Still feeling the sting from their recent EFL Cup exit, Leeds United are hoping to get back on track in the Premier League this Saturday at home against Newcastle United. The match at Elland Road will be the first time the two sides have faced off since their 2-2 draw back in May 2023.
Leeds, last season's Championship winners, started their return to the top flight on a high note with a 1-0 win over Everton. However, they've had a rough couple of matches since, with two straight defeats. They were handed a tough 5-0 loss by Arsenal last weekend and then were knocked out of the EFL Cup on Tuesday after a penalty shootout loss to their rivals, Sheffield Wednesday.
The cup loss was particularly painful for Leeds boss Daniel Farke, who said he was “hurt” and “embarrassed” by the performance. His team struggled to finish, only scoring once despite taking 25 shots.
Hoping to bounce back, Leeds will be glad to be back at Elland Road, where they're currently on an impressive 21-game unbeaten streak in the league—a run that ties their best under Farke. They'll also be feeling confident about their record against Newcastle, having lost just one of their last six Premier League matches against them.
On the other side, Newcastle is also looking for a win after a couple of frustrating results. After a goalless draw with Aston Villa, they were a man down for most of the second half against reigning champions Liverpool and were down two goals before fighting back to tie it up. But in the 100th minute, a late goal from 16-year-old Rio Ngumoha stole the win for Liverpool.
Despite the “bruising game,” Newcastle manager Eddie Howe was proud of his team's effort and will want to see that same intensity against Leeds. Newcastle will be chasing their first league win in three games, and they like their chances. They've won half of their Premier League visits to Elland Road and have a solid record against recently promoted teams, winning their last eight matches against them.
With the transfer window closing soon, Newcastle is still on the hunt for a new striker, but their focus for now will be on this match and getting a much-needed victory.
