Leeds United are back at Elland Road this weekend as Daniel Farke’s men continue their battle to stay clear of the drop.
The Whites come into the game full of confidence after a big 3-1 win away at Wolves, and now they face two huge home matches that could shape their season.
Leeds Return Home With New Belief
It has been a long wait for Leeds fans to see their side back in Yorkshire. The last home game was the goalless draw with Newcastle at the end of August.
Since then, Leeds played Fulham and Wolves away, picking up three points on the road. It could have been four, if not for an unlucky own goal.
The Wolves win has lifted the mood. Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Anton Stach and Noah Okafor all found the net, and the team showed more bite in attack.
That victory ended worries about their lack of goals and gives them a platform to build on. Now Farke’s men face Bournemouth first, before Tottenham visit a week later.
With two games in front of their home crowd, Leeds have a real chance to collect points before the October break.
Kavanagh Back At Elland Road
The Premier League has confirmed that Chris Kavanagh will referee Saturday’s match.
This comes only weeks after he was at the centre of a row in Leeds’ game against Everton. Kavanagh awarded Leeds a penalty for handball by James Tarkowski, a decision that split opinion.
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Former ref Malk Halsey felt it was the wrong call, but TV pundits Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville both agreed it was a clear penalty.
Tarkowski was judged to have leaned into Anton Stach’s shot, with the ball striking his arm and blocking it from goal. That penalty helped Leeds to a much-needed win, but the debate has not been forgotten.
Now, Kavanagh will again be in the middle at Elland Road, while Australian official Jarred Gillett will be on VAR duty.
Mixed Record With Leeds
This weekend will be Kavanagh’s 23rd match in charge of Leeds. The numbers show a mixed history.
Out of the previous 22 games, Leeds have won nine and lost nine, with the rest ending level.
He has shown two red cards to Leeds players in the past: Luke Ayling against Arsenal in 2022, and Alex Mowatt against QPR back in 2016.
The recent Everton victory ended a poor run of five straight Premier League defeats with Kavanagh as referee.
Big Chance Ahead
For Leeds, the focus must stay on performance, not the referee. With back-to-back home matches, there is a big chance to climb further away from danger.
The Wolves game showed promise, but now consistency is needed.
The Elland Road crowd will be loud, the team must respond, and Daniel Farke will want to see his players keep up the fight.
Leeds cannot afford to rely on refereeing calls – they must create their own luck and prove they belong in the Premier League.
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