Yorkshire Evening Post

Leeds United extended their unbeaten Premier League run to seven games following Monday’s 1-1 comeback draw at Tottenham Hotspur. Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s second-half penalty cancelled out a Mathys Tel opener to take the Whites back above Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest in the table.

Tottenham had the better of the first-half, dominating possession and creating a handful of half chances which Richarlison, Joao Palhinha and others squandered. The home side got their opening goal just after the break with a moment of quality, Tel curling beyond Karl Darlow after a corner was cleared his way.

But the mood inside the stadium changed when Leeds got a penalty for a wild high boot from goalscorer Tel on Ethan Ampadu, with Calvert-Lewin burying his effort from 12 yards to level the scores. Substitute Sean Longstaff came within millimetres of an added-time winner but saw his powerful effort incredibly saved by Antonin Kinsky.

YEP chief football writer Graham Smyth was at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to watch the action. Here are his Leeds United player ratings...

Leeds United went into Monday night’s clash at fourth-bottom Tottenham already mathematically safe from relegation.

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A Leeds United side already mathematically safe from the drop delivered a hammer blow to relegation-battling rivals Tottenham Hotspur as a second half fightback and double VAR joy gave them a 1-1 draw.

Unlike Tottenham, Leeds went into the contest with their Premier League survival already mathematically guaranteed after Arsenal’s 1-0 win at third-bottom West Ham on Sunday.

Boss Daniel Farke, though, had already declared the importance of finishing the season as strongly as possible although news emerged of two new Leeds injuries before kick off with Jayden Bogle and Facundo Buonanotte both missing with hamstring injuries.

Noah Okafor, Gabi Gudmundsson and Ilia Gruev had already been ruled out and Leeds then lost Pascal Struijk to injury in the game itself.

Struijk was forced off after the Whites had fallen behind to a stunning strike from Mathys Tel but the intervention of VAR gave Leeds a penalty for a high boot from Tel on Dominic Calvert-Lewin who rifled home a clinical spot kick to make it 1-1.

A wonder save from Spurs keeper Antonin Kinsky then denied United’s Sean Longstaff deep in in second half stoppage time but even more drama followed as VAR denied Spurs a penalty in the 104th minute after Lukas Nmecha had taken down the returning James Maddison.

The point for Leeds took them back above Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace into 14th place, Spurs squandering the chance to move four points clear of West Ham who are just two points behind them with two games left.

Leeds chance in first minute

Leeds began brightly and created a chance within the first minute as a Dan James cross picked out Struijk who had gone into the box for an Ethan Ampadu long throw but Struijk sent his header well wide.

Spurs were slow to get going although a through ball would have had Richarlison in behind the back line but for a heavy touch from the striker which allowed Joe Rodon the chance to get back and brilliantly usher the ball back to Karl Darlow.

Spurs gradually began to push Leeds back but without creating much and at the other end Tel just got away with an incredibly risky ball across his own area which almost set up James Justin, Kevin Danso just getting ahead of him for a crucial headed clearance.

A lovey Leeds counter led by Ethan Ampadu then won the Whites a corner which led to the best chance of the game so far in the 22nd minute.

Outstanding save to claw the ball off the line

Leeds played the corner short and Brenden Aaronson's delivery found Rodon whose powerful header was somehow clawed away by keeper Kinsky who made an outstanding save to claw the ball off the line beneath his right hand post.

Spurs had offered very little but a mazy run took Tel past several men and into the box, his rising shot blocked by Jaka Bijol and sent behind for corner.

A few moments later, Darlow's attempt to punch clear a long throw fell to Conor Gallagher whose shot hit Ampadu and also went behind for a corner which Leeds survived.

Arguably Tottenham's best chance yet then arrived just after the half hour mark as a Pedro Porro cross teed up Richarlison in the middle of the box but his shot on the turn was partially blocked by Rodon and Darlow saved.

Darlow, though, was then punished for holding on to the ball for too long which led to Spurs being given a corner from which two shots were blocked.

Tottenham's best chance yet then arrived moments later as Ao Tanaka lost the ball in a packed area, Joao Palhinha surging through the box but rifling a shot over the bar.

