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Leeds United might have safety secured by the time they kick off but three players have personal scores to settle

This could well be the weekend Leeds United mathematically secure their place in next year’s Premier League.

Destiny is in their own hands, although West Ham United might make this irrelevant should they lose to high-flying Arsenal on Sunday evening. Sitting seven points behind Leeds, they need to win to realistically keep United in the relegation frame.

A draw would not make things officially done but Leeds’ superior goal difference of 14 means it is effectively sealed before the Whites kick off against Tottenham Hotspur on Monday evening. But the squad needs to stay focused regardless, of course.

Should West Ham do the unthinkable and beat Arsenal then Leeds would need to defeat a rejuvenated Spurs side under Roberto De Zerbi to mathematically complete the job. And all without the injured Noah Okafor and Gabriel Gudmundsson too.

The task is far from easy yet Leeds can take confidence that they are unbeaten in six away games and have lost just once on the road since November. Sunday will determine whether Monday is a free hit or a proverbial six-pointer.

De Zerbi’s impact

Aston Villa admittedly fielded a much-rotated side in Tottenham’s last game but the team looked far more organised and regimented under De Zerbi’s guidance, who is now four matches into his tenure.

Back-to-back wins have restored belief into the squad, which had previously not won a single Premier League game in 2026. This Tottenham side is not the one of even a fortnight ago.

They furthermore play on home soil for the first time since those victories and the fans will now be urging their team on rather than on their backs. It would be interesting to see if the mood changes if Leeds either hold a lead or parity going into the final embers of the match.

De Zerbi has got his team playing more fluidly with a tendency to attack the space - so should Leeds bank up in defence, it will be a test of his team’s recent resurgence. It is therefore important that Leeds take the lead first.

Relegation revenge

There is a minor side-story to the game itself, regardless of how West Ham fare. Spurs sent Leeds down in 2023 when they ran out 4-1 winners at Elland Road, with the hosts needing to win on the final day.

Pascal Struijk - a minor doubt for the game with a hip issue - as well as Brenden Aaronson, Wilfried Gnonto and the now-shunned Illan Meslier were all part of the matchday squad that day. The first three will be determined to enact some kind of revenge.

There is the reality that a defeat for West Ham will inject more hope into the veins of Tottenham on Monday. That circumstance would offer them the chance to go four points clear of the relegation zone with two matches to go.

Then, defeat a fractured Chelsea - who will have an eye on the FA Cup final - in their penultimate game and Spurs will survive. Keeping Tottenham down there won’t be at the forefront of the minds of the aforementioned quartet but it might linger in the background somewhere.

Knock-on effect of Farke’s absence

Farke has been unwell this week and was not at work on Thursday having battled his illness for a few days. He is expected on the touchline on Monday, though.

Assistant coach Edmund Riemer took the pre-match press conference and will have likely presided over proceedings during the time Farke was absent. Messages will have been passed on but obviously it is not the same as the boss himself being present.

It is not ideal preparation for the game, albeit it is not known whether he indeed returned to work after Thursday. He will not be at 100% tilt either way and it only makes gearing up for Monday more difficult, naturally.

Will we see this in leeds' performance on the pitch? Will it even matter? By Sunday night it could all be over and done with. That would help Farke feel a lot better.

Four Leeds United players could miss the contest in the worst case sceanrio, barring any other late issues to teammates

Leeds United will have to cope without the in-form Noah Okafor for the next two games with the winger suffering a calf setback, ruling him out of Monday’s trip to Tottenham Hotspur.

Okafor has scored six goals in his last seven Premier League appearances, two of which came in that historic win at Manchester United in April. The 25-year-old has suffered several muscle injuries this season, including a hamstring issue that ruled him out for five games between February and March.

And now, the attacker has sustained a right calf issue, which is the other the calf to that which flared up following the FA Cup semi-final defeat to Chelsea. Assistant coach Edmund Riemer, standing in for the unwell Daniel Farke in the pre-match press conference, gave the outlook on Okafor.

He explained: “We’ve got another one with Noah who picked up a calf strain so will miss the next two games. We’re hopeful he’ll be available for the last game.

