Yorkshire Evening Post

A number of Leeds United players have stood out in recent weeks with Premier League survival now in sight.

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Former manager Tim Sherwood has suggested Tottenham Hotspur could have done with a ‘leader’ like Leeds United’s Ethan Ampadu this season.

Ampadu looks set to captain Leeds to safety following an excellent week in which they won back-to-back Premier League games for the first time this season. He starred in a historic 2-1 win at Manchester United last Monday before keeping things steady as the Whites beat rock-bottom Wolves over the weekend.

The Welshman has enjoyed an incredible campaign with the armband, playing more Premier League minutes than any teammate and regularly going toe-to-toe with midfielders worth at least 10 times his £7m price-tag. He is one of several Leeds players exceeding expectations while relegation rivals Tottenham continue to falter.

Spurs twice went ahead at home to Brighton on Saturday but twice conceded, Georginio Rutter netting a 95th-minute equaliser to make it 15 league games without a win for Roberto De Zerbi’s side. And former Spurs boss Sherwood believes a few characters like Ampadu would have gone a long way in North London if signed last summer.

”Looking through the group of players [at Leeds], at the beginning of the season, would Tottenham have taken many of them?” Sherwood asked on Sky Sports. “I would have said no.

“In hindsight now, when you look at it, you look at someone like Ethan Ampadu. He’s not only a good player - he’s a very, very good player - but he’s also a leader. He’s someone who wants to stand up.

‘Dragging them to safety’

“He’s not old but he’s got a lot of experience and he drives his teammates forward and that is what you need in this situation. You need someone who is willing to stand up and pull others in the correct direction with you.

“That’s what Ethan Ampadu has done. He’s not alone but he is dragging them to safety in this league.”

Ampadu looks set for another year as a Premier League captain with Leeds so close to survival. Saturday’s comfortable win over Wolves took them onto 39 points for the season, eight clear of Tottenham with five games to play.

Leeds travel to in-form Bournemouth on Wednesday evening looking to extend that lead to nine or even 11 points. Confidence will be high after an incredible performance last time they travelled away from Elland Road and a commanding weekend win over Wolves.

Ampadu will then lead his side out for an FA Cup semi-final at Wembley against former club Chelsea on Sunday. It’s been 39 years since Brendan Ormsby did the same against Coventry City at Hillsborough in 1987 as Daniel Farke’s side aim to make more history.

The former Leeds United man might have just made a huge impact on the Premier League relegation battle.

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Leeds United’s Premier League survival chances were given a fresh boost on Saturday following their 3-0 win over Wolves and two late dropped points for Tottenham Hotspur.

Goals from James Justin, Noah Okafor and Dominic Calvert-Lewin sent Leeds nine points clear of the drop zone on Saturday, with Tottenham hosting Brighton later that same day. The North London club are yet to win a league game this calendar year with chances to end that dismal streak running out.

For a large portion of their game against Brighton, Tottenham did look like claiming a monumental three points with Xavi Simons the star. His first-half cross found Pedro Porro to make it 1-0 and after Kaoru Mitoma equalised, the Dutchman scored what looked to be the winner on 77 minutes.

But there was a fresh twist in the tail, and one that came from a former Leeds fan-favourite. In the fifth-minute of seven added on, defender Kevin Danso was tackled in his own box, with Jan Paul van Hecke finding Georginio Rutter to fire home and break Tottenham hearts at the death.

Defeat for Tottenham leaves them still in the bottom three, with closest rivals West Ham looking to extend their one-point cushion when they travel to Crystal Palace this evening. Leeds are now eight points clear of the bottom three with just five games to play.

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Following that massive late goal, both for Brighton’s European hopes and the relegation battle, Rutter posted on Instagram and received messages from former Elland Road colleagues. Leeds legend Stuart Dallas wrote ‘absolutely marvellous’, while Willy Gnonto commented ‘Merci’.

Leeds could extend their cushion even further on Wednesday, albeit they face a tricky tip to in-form Bournemouth. That game has been brought forward due to the Whites’ FA Cup semi-final commitments, with Tottenham next in action at Wolves on Saturday.

Roberto De Zerbi reaction to Tottenham draw

Spurs also host Leeds at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium next month, although time is running out particularly with the likes of West Ham and Nottingham Forest also picking up points. But Roberto De Zerbi remained very confident following the late dropped points.

“I always thought and believed in the quality of the players,” he said. “They played a good game, I think we can play better than today with much more quality and more calm, especially when we are in possession, but in this moment we need this spirit, this attitude and this mentality.

“It is not finished yet. We have another five games. It is tough. Every one of us knows it is a tough moment, a difficult situation, but we have another five games and 15 points. This team is able to win five games in a row.