The Spurs chances were starting to stack up and from yet another corner, Rodrigo Bentancur sent a free header wide.

Leeds had not threatened for a while and Tanaka's attempt to change that with a shot from the edge of the box proved wayward and swerved well wide.

Back up the other end, a foul by Anton Stach on Tel gave Spurs a free-kick to the left of the box but Pedro Porro ambitiously went for goal and whipped his shot well wide.

Judged marginally offside by VAR

But as the half drew to a close, Spurs survived Leeds shouts for a penalty, Aaronson playing in Calvert-Lewin who was brought down by Destiny Udogie but Calvert-Lewin judged marginally offside by VAR.

There were no changes during the break and Tottenham's Richarlison survived a reckless challenge on Jaka Bijol seconds after the restart.

The Spurs forward caught Bijol on the forehead with a trailing elbow as the pair competed for a high ball but no foul was given and VAR did not intervene.

A few minutes later Tottenham were ahead, yet another Spurs corner headed clear by Bijol but only to Tel who took one touch to set himself on the edge of the box before curling home a beauty into the right corner of the net.

Leeds were then dealt another blow as Struijk was forced off injured, the defender having been a doubt for the game with a hip injury and going to ground for treatment having been struggling earlier in the first half.

Should have led to Tottenham doubling their lead

Sebastiaan Bornauw was brought on to replace him and a Bornauw mishap should have led to Tottenham doubling their lead, the Leeds defender losing his footing and skinned by Randal Kolo Muani who squared the ball to Richarlison who blazed a wild effort over from the middle of the box.

Spurs were pushing hard for a second although Leeds looked to respond, the quiet Dan James firing well wide from the edge of the box.

It proved James' last contribution, the winger and also Aaronson taken off just after the hour mark as Willy Gnonto and Nmecha were introduced.

Leeds started to push Spurs back a bit and a poor decision from goalscorer Tel then led to Leeds being awarded a penalty.

Very high boot caught Ampadu

The Spurs star chose to clear a high ball into the Leeds box with an overhead kick with his back to goal and in doing so his very high boot caught Ampadu.

VAR intervened and instructed referee Jarred Gillett to look at his monitor.

Only one outcome looked likely and sure enough Gillet returned to point to the spot, Calvert-Lewin stepping up to take a penalty and rifling a tremendous effort into the left of the net.

Leeds quickly pushed for a winner, the very bright Gnonto slipping in Nmecha who was blocked out by an excellent challenge from Micky van de Ven.

Desperately looking for a way back, Spurs brought on James Maddison who returned from injury for his first appearance this season.

Tottenham’s response was initially limited but the announcement of a baffling 13 minutes of added time not surprisingly put a spring in their step.

An absolute wonder save

Yet Leeds were then denied a second goal by an absolute wonder save from keeper Kinsky who somehow managed to tip a piledriver shot from substitute Sean Longstaff on to the crossbar after a rapid counter down the left.

Leeds then squandered two more chances to bag a winner, Longstaff skewing an attempt across goal at the far post from a cross and Bijol also flashing a shot across the box.

But the drama was still not done and Tottenham looked destined to be awarded a penalty in the 103rd minute as Nmecha took down the quickly effective Maddison down the right side of the box.

VAR looked at the incident as Spurs held their breath but Nmecha had got the slightest touch on the ball, much to Tottenham’s frustration but United’s joy as the hosts had to settle for a point.

Leeds United vs Tottenham Hotspur: Darlow; Justin, Struijk (Bornauw 55), Rodon, Bijol, Ampadu, Stach, Tanaka (Longstaff 90); James (Gnonto 64), Aaronson (Nmecha 64), Calvert-Lewin. Subs not used: Perri, Byram, Lienou, Chadwick, Piroe.

There are two new Leeds United absentees against Tottenham Hotspur.

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Leeds United have two new absentees for Monday night’s Premier League clash at Tottenham Hotspur, the pair both missing with injuries.

Gabi Gudmundsson, Noah Okafor and Ilia Gruev had already been ruled out for the contest for which centre-back Pascal Struijk was a doubt due to a hip injury.

