Arabic version: تحوّل فاركه التكتيكي يقود انتفاضة ليدز
According to BBC News, Daniel Farke’s Leeds United have made their best start to a top-flight season since 2001-02 after Monday’s 4-1 home win over Newcastle United. The unbeaten side are third in the nascent Premier League table with eight points from four games, a position that recalls Leeds’ run of five successive top-five finishes at the turn of the century.
The turnaround has been traced to Farke’s switch from a back four to a back three at half-time against Manchester City on 29 November. Leeds recovered from 2-0 down to level at 2-2 before a stoppage-time defeat at Etihad Stadium. Since beating Chelsea at home on 3 December, they have lost only five of 29 league games, a record that would rank fifth in a table covering that period.
Recruitment has also reshaped the squad. Farke and sporting director Adam Underwood targeted height and physicality in the 2025 summer window, with eight of 10 permanent arrivals standing above 6ft. After Pascal Struijk left for Brighton, Leeds added World Cup players Tarik Muharemovic and Nico Elvedi in defence. Muharemovic has played every league minute in front of England international goalkeeper James Trafford, while Harry Wilson arrived on a free transfer from Fulham.
The revised system has particularly benefited Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who has 14 top-flight goals since last December; only Erling Haaland, Ollie Watkins and Joao Pedro have scored more in that span. With support from strike partners such as Lukas Nmecha or Noah Okafor, Calvert-Lewin has said he enjoys having bodies around him. Leeds host Crystal Palace on Saturday, when he could become the first Leeds player since Arthur Hydes in 1932 to score in six consecutive league home games.
Elland Road remains a major factor. Before consecutive February defeats by City and Sunderland, Leeds had gone 25 evening league and play-off matches without a home loss, winning 20 and drawing five. Farke has downplayed early European qualification talk, but continued form could raise hopes of a first return to European football in 24 years.