“Now, it is difficult to hear my words, but if you watch the players and analyse the level of the players, I think we can win five games in a row. Not to be arrogant, because I am not arrogant, especially now, but we have the qualities enough to fight and win games in a row."

Leeds United have a big summer ahead of them and will hope to be strengthening for another year of Premier League football. Recruitment will be key to building on an impressive debut campaign but as highlighted by recent reports of Tottenham Hotspur interest in Karl Darlow, securing the future of current players is just as important.

Darlow is one of four senior players currently set to leave Leeds following the expiry of his contract this summer, three of which are goalkeepers. None of Illan Meslier, Sam Byram or Alex Cairns have played regularly - if at all - this season though, and a few could wave goodbye to Elland Road in June.

But Leeds chiefs should also have a keen eye on the other six set to enter the final year of their respective contracts this summer, a vulnerable position for the club particularly given the importance of some with summer 2027 expiries. Below, the YEP takes a look at when each and every squad member’s deal runs out, as per Transfermarkt.

Leeds United have put themselves on to 39 points with five games still left - and data experts Opta have now cast a fresh Whites verdict in their predicted final Premier League table and points.

Leeds began the weekend sitting on 36 points, six clear of third-bottom Tottenham Hotspur after Monday night’s brilliant 2-1 win at Manchester United and Saturday’s hosting of Wolves presented the chance to boot even further clear.

Leeds took the opportunity with both hands, two first-half goals inside three minutes from James Justin and Noah Okafor laying the foundations for a 3-0 victory in which Dominic Calvert-Lewin also netted a 95th-minute penalty.

The win took Leeds nine points clear of Tottenham who then hosted Brighton in a 5.30pm kick-off and Spurs finally looked set to record a first league win of 2026 as they led 2-1 heading into the closing stages. But amazingly ex-Whites star Georginio Rutter came off the bench to bag a late equaliser which sealed a 2-2 draw and broke Tottenham’s hearts.

It’s all left 15th-placed Leeds eight points clear of third-bottom Tottenham with just five games left, the Whites also seven points ahead of fourth-bottom West Ham and six ahead of fifth-bottom Nottingham Forest although West Ham and Forest both have a game in hand.

Forest host Burnley on Sunday in a 2pm kick-off whilst West Ham go to Crystal Palace on Monday night.

Looking up the table, Leeds are now just three points behind a sliding Newcastle United said who suffered another defeat through a 2-1 loss at home to Bournemouth, the Whites also three points behind Palace but with Palace having a game in hand.

Amid debate about how many points will be needed to survive, data experts Opta have now produced their new predicted final table and points featuring a strong fresh Leeds verdict and big Chelsea drop shocker.

Here is the new rundown in reverse order.

Leeds United now sit eight points clear of the dropzone following Saturday’s 3-0 victory against Wolves, leading to a huge change in the club’s relegation odds in the bookies’ new predicted final Premier League table.

Daniel Farke’s Whites began the weekend six points clear of third-bottom Tottenham Hotspur after Monday night’s brilliant 2-1 win at Manchester United and Saturday’s hosting of Wolves presented the chance to boot even further clear.

Leeds took the opportunity with both hands, two first-half goals inside three minutes from James Justin and Noah Okafor laying the foundations for a 3-0 victory in which Dominic Calvert-Lewin also netted a 95th-minute penalty.

The win took Leeds nine points clear of Tottenham who then hosted Brighton in a 5.30pm kick-off and Spurs finally looked set to record a first league win of 2026 as they led 2-1 heading into the closing stages.

But amazingly ex-Whites star Georginio Rutter came off the bench to bag a late equaliser which sealed a 2-2 draw and broke Tottenham’s hearts.

It’s all left 15th-placed Leeds eight points clear of third-bottom Tottenham with just five games left, the Whites also seven points ahead of fourth-bottom West Ham and six ahead of fifth-bottom Nottingham Forest although West Ham and Forest both have a game in hand.

Forest host Burnley on Sunday in a 2pm kick-off whilst West Ham go to Crystal Palace on Monday night.

Looking up the table, Leeds are now just three points behind a sliding Newcastle United said who suffered another defeat through a 2-1 loss at home to Bournemouth, the Whites also three points behind Palace but with Palace having a game in hand.

It all means United’s survival prospects have been massively boosted and it’s led to an enormous change in the club’s relegation odds in the bookies’ new predicted final table.

Here, in reverse order, is the full new rundown.

A look at how and when Leeds United could secure their Premier League status following Saturday's win over Wolves.