Struijk ultimately still starts but Jayden Bogle is a new key defensive absentee, the right back failing to make the matchday squad.

Bogle is missing due to a hamstring injury in addition to Brighton loanee attacker Facundo Buonanotte who also has a hamstring injury and also fails to make the matchday squad.

A couple of young Leeds United stars have made the matchday squad at Spurs this evening.

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Daniel Farke could hand Leeds United debuts to a pair of young stars at Tottenham Hotspur this evening.

Rhys Chadwick and Jayden Lienou are two surprise inclusions in the matchday squad for Leeds’ Premier League trip to Tottenham Hotspur. The pair have replaced Noah Okafor and Jayden Bogle in the set up, with the former suffering a calf strain while the latter’s absence is due to a hamstring issue.

With Leeds mathematically safe from relegation following West Ham’s weekend defeat to Arsenal, Farke has looked to the academy with a couple of youngsters eyeing their senior debuts. Below, the YEP has all you need to know on the pair.

Who is Rhys Chadwick?

Chadwick might be a little better known to Leeds fans, given his previous involvement in first-team pre-season. The midfielder was in Germany with Farke’s squad last summer and has been involved in training sessions with the senior group throughout the campaign.

Eighteen-year-old Chadwick is a versatile midfielder who signed his first professional deal back in 2024, putting pen to paper on fresh terms in January this year. That new contract came amid another excellent individual campaign with the teenager registering five goals and three assists in 18 Premier League 2 appearances for the Under-23s.

Versatility is one of Chadwick’s strong points, with the youngster operating across multiple midfield roles, right-wing and even centre-back this season. The teenager rose through the Thorp Arch ranks with long-time pal and fellow academy star Sam Chambers, with both featuring in last summer’s pre-season friendly meeting with Manchester United.

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Who is Jayden Lienou?

Lienou has been in West Yorkshire for a much shorter period, having signed a three-year deal in the summer from Manchester City. He was part of City’s Under-18 Premier League-winning team having started his youth career at Everton.

The full-back has made an instant impact with the Under-23s, with 19 Premier League 2 appearances yielding one assist and plenty of eye-catching passes. He’s also featured regularly across the National League Cup and EFL trophy.

The 18-year-old is a Welsh Under-19 international and hugely exciting prospect, having regularly impressed with his quality in possession for Scott Gardner’s side. The former Everton academy prospect has caught the eye with his brilliant passing range and is highly regarded as one of the most promising youngsters at Thorp Arch.

Chadwick and Lienou debut chances

The young pair will be dreaming of a potential introduction off the bench this evening, and the lack of real jeopardy from a Leeds perspective could open the door. Farke will be desperate to keep his side’s six-game unbeaten run going, however, and is unlikely to gift debuts.

Chadwick might have a slightly better chance at coming on, given his previous exposure to first-team football even if only at pre-season friendly level. The teenager’s versatility means he could replace the likes of Ao Tanaka or Anton Stach in midfield, or even someone like Daniel James in a wider role.

Any introduction for Lienou will almost certainly be at left-wing back, where James Justin is starting. Farke also has the experienced Sam Byram to call on this evening but even if Premier League minutes don’t come, tonight will be an incredible experience for both.

Leeds United team news is in for this evening’s Premier League clash at relegation-battling Tottenham Hotspur.

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Daniel Farke has named his Leeds United team for this evening’s Premier League showdown at fourth-bottom Tottenham Hotspur who, unlike Leeds, are still battling to avoid the drop.

Defeat for West Ham left them seven points behind Leeds with just two games left to play.

Farke, though, had already highlighted the importance of his men finishing the season as strongly as possible in their final three games.

Pascal Struijk was a doubt for the game due to a hip injury but the centre-back starts although right back Jayden Bogle is a new absentee with a hamstring injury.

With Bogle missing, Dan James gets a rare start in one of two changes to the side and appears likely to play at wing back.

The other change sees the injured Noah Okafor replaced by Brenden Aaronson in the front line whilst youngsters Rhys Chadwick and Jayden Lienou both make the bench.

Brighton loanee Facundo Buonanotte is also missing. Like Bogle, he too has a hamstring injury.

