Leeds United

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Former Leeds United captain Lucas Radebe says the club has "a lot of work to do" in order to secure survival this season.

Radebe has been named as an official ambassador for the club he signed for back in 1994. During his 11-year spell, the South African was instrumental in helping Leeds compete near the top of the Premier League and in reaching the Champions League semi-finals in 2001.

He retired in 2005 as an all-time Leeds great.

However, reflecting on the current crop, Radebe acknowledged the Whites face significant challenges if they are survive their first campaign back in the top flight.

"It's started positive, but I think when we played Arsenal we realised we've got a lot of work to do in order to retain our status in the Premier League," he told BBC Radio Leeds.

"We need to invest a lot because Leeds United is a big club and belongs in the Premier League. It's not just that though - we need to also show with the results as well.

"I think we are going the right way. I know Daniel Farke has a hard task with a lot of expectations from last season.

"If we can just survive this season, then hopefully we will get better as the years go by."

Listen to the full chat on BBC Sounds

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Summer signing Anton Stach has been speaking to BBC Radio Leeds about settling into his new life in England, and how he's getting on with the team...

Q: How does it feel to play at Elland Road?

Stach: "It's so nice. The atmosphere is unbelievable every time. The fans aren't only cheering when you get an assist or score, it's also when you have a good sliding tackle and good defensive action. They push you and it gives you more of a percentage in the game to run even more. I like it a lot."

Q: How good is the current Leeds United midfield?

Stach: "We have five or six players that are really good, nearly all on the same level. I think that's really important, in training we really push each other. The mentality is a big argument for everybody because we all fight for every ball and try to be focused on every duel. I would say it's the best midfield I have played with so far."

Q: How good of a side are your upcoming opponents Tottenham?

Stach: "They are really good. They have really good individual quality in every position and it's hard to play against a side like that. We have to deal with it and be strong, we are not there to hide. We want to compete, win duels and maybe win the game."

Listen to Stach chat about his social media fun here

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Leeds United's summer signing Gabriel Gudmundsson believes that his four years spent in Ligue 1 prepared him well for his transfer to the Premier League.

Gudmundsson, 26, made the move to Leeds from Lille in July of this year for an undisclosed fee. Since then, the Swedish left back has featured in all six Premier League games for the club, helping Leeds with their impressive start.

Speaking to BBC Radio Leeds about the transition into Premier League football, Gudmundsson said: "You read so much about the Premier League, it's the biggest league in the world. It is, but I had four very good years in France that made me the player I am today.

"I think for me, Ligue 1 is very physical. It's a good league, a better league than many think.

"The Premier League is so big in terms of reputation and also the players here. There's quality in every position. The best players in every league come here.

"Ligue 1 is a great league to develop, but the Premier League is more in the spotlight.

"There is a little bit more quality, but physically there isn't any difference so far. So far, it's been good, we've had a good start and I'm feeling confident."

Gudmundsson also spoke about the pain of his late own goal in Leeds' 1-0 defeat at Fulham and he has been integral in the Whites responding to the loss with four points from games against Wolves and Bournemouth.

"I can't describe really how it hurt," he said. "We played a good game. It's very difficult to play away. In my time I have never been through something like that. I think we played well and deserved at least one point. It was really hurtful. The best thing in football is to have another game. Against Wolverhampton I was very focused. I am in any game but this one especially more."

You can listen to the full interview here

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Leeds United forward Dan James has suffered an ankle injury in training but is not expected to be out for the long-term.

The Wales international started each of the Elland Road side's first three league games and came on as late substitute in a League Cup defeat on penalties to Sheffield Wednesday.

He played for Wales during the international break when he was a substitute against Kazakhstan before starting against Canada.

James was introduced after 77 minutes when Leeds were beaten at Fulham but had to come off 12 minutes later and, since then, has missed a win at Wolves and draw with Bournemouth.

A Leeds United spokesperson said: "As Wales manager Craig Bellamy confirmed in his press conference earlier today, Daniel James has an ankle issue which is currently undergoing assessment. Any absence is not expected to be long-term and Leeds United manager Daniel Farke will provide a full update during Thursday's press conference."

Molly Whitmore
Fan writer

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After last week's brilliant win at Wolves, there was plenty of optimism heading into this one. The challenge? A side enjoying a flying start to their season.

From the first whistle, my standout performer was once again Sean Longstaff. I know I've sung his praises before, but it is becoming impossible not to. Strong on the ball, tactically sharp, and always playing for the team – what a signing he is proving to be. I genuinely think Newcastle let their best man go - and no, I don't mean Alexander Isak.