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Leeds United edged closer to retaining their Premier League status for another year thanks to Saturday’s 3-0 win at home to Wolves. A quickfire first-half double from James Justin and Noah Okafor put the Whites in control with Dominic Calvert-Lewin netting a third from the penalty spot in second-half added-time.

Victory pulled Leeds onto 39 points, nine clear of 18th-placed Tottenham Hotspur initially, who then drew 2-2 with Brighton to close it to eight. Daniel Farke’s side are also currently seven points ahead of West Ham and six clear of Nottingham Forest, who have games in hand to come this weekend against Crystal Palace and Burnley respectively.

“A lot is achieved but nothing is done yet,” Farke insisted after full-time on Saturday. “It's a fantastic position to be in but the feeling is we probably need to win one or a few more points, we'll stay focused and want to win one or a few more points as soon as possible to have it mathematically done.”

Following up Monday’s historic win at Manchester United with another victory has hugely improved Leeds’ chances of survival. Below, the YEP takes a look at what they need to guarantee safety - and what they’ll likely require.

How many points do Leeds United need to survive?

With 39 points already to their name, Leeds are in a great position to avoid relegation. As things stand, they are currently eight points ahead of Tottenham in 18th. Spurs twice went ahead at home to Brighton later on Saturday but dropped two points thanks to a 95th-minute leveller from a certain Georginio Rutter.

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In the unlikely event Tottenham win all five of their remaining games, they will finish on 46 points which means Leeds can guarantee survival with eight more points - That could be done with two wins and two draws. That would also require both West Ham and Forest to enjoy exceptional ends to the season too, though.

Realistically, Opta predict Spurs to finish the season on 37 points, with West Ham due to end on 38. Should those predictions prove accurate, then Leeds would theoretically already be safe.

Predicted Premier League table

Following Saturday’s comfortable win, statistical experts Opta updated their Premier League predictions. It’s good reading for Leeds too, whose percentage chance of finishing in the bottom three now stands at just 0.27 per cent.

Opta expect Leeds to pick up a further seven points from their final five games, finishing the season in 15th on 46. They still have Tottenham to join Burnley and Wolves in dropping to the Championship on 37 points, with a 53.4 per cent chance of being 18th come the end of May.

Here is the full predicted bottom six, as things stand...

Leeds United are approaching a particularly big weekend in the club’s quest for Premier League survival - and the bookies have made a huge Whites in their new predicted final table.

Daniel Farke’s Whites kicked six points clear of third-bottom Tottenham Hotspur with Monday night’s magnificent 2-1 win against fierce rivals Manchester United at Old Trafford but the gap could get even bigger on Saturday afternoon.

Spurs, who are incredibly still seeking a first league win of 2026, must wait until Saturday tea-time before taking in their next fixture as new boss Roberto De Zerbi faces the visit of his former side Brighton in a 5.30pm kick-off.

Forth-bottom West Ham, who are now four points behind Leeds, don’t play until Monday night when they visit Crystal Palace whilst a fifth-bottom Nottingham Forest side who are three points behind the Whites host second-bottom Burnley on Sunday afternoon.

It all means that Saturday afternoon’s visit of the division’s bottom-placed side Wolves presents a monumental opportunity for Leeds although there will still be another five games left afterwards including away trips to both Tottenham and West Ham.

Ahead of a particularly massive weekend in the fight for Premier League survival, the odds for relegation are continually changing and the bookies have made a huge Whites call in their predicted final table based on those odds.

Here, in reverse order, is the full final prediction ahead of Saturday afternoon’s 3pm kick-off against Wolves.

Leeds United can move nine points clear of the dropzone with a victory against Saturday’s visitors Wolves - and the supercomputer has cast a strong Whites verdict in its new predicted final Premier League table and points.

Daniel Farke’s Whites kicked six points clear of third-bottom Tottenham Hotspur with Monday night’s magnificent 2-1 win against fierce rivals Manchester United at Old Trafford but the gap could get even bigger on Saturday afternoon.

Spurs, who are incredibly still seeking a first league win of 2026, must wait until Saturday tea-time before taking in their next fixture as new boss Roberto De Zerbi faces the visit of his former side Brighton in a 5.30pm kick-off.

Forth-bottom West Ham, who are now four points behind Leeds, don’t play until Monday night when they visit Crystal Palace whilst a fifth-bottom Nottingham Forest side who are three points behind the Whites host second-bottom Burnley on Sunday afternoon.

It all means that Saturday afternoon’s visit of the division’s bottom-placed side Wolves presents a monumental opportunity for Leeds although there will still be another five games left afterwards including away trips to both Tottenham and West Ham.