Injured trio Okafor, Gabriel Gudmundsson and Ilia Gruev had already been ruled out of tonight’s contest whilst doubts surrounded the participation of centre-back Struijk.

With boss Farke unwell, assistant manager Edmund Riemer took Friday’s pre-match press conference where he revealed that Struijk had taken a knock to his hip (contusion) and was unable to join in with Friday's team training session.

Struijk, though, was se to train individually, Riemer hopeful the defender would be available to face Spurs.

Okafor, meanwhile, pulled his his left calf in last weekend’s 3-1 win at home to Burnley and now set to miss the next two games.

Leeds are hoping he will be back for the final game of the season at West Ham.

Left back Gudmundsson remains out with the hamstring injury suffered in the closing stages of the FA Cup semi-final defeat to Chelsea.

The defender has been ruled out of tonight’s game and is being assessed on a daily basis.

Midfielder Gruev meanwhile is out for the rest of the season with a meniscus knee injury suffered in training.

Leeds United aren’t expected to roll over despite their Premier League status being secured.

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Leeds United are being disrespected by assumptions they will roll over for opponents now they’re safe, according to Paul Merson, who expects a Whites result at Tottenham Hotspur.

Daniel Farke’s side know they will be in the Premier League next season following West Ham’s defeat to Arsenal on Sunday, a result which left them seven points adrift with two games to play. The Whites have strung together a brilliant six-game unbeaten run to pull clear of trouble but still have plenty to play for.

Leeds are only six points away from the top half and Farke’s immensely professional squad will be desperate to continue their unbeaten run through the final three games. And former Arsenal midfielder Merson has railed against suggestions they have nothing to play for against relegation-threatened Tottenham.

“I’d be shocked if Tottenham won this football match tonight,” Merson told Sky Sports. “I think Leeds have been that good, I think we’re disrespecting Leeds a bit where it’s ‘oh Tottenham will win, they've got nothing to play for’.

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“They’re going to have three, four, five thousand fans down there behind the goal. It’s very hard to go ‘you know what, we’re already safe’. I think they'll want to rub Tottenham’s noses in it.”

That Leeds are safe with three games to spare, even in this most competitive of relegation fights, is testament to Farke and his squad. The Whites were many people’s pre-season favourites to go down and looked in serious trouble through October and November.

Farke’s half-time switch to a back-three at Manchester City is now seen as a season-defining moment, with Leeds only losing four of the 22 top-flight games that have followed so far. Merson was full of praise for the Whites boss and his squad for overseeing such a turnaround.

“It was unbelievable really,” he added. “They were getting ripped to shreds at the Etihad, they were 2-0 down and you’re thinking ‘if this gets to four or five, he probably won’t be in a job by Monday’. He goes in at half-time, changes it around and they’ve just been on a run and a half.

“They got to the semi-final of the FA Cup and they're safe in the league. It’s been an absolutely unbelievable turnaround. The players, the manager, I think they've been great.”

Leeds United's Premier League status for 2026/27 was secured following weekend defeat for West Ham.

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Noah Okafor insists there is ‘no excuse’ for Leeds United to slow down despite Premier League safety being secured.

Leeds head to Tottenham Hotspur this evening safe in the knowledge they will be a top-flight team next season. The Whites are seven points ahead of 18th-placed West Ham, who have two games to play following their dramatic 1-0 defeat at home to Arsenal on Sunday.

Daniel Farke’s side have taken 12 points from a perfectly-timed six-match unbeaten run to pull clear of trouble. But with three games still to play and six points between themselves and ninth, there is still plenty to play for.

Okafor will miss tonight’s game due to a calf strain, as assistant coach Edmund Reimer confirmed during the week. But the Swiss international insists no one in the squad is starting to plan their summer holidays just yet.

"We can breathe, but there is no excuse to stop", he told Sky Sports ahead of tonight’s trip to Tottenham. "We still have to work hard and improve in each and every aspect of the game. With the last weeks we have shown a good mood, loads of points, and this gives us confidence.

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"In the end we fight for everything because we know this squad has a lot of quality, and this makes life easier when everyone gives 100 per cent. You can enjoy more like this. Everyone is on the boat, on the journey with this team."