And what can I say about Joe Rodon? Finally getting the goal his performances deserve – it was a real joy to see his name on the scoresheet. A rock at the back, and now a scorer too. He is quickly becoming our very own Prince of Wales.

It has also been fantastic to see Noah Okafor really growing into his role in the side. After that nightmare of a cup game at Sheffield Wednesday, I wasn't convinced. But over the past two matches he has been one of our best players.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin is also starting to find his stride - the goals will come, I'm sure. (That said, I'm still keeping Erling Haaland in my fantasy league team for now!)

Of course, there are questions for the manager, too. Once again, late substitutions seemed to invite pressure and we conceded in the dying minutes. It is gutting to leave Elland Road with just a point after such a strong second half.

Still, this match felt like one of those 'we'll be fine' moments - a reminder that this team has real resilience.

Next up, Spurs. If you offered me a point right now, I would take it. But after what I saw this week, I would not rule out all three.

For the first time in a while, it feels exciting to look ahead rather than fearful.

Molly Whitmore is a regular contributor on BBC Radio Leeds - find all their audio here

Adam Pope
BBC Radio Leeds reporter

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Tottenham's Manor Solomon has been the subject of several questions sent in via our 'Ask about Leeds' form, in particular why he wasn't loaned again or why Leeds haven't signed him permanently.

The situation with Solomon is that I understand Leeds United could have had him back on loan for a second spell from Spurs but decided to buy Noah Okafor from AC Milan instead.

Solomon's injury record in recent seasons I believe was a consideration why United were inclined not to seek a permanent deal for the Israel international.

Ask Me Anything is a service dedicated to answering your questions.

We want to reward your time by telling you things you do not know and reminding you of things you do.

Find out more here

On the latest episode of BBC Radio Leeds' Don't Go To Bed Just Yet podcast, the team discuss Bournemouth's opening goal in Saturday's 2-2 draw at Elland Road.

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Kaiser Chiefs bassist Simon Rix speaks about Daniel Farke's controversial substitutions on the Don't Go To Bed Just Yet podcast after Leeds conceded late on in their 2-2 draw to Bournemouth: "You can't blame any of the players, maybe Ao Tanaka but he's playing in a position he's not completely used to playing. Everyone played well so it's got to be something else, management wise.

"He is a left central midfielder and he was playing on the right wing. It just makes no sense to me if Dan James is fit, or put [Jayden] Bogle or James Justin there. I just think there was other options.

"It seems like he just put Tanaka on because he's a good footballer, he gets about the pitch and creates some chaos, but I don't think he even really had a good touch.

"It's great to score from a set piece but to concede again from two, that's worrying. It's already a thing of the season, conceding late, and we need to stop that.

"But is it because we have a good 13 or 14 players, and if one or two of them are injured, you've got basically a good 11, whereas everybody else has got a good 20 players? And once your on your fifth fresh player you have to do something. Is the team looking quite thin?"

BBC Radio Leeds' Jonny Buchan added: "He went defensive and tried to see it out, but to take [Dominic] Calvert-Lewin off while defending that free kick, losing one of your most aerially combative players, and they then lose the first header that results in the goal. I just don't see what the benefit of making the sub was at that stage. Waste a bit of time? OK, wait until you've done that set piece and then make the sub to waste a bit of time."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

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

Here are some of your comments:

Leeds fans

Alison: I thought we played really well and with confidence. We need to be a little more clinical with our chances on goal. Gutted that the equaliser came in in the last minutes of the game. Think we can build on this and do even better.

Eric: Good overall performance but once again we are undone in final minutes of the game. Could have been 3-0 up in first 20 minutes but again, lack of clinical finishing means we need to find a quality striker who will put those kind of chances away. Couldn't understand why Farke replaces Calvert-Lewin with Nmecha when it was obvious we needed fresh legs to bolster the defence. We managed to grab defeat from the jaws of victory and that was three vital points dropped not one point gained.

Omar: The fact that this feels like two points lost rather than a point gained is testament to how well Leeds have performed. Well done lads. Great performance against a very, very good Bournemouth side.

Andrew: Leeds were the better team. We were not hanging on. The timing of the equaliser was disappointing as it was so late but a lot of positives. If DCL stays fit Leeds will stay up.

Bournemouth fans

Matt: An important point against a good, physical Leeds team. Resilience will be important as the season goes on - good signs for hopefully a successful season ahead.

TFTSE: Poor performance, lacked cohesion and simply couldn't retain the ball. But, once again managed to sneak in a late goal to grab a point. Can't complain, not playing well and still in the top six. When it clicks we will be even better.

Michael: Lucky to get a point but in previous seasons we would have lost.