“He sustained it after the FA Cup game, in the right calf. In the Burnley game he pulled the left calf. He’ll likely be out the next two games.”

OPINION

It means Okafor has played his last game at Elland Road this season, with United set to close out their home campaign against Brighton & Hove Albion a week on Sunday. He could be back for when Leeds travel to West Ham United on the final day.

Gabriel Gudmundsson is another absentee for Monday, the left-back still nursing the hamstring injury he sustained in the FA Cup semi-final. He was expected to miss two games, the 3-1 win over Burnley being the first.

Gudmundsson is due back for the final home clash against Brighton. Ilia Gruev is meanwhile out for the season with a knee injury.

Pascal Struijk is a minor doubt for the clash with Spurs having missed training with a hip problem, although he is expected to be ready in time for kick-off. Farke himself is due to back for the game.

Ex-Leeds United ace Gray has been one of few Tottenham players who have kept their levels high amidst a horrid season

Tottenham Hotspur manager Roberto De Zerbi has ring-fenced Leeds United academy graduate Archie Gray as a future captain of Spurs.

The Italian has only worked with the 20-year-old for just over a month but has sung the praises of the Thorp Arch talent, who played the first two games under his tutelage but has remained on the bench for the recent back-to-back wins.

Gray travelled to meet former club Leeds, whom he left for around £30m in 2024, for the first time in October’s 2-1 win for Spurs at Elland Road albeiot did not get onto the pitch. Having not had chance to bid a proper farewell to Whites supporters upon his exit, he did a lap of honour after full time.

Gray has already racked up 80 appearances for Tottenham having been used as a utility player across many positions including centre-back, right-back, midfield and wing-back. De Zerbi is the fourth Spurs manager he has worked under, having not yet completed two years at the club.

The new Spurs boss has high praise for Gray, stating ahead of Monday’s meeting with Leeds: “He is very young, (but) big potential as a player. I think he can become the future.

“I am sure he can become the future of this club, the captain of this club and he has to understand better what will be his position on the pitch. He can play in a lot of positions, but maybe I would like him to be more specific in one position.

“We are working on that, in individual meetings with individual clips for me and any way he is an important player.”

Gray is naturally a midfielder and De Zerbi’s recognition of this maye be partly the reason why he has not been played in the last two matches. The coach is meanwhile keen not to under-estimate Leeds and pinpointed four players, some of whom are midfielders, who have caught his eye.

He added of United: “Their style is very clear. They have a great organisation on the pitch, with the ball and without the ball. They have good players, [Dominic] Calvert-Lewin, [Noah] Okafor, [Ao] Tanaka, I think, and [Ethan] Ampadu are all very good players.

“Not to fight against relegation, but at a higher level. But the focus is on us. Not because we become arrogant, but because we have the quality. The quality is enough if we play like we know, like we can, to win the game, for sure.”

Daniel Farke has tended to lean towards being more compact and attritional away from home

Leeds United must survive another game without Gabriel Gudmundsson and another two without Noah Okafor. Left-back Gudmundsson is still nursing the hamstring injury he picked up at Wembley in the FA Cup semi-final.

The Swede missed last Friday’s win over Burnley as a result of the setback, and the initial expectation was that he would also be out for Monday’s clash against Tottenham Hotspur - and it has transpired that he is indeed unavailable. So Daniel Farke could keep the same back line which started against the Clarets.

That sees James Justin start on the left and Jayden Bogle occupy the right with Joe Rodon, Jaka Biol and Pascal Struijk centrally guarding Karl Darlow. Meanwhile, at the other end, Okafor has injured his calf and is out for the next two games, including the final home game with Brighton & Hove Albion.

Okafor is the most in-form attacker Leeds have at the moment, having scored six times in his last seven Premier League appearances. Since the start of February, he has also bagged three assists across all competitions.

His absence means Brenden Aaronson will come back on the left of the two behind the 13-goal Dominic Calvert-Lewin as Leeds try to expose the space behind Pedro Porro, who is expected to be encouraged to attack amid Tottenham’s need for three points.

Okafor's injury impacts midfield selection. The in-form Ao Tanaka will deservedly start next to Ethan Ampadu in deeper midfield with Anton Stach pushed slightly further ahead, being part of the duo behind Calvert-Lewin - who last week scored his second open play goal of 2026 - in a 3-4-2-1 formation.