There are financial incentives for Leeds to continue their form against Tottenham, Brighton and West Ham, with each position in the Premier League table worth almost £3million. The playing squad will also receive an end-of-season bonus based on where they finish.

Okafor is one of a handful of squad members with an extra incentive, given his hopes of representing Switzerland at this summer’s World Cup. The winger is hoping to be fit in time to face West Ham on the final day.

A run of three goals in as many games saw Okafor nominated for April’s Premier League Player of the Month and he bagged an eighth for the season against Wolves. He’s on one assist too, meaning any kind of contribution at the London Stadium would put him into double figures combined for the first time since 2022/23.

"The main topic for me is to get points for the team," he said. "The team has big energy, a positive energy, a good atmosphere. We find each other, performing very well because we've worked hard for this moment."

Live updates as a Leeds United side now mathematically safe from relegation visit fourth-bottom Tottenham Hotspur.

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Leeds United’s Premier League survival is now mathematically guaranteed with three games still to play - starting with tonight’s enormous clash at relegation-battling Tottenham Hotspur.

Here we will bring you all of the pre-match build-up followed by starting line-ups as they are announced and then in-game updates before post match reaction and analysis.

The 8pm kick-off is being broadcast on Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Ultra HDR.

Leeds United are now mathematically safe from relegation with three games left - and data experts Opta are expecting a further Whites rise in their new predicted final Premier League table and points.

Daniel Farke’s Whites went into the weekend sat seven points clear of third-bottom West Ham with just three games left.

With bottom two teams Burnley and Wolves already relegated, it meant defeat for West Ham in Sunday’s hosting of title chasing Arsenal would make Leeds mathematically safe even before Monday night’s clash at fourth-bottom Tottenham Hotspur.

It was anything but straightforward but the Gunners got their win in a classic 1-0 to the Arsenal which also ensured United’s top flight survival and likewise for Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace.

Both teams took draws from their Sunday afternoon fixtures which took both sides above Leeds but with United now having played a game less.

As it stands, Leeds sit fifth-bottom, six points clear of fourth-bottom Tottenham and only behind 15th-placed Forest on goal difference.

The Whites are one point behind Palace and three behind 13th-placed Newcastle United whose Sunday afternoon draw also made them mathematically safe.

Leeds sit on 43 points with three games to go against Spurs, Brighton and West Ham but Opta’s supercomputer fully expects them to add to that tally.

In reverse order, here is the new predicted final table including who they think is going down out in the new two horse horse to avoid finishing third bottom between West Ham and Spurs.

Tottenham are just one point ahead of the Irons ahead of Monday’s visit of Leeds but with three games left as opposed to West Ham’s two.

Coverage details as Leeds United visit relegation-battling rivals Tottenham Hotspur tonight.

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Leeds United’s Premier League survival is now mathematically assured as they visit relegation-battling Tottenham Hotspur tonight - but is the game on TV?

Leeds went into the weekend sat seven points clear of third-bottom West Ham with just three games remaining which meant a West Ham defeat against Arsenal on Sunday would make the Whites mathematically safe from the drop.

In a low scoring yet incredibly dramatic game, Mikel Arteta’s Gunners recorded a 1-0 success, surviving a massive scare deep in second half stoppage time as a West Ham equaliser from Callum Wilson was disallowed.

With bottom two sides Wolves and Burnley already down, Arsenal’s win left Leeds, Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace all safe, the fight to avoid finishing in the division’s third and final relegation place now a straight two-horse race between third-bottom West Ham and fourth-bottom Tottenham.

Tottenham are only one point ahead of the Hammers but with three games left as opposed to West Ham’s two, Spurs knowing that victory against Leeds tonight will send them four points clear with just two games to go.

Fifth-bottom Leeds, though, on 43 points have the opportunity to jump back above Forest and Palace tonight and also draw level on points with 13th-placed Newcastle.

From a survival perspective, the pressure for Leeds is finally off but absolutely not for Tottenham ahead of an 8pm kick-off which is the Sky Sports Monday Night Football game.

The game is being broadcast on Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Ultra HDR.