecking order. Evans commented: "There was some interest in Illan. But it wasn't as strong as I'd expect for a player of his calibre. So it ended up being the case that for both parties it was better that he be here."

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

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The dust has just about settled on Leeds United 's busy transfer window.

In total, the Whites brought in 10 players for a total of about £99.45m based on reported initial fees.

Those incomings were:

• Noah Okafor - AC Milan

• Anton Stach - Hoffenheim

• Jaka Bijol - Udinese

• Lucas Perri - Lyon

• Sean Longstaff - Newcastle

• Gabriel Gudmundsson - Lille

• James Justin - Leicester City

• Sebastiaan Bornauw - Wolfsburg

• Dominic Calvert-Lewin - Everton (free)

• Lukas Nmecha - Wolfsburg (free)

*All permanent unless otherwise stated

Heading the other way, Leeds had several notable outgoings, including loans for Mateo Joseph to Mallorca and Max Wober to Werder Bremen, and exits of Junior Firpo and Patrick Bamford.

Of all the summer incomings at Elland Road, who do you think will have the biggest impact?

Rank them here

Adam Pope
BBC Radio Leeds reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Leeds United's managing director Robbie Evans says the Premier League loan market is limited, particularly after Chelsea hijacked their move for Facundo Buonanotte from Brighton on transfer deadline day.

"There's not that many players who are being looked at to be lent out by their current teams that fit what we needed," Evans told BBC Radio Leeds.

"You'll notice our team is largely mid-20s experienced professionals that can come in and play on day one. It's pretty rare that somebody's youth player would be useful. So the market for loans is pretty thin.

"Facundo is a relatively rare instance of a young player who is starting calibre or at least rotation calibre for our squad.

"An experienced loan player in the Premier League tends to not be a whole lot cheaper than buying someone. With a loan fee, agent fee, wage coverage, pretty soon you're looking at a similar number to a permanent for a player who's not yours.

"You develop somebody who is not going to return on investment and who is not going to live and die to fight off relegation, because they know that in May they're just going back home."

The free agent market remains available to clubs before the January transfer window opens but Evans is hoping to avoid having to use either.

"I don't think right now there's any need that is so great it is worth going to the free agent market to fill it," he said. "Once through the first 10 games, we'll be eight games from January and so if we have to re-evaluate, we'll use that.

"Yet our goal is to avoid January if possible."

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