Pat: To come back like that was brilliant!

Leeds United are monitoring 20-year-old Brazilian midfielder Gustavo Prado, with Internacional willing to entertain a fee of about £17m (SportWitness via Correio do Povo), external

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

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Chris Collinson
BBC Sport statistician

Leeds United, Burnley and Sunderland have taken a combined 23 points from their opening six games, making it the best start to a Premier League season by the promoted sides since 2017-18.

In fact, only five times in Premier League history have the promoted sides made a better start to a season.

Sunderland have made the best start of the three, accruing 11 points from their opening six games, which is the most any promoted side has taken in 13 years, since West Ham United did the same in 2012-13.

So why have this season's trio started so much better than Leicester City, Ipswich and Southampton 12 months ago?

Because they have been much more successful at keeping Premier League opposition at bay, conceding eight fewer goals and giving up 32 fewer chances between them.

While this season's promoted sides haven't actually created much more than last season's trio, they have been more clinical so far, scoring three more goals despite only taking nine more shots and generating a similar quality of chances in terms of expected goals.

So after years of conventional wisdom telling us that a reliable goalscorer was the key to surviving in the Premier League, might Burnley, Leeds and Sunderland prove that defensive solidity is actually more important?

Adam Cottier
Final Score reporter at Elland Road

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How crucial a signing Sean Longstaff is for Leeds may only be fully quantifiable later down the line, but he was the standout player in a thrilling game against Bournemouth.

A tenacious performance from Leeds, rich in desire, was orchestrated by the midfielder on Saturday.

Longstaff is a wholehearted, dynamic player who appears to be tightly grasping the challenge of being a key figure at Leeds, no longer in the clutches of player rotation at Newcastle.

Yes, there was assist - and a fine goal - but there was much more from Longstaff in a game they would have won comfortably had they been up against a lesser-equipped side than Bournemouth.

Daniel Farke rightly acclaimed Longstaff's leadership and prominence in the match. He imposed himself, kept the ball moving and showed great awareness of the threat his teammates could offer too.

Longstaff could prove to be one of the most useful summer signings of any Premier League side.

Pundits Alan Shearer and Micah Richards join host Kelly Cates to bring you the action and talking points from Saturday’s Premier League fixtures.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

And listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Crystal Palace 2-1 Liverpool

• Nottingham Forest 0-1 Sunderland

Leeds United boss Daniel Farke spoke to BBC Sport after the draw with Bournemouth: "Of course I'm disappointed because we had a really good game, with a really good performance, against a strong opponent. We deserved to win this game. We had way more expected goals and shots. We had big chances.

"We gave away two set-pieces and they scored both. They didn't have a chance out of the game, so it shows small details can be punished. It feels a bit heartbreaking but I'm proud of the performance.

"We can't outperform our opponents when you see their quality. Organisation, physicality and a big team spirit is what we need. Their team reduced us to so little chances but they are a proven Premier League side and they were effective today.

"[Sean] Longstaff was outstanding. His workload, his calmness and his composure.

"[Dominic] Calvert-Lewin put in an outstanding performance for his team - a 'man of the match' performance. He showed himself in great shape and fitness level. The only pity is he had so many good chances. On another day, he scores two or three."

Did you know?

• Leeds United hit eight shots on target during the game, last directing more shots on target in a single Premier League game in September 2021 against Newcastle United (9).

Hear from Joe Rodon and more from Farke on BBC Sounds

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 Bournemouth's display?

Come back on Monday for a selection of your replies

Leeds United boss Daniel Farke has named an unchanged team from the side that beat Wolves 3-1 last weekend.

There is just one change in the entire squad with Dan James returning from injury to replace Harry Gray on the bench.

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

Substitutes: Meslier, Justin, Bijol, Gruev, Tanaka, Harrison, James, Nmecha, Piroe

Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola makes three changes from the side that played out a goalless draw with Newcastle United last week.

Ryan Christie, Justin Kluivert and Amine Adli all come in to the 11 in place of David Brooks, Marcus Tavernier and Alex Scott who drop to the bench.

Bournemouth XI: Petrovic, Truffert, Senesi, Evanilson, Christie, Adams, Diakite, Kluivert, Jimenez, Adli, Semenyo

Substitutes: Dennis, Scott, Kroupi Jr, Soler, Gannon-Doak, Hill, Brooks, Tavernier, Milosavljevic

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

• Brentford v Manchester United (12:30)

• Chelsea v Brighton - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2

• Crystal Palace v Liverpool - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Leeds United v Bournemouth

• Manchester City v Burnley

• Nottingham Forest v Sunderland (17:30) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

• Tottenham v Wolves (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 Crystal Palace v Liverpool" or "ask BBC Sounds to play Nottingham Forest v Sunderland", for instance.