Ahead of a particularly massive weekend in the fight for Premier League survival, the supercomputer from the team at Opta has produced its new predicted final table and points which features a strong Whites call.

Here, in reverse order, is the full final prediction ahead of Saturday afternoon’s 3pm kick-off against Wolves.

Leeds United took a big step towards Premier League safety at Old Trafford on Monday.

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Leeds United have all but secured Premier League safety after a ‘wonderful’ win at Old Trafford that will scare Tottenham Hotspur, according to Gary Neville.

Noah Okafor’s first-half brace made history on Monday night as Leeds earned a first league win at Manchester United since 1981. The winger reacted quickly to finish a Jayden Bogle cross inside five minutes, doubling his tally on the half-hour mark when a volley deflected off Leny Yoro and beyond Senne Lammens.

Lisandro Martinez was sent off for a hair pull on Dominic Calvert-Lewin in the second half and despite Casemiro pulling one back, Leeds held on to enjoy just a second away league win this season. That victory pulled them six points clear of Tottenham who are now in the relegation zone following a difficult 1-0 defeat at Sunderland on Sunday.

“That is a performance I don't think Tottenham are capable of, and that's the scary thing for Tottenham,” Neville told his Sky Sports podcast after full-time. “It’s not just the six points, by the way, that Leeds United have gone clear of them tonight, but the actual performance levels they put in.

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“Spurs are nowhere near that, you watch them yesterday against Sunderland, it’s a set of ingredients that don't go together, a concoction of misfits. And then you watch Leeds tonight and there’s balance, there’s a flow. It was a wonderful night for them and I think that does secure Premier League survival for Leeds United this season.”

Leeds United not safe yet but Man Utd win a huge step forward

While no one in West Yorkshire will be complacent, Monday’s unexpected victory was a huge step towards safety for Leeds. It is the first time all season they will now need to drop a point-per-game compared to Tottenham - who they face next month - in order to finish in the bottom three.

Opta have predicted Leeds finish 15th for several weeks but their relegation chances are now shorter than ever, at just 1.6 per cent according to the statistical experts. That will likely reduce even further if they can beat Wolves on Saturday and, for a couple of hours at least, pull nine points clear.

Tottenham have also lost captain Christian Romero for the rest of the season after he suffered a knee injury at Sunderland. The defender collided with goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky while trying to shield the ball and left the pitch in tears.

He will therefore not be available when Leeds head to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on May 11, joining a long list of absentees. The likes of Mohammed Kudus, James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski have been out for large periods.

One of Leeds United's relegation rivals and run-in opponents have suffered a huge injury blow.

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Leeds United’s key relegation rivals Tottenham Hotspur will be without captain Christian Romero for the remainder of the season, according to reports.

Romero left the pitch in tears during the second half of Tottenham’s 1-0 defeat at Sunderland on Sunday. The centre-back collided with his goalkeeper teammate Antonin Kinsky after trying to shield the ball under pressure from Brian Brobbey.

"I hope for us it's not too important a problem because he's a crucial player for us,” Spurs boss Roberto De Zerbi said of Romero in the aftermath of Sunday’s defeat. "He's a good guy, good player, top player, big personality and we need him to finish this season and to achieve our goal."

De Zerbi’s wish to have Romero available this season looks to have been crushed with Sky Sports among several outlets to report the defender’s season is over. The Argentinian’s World Cup hopes are not thought to be over but his season at club-level is, with just seven games left.

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Tottenham fell into the Premier League relegation zone before kicking a ball over the weekend, with West Ham pulling two points clear following their 4-0 win at home to Wolves. Defeat at the Stadium of Light kept Spurs in 18th, three points shy of Leeds who play their game in hand at Manchester United this evening.

Leeds then play again before Tottenham next kick off, with the visit of Wolves to Elland Road coming a few hours before Spurs host Brighton. Daniel Farke’s side could be anything between three and nine points clear of their 18th-placed rivals by around 5pm on Saturday.

One of Spurs’ other big games comes on Monday, May 11, when they host Leeds at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. De Zerbi will be without his captain and key centre-back for that clash, which will almost certainly be a relegation six-pointer.

Romero’s season-ending injury is the second major blow manager De Zerbi has suffered in a matter of days. The Italian coach had told reporters he was expecting to rely on the returning Mohammed Kudus but the tricky winger suffered a setback in his recovery from a quad injury and is also likely to miss the rest of the season.

The pair join a long list of absent first-team players at Tottenham. They are expected to be without Dejan Kulusevski and Wilson Odobert for the remainder of the season while James Maddison hasn’t played a single minute this campaign due to a pre-season knee injury.