In such a game Farke might have wanted to lean on Ilia Gruev to steady the midfield away from home but the Bulgarian has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a meniscus knee injury picked up in training ahead of the Bournemouth clash.

Sean Longstaff is perhaps the closest in profile to Gruev, aside from Ampadu, but the summer signing has not started a Premier League game since November. Farke may have opted to drop Stach further back should Okafor have been available on the left - but this seems less likely now.

As for Leeds, they could have safety secured by kick-off should West Ham lose to Arsenal. If they manage to win or draw, then Leeds can take themselves over the line by matching or beating the Hammers' result.

Predicted XI: Darlow; Rodon, Bijol, Struijk; Bogle, Ampadu, Tanaka, Justin; Aaronson, Stach; Calvert-Lewin.

Eddie Reimer will take today's press conference ahead of Leeds United's trip to Tottenham with Daniel Farke absent

Assistant coach Eddie Riemer will be taking today's press conference with Daniel Farke ill and resting up. Leeds United could well be mathematically safe from relegation by the time they kick-off against Tottenham Hotpsur on Monday evening.

Should West Ham United lose at home to title favourites Arsenal - who have just enjoyed a tremendous week - on Sunday, Leeds will then have an unassilable seven-point lead over the Hammers with two games for them to play.

If the Irons do get a result then Leeds can secure survival on their own accord by matching or beating West Ham's result. Either way, the picture looks promising. No team has been relegated with 43 points and that is what Leeds sit on right now.

That they are not already officially safe underlines how this really is a unique Premier League relegation battle.

Read what Eddie Riemer says in his pre-match press conference ahead of Monday's trip to Spurs in our live blog below.

That's all

That's it for now.

The fans chanting Farke's name

Very happy. He gets a lot of stick when things don't go out way. A lot of the time it's not deserved. So very happy for him.

Set-pieces

Very happy about these terms. Defending, attackiong, we need to preapre the best possible way. Big topic in the Premier League.

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Sitting on 43 points and the future

We're just focused on this season. We want to keep going. Being second in the form table. Everyone identifes with this team. 100% feel proud of that. The players always step up even if there is pressure. It is one of the basic things we want as a manager to be successful. We are tough to beat

Survival and taking on Spurs

It will be a huge test. They're now out of the relegation zone. We want to finish the season on a high and seal survival mathematically. I don't think [it's strange dynamic]. We will take it as it comes but be ready for whatever happens. We will prepare the next three sessions to be ready for a heated match. Not for me to judge De Zerbi but he has had an impact on the players. They are [aggresive]. You see his patterns from week to week. Tehya re becoming a different Tottenham team. Survival? It's massive. It seems like for us every season has to be a special season. Thought we needed a point per game but we need more. A special season.

Relationship with Farke

I'd wouldn't say either of us are bad guys [asked about whether he is good cop or bad cop]. We've also got an assistant Chris. I do the set pieces as well. Sometimes we have heated debates. He always wants to hear our thoughts then he makes up his match.

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Stach

Wouldn't expect someone of this height to has his technique. Can hit the ball. Sometimes you are surprised how hard he hits it.

Gudmundsson

Gabi will be out for this week. Will assess him on a daily basis. Another one with Noah - picked up a calf strain. Will miss the next two games. Hope he will be available for final day. Got it after FA Cup game but in Burnley in pulled the right one. Pascal did not train today with a hip [problem], he got a hit.

Riemer here on Farke

He's ill didn;t dound too good but I'm sure he will be alright!

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Today's possible agenda

Survival being just a result away

Taking on relegation rivals Tottenham

Roberto De Zerbi's impact

Update on Gabriel Gudmundsson injury

Transfer update on Jack Harrison

Jack Harrison has three games left to play for Fiorentina this season, and possibly for the foreseeable future.

The loanee requested to leave Leeds United when the Italian club came calling in January, amid a dearth of game time under Daniel Farke following his attempt to reintegrate him into the squad this season.

Sources in Florence have outlined to Leeds Live that the current feeling of Fiorentina is that the 29-year-old has played amply, but has not done enough to warrant his £6million buy-out clause being triggered. One contact claims the club has indeed already made this decision final.