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

I've been told I absolutely cannot go for 10 draws this week, which is shame because this game has got draw written all over it.

Being serious, I was very impressed by Leeds' win over Wolves last time out - it really surprised me, but it was a brilliant result that showed what they have got to offer under Daniel Farke, and that they are going to give it a real go this season.

Even so, I am backing Bournemouth here. The Cherries were a bit flat against Newcastle last week but they usually create loads of chances and that's what I am expecting them to do at Elland Road.

Sutton's prediction: 1-2

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Tom McCoy
BBC Sport journalist

Leeds United, who have yet to concede a goal at home this season, take on a Bournemouth side vying for back-to-back clean sheets. BBC Sport takes a look at some of the key themes before Saturday's match.

Leeds were buoyed by last weekend's 3-1 win at Wolves, with a second victory of the season giving them plenty of momentum heading into a potentially important stretch of autumn fixtures. This is the first of three home games in their next four, with Tottenham and West Ham also visiting Elland Road.

Daniel Farke's side have not lost at home in the league for 12 months, a run of 22 matches, and have an opportunity to put some more daylight between themselves and the relegation zone. They already have seven points on the board, which equals the combined total of last season's promoted sides after five games.

Summer signings Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Anton Stach and Noah Okafor were on target in the win at Molineux, when Leeds took their opportunities clinically, attempting just six shots but scoring with three. Chances have been at a premium for the Whites this term, with their overall expected goals total of 4.29 the third lowest in the Premier League.

Bournemouth's new-look defence excelling

Leeds may also need to be ruthless with their finishing when they take on in-form Bournemouth, who have only conceded once in their past four league matches.

The Cherries' defensive resilience is all the more impressive given they lost three of their first-choice back four over the summer, with defenders Dean Huijsen, Ilya Zabarnyi and Milos Kerkez sold for a combined total of £144.5m.

It is testament to the work of head coach Andoni Iraola that Bournemouth have nonetheless started strongly and conceded just five goals, which is their lowest total at this stage of a Premier League season.

And despite struggling to break down Newcastle in Sunday's goalless draw at Vitality Stadium, Iraola's team have claimed 10 points from their opening five fixtures, equalling their best start to a top-flight campaign.

Lewis Deighton
Fan writer

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Five games into the 2025-26 Premier League campaign, Leeds United (seven) and Sunderland (eight) already have a combined 15 points – three more than Southampton managed all of last season.

In fact, it is five more than the combined points total after five games of Burnley (one), Ipswich Town (three), Leicester City (three), Luton Town (one), Southampton (one) and Sheffield United (one) – the six promoted clubs who have all gone straight back down over the past two campaigns.

Aided by a spectacular Anton Stach free-kick, which we all felt was in before he struck it, Leeds' 3-1 win at Molineux was Wolves' fifth loss in their opening five games – the worst start to a Premier League season since Norwich City in 2021, who lost their opening six and finished bottom.

This evidence suggests that at least one established top-flight club could be relegated this term - but, it is important to note that Wolves had almost as poor a start 12 months ago (two points after eight games) and finished on a total of 42.

Even West Ham's poor start to the season (three points after five games) mirrors that of Crystal Palace's last year, when they did not surpass three points until their ninth game and yet still finished on a total of 53.

Injuries, Afcon, staffing changes and the January transfer window will all no doubt play a huge role in swinging the campaign for clubs in a potential relegation battle.

It has been a promising start to Leeds' top-flight return, but we must remain vigilant.

Lewis Deighton is a visual producer for the Don't Go To Bed Just Yet podcast

The team at Don't Go To Bed Just Yet have dropped a fresh episode ready for the weekend.

Get the lowdown on Leeds' preparations for Bournemouth and find out what the team expect to happen.

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Chris Collinson
BBC Sport football statistician

Leeds, Burnley and Sunderland have taken a combined 19 points from their opening five games, making it the best start to a Premier League season by the promoted sides since 2017-18.

In fact, only four times in Premier League history have the promoted sides made a better start to a season.

So why have this season's trio started so much better than Leicester, Ipswich and Southampton last campaign?

Because they've been much more successful at keeping Premier League opposition at bay, conceding six fewer goals and giving up 31 fewer chances between them.

Leeds, Burnley and Sunderland haven't actually been much better in attack.

While they've scored four more goals than the promoted sides did at this stage last season, they've taken a similar number of shots and generated fewer expected goals between them, so there's still room for improvement going forward.