Read on.

Edmund Riemer to take today's press conference

The assistant coach is filling in for Daniel Farke, who is ill and resting up ahead of Monday.

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Roberto De Zerbi on Leeds

The new Spurs boss said former United academy graduate Archue Gray could well become the captain of the club one day.

He also outlined which four current Leeds players have impressed him.

“Their style is very clear. They have a great organisation on the pitch, with the ball and without the ball. "They have good players, [Dominic] Calvin-Lewin, [Noah] Okafor, [Ao] Tanaka, I think, and [Ethan] Ampadu are all very good players. “Not to fight against relegation, but at a higher level. But the focus is on us. Not because we become arrogant, but because we have the quality. "The quality is enough if we play like we know, like we can, to win the game, for sure.”

Injury state of play

The main question lies around Gabriel Gudmundsson and his availability to face Spurs. The left-back had to sit out the win over Burnley with a hamstring injury picked up at Wembley.

The initial forecast ruled him out of the Tottenham trip too but the club's medical have made it a knack of getting players back ahead of time.

Ilia Gruev, though, will not be a beneficiary of this, having suffered a knee meniscus injury that rules him out for the rest of the season.

Farke will outline if there have been any subsequent issues to other players today.

Welcome

Let's start by outlining how Leeds can mathematically secure their Premier League survival this weekend.

If West Ham lose

Simply, if West Ham fall to defeat against Arsenal, who have had a title boost after their convincing win over Fulham coupled with Manchester City drawing at Everton, then Leeds will have their safety rubber-stamped.

That is because West Ham currently sit seven points behind United with three games to go. Therefore, a defeat at home to the Gunners would mean they would need seven points from two games to catch Leeds - impossible. West Ham play Arsenal on Sunday evening.

Read the other two scenarios here.

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Roberto De Zerbi is having to contend without a score of key players ahead of Monday's bout with Leeds United

Leeds United will see Antonin Kinsky continue in goal for Tottenham Hotspur in Monday night’s Premier League clash with first choice goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario still unavailable.

Kinsky hit the headlines in March when he was taken off by former boss Igor Tudor just 17 minutes into the club’s 5-2 Champions League defeat to Atletico Madrid, by which time he had conceded three goals.

With Vicario yet to return from an operation on a hernia, Kinsky has started the last four games and re-steadied himself, keeping a clean sheet against bottom club Wolves last month.

He is set to stay in between the sticks with new boss Roberto De Zerbi outlining that Vicario will not be ready in time for Monday's meeting with Leeds. Dominic Solanke also remains a doubt with a leg muscle injury, having missed the win over Aston Villa last weekend.

James Maddison has made the Spurs bench for the last three games, after coming back from an anterior cruciate ligament injury, but De Zerbi threw cold water on his game time prospects. He explained: “I'm thinking about James Madison because I'm watching a top, top player.

“Maybe he's not ready yet to play, but as a physical condition, not for the rhythm, for the intensity of the game. We are playing in the Premier League, the most difficult league in terms of intensity and rhythm.”

Meanwhile full-back Ben Davies is expected to miss the match while Spurs have five other players out for the rest of the season; Xavi Simons, Wilson Odobert, Mohammed Kudus (who scored against Leeds back in October), Dejan Kulusevski and Cristian Romero.

On the test of facing Leeds itself, De Zerbi added: “We're going to play against one of the best teams at this moment because in the last five, six games they won against Man United.

“They drew in Bournemouth, playing well. They won at home two times, Wolves and Burnley. For that, we have big respect. We can't think in a different way. We have to keep this mentality.

“We must remain humble. Nothing changes. We have to prepare for an important game. The same way we are playing. We didn't play so well in Wolves, but in the first 30 minutes, we played okay.

“Against Brighton at home, we played 90 minutes and extra time very well. We have to stay focused on this type of performance. This type of attitude. This type of spirit and showing the quality of the players.”

Mathematically they may not be secure, but with more points than any team has ever been relegated with in a 38-game season, Leeds are effectively safe

Leeds United may no longer be part of the relegation scrap down at the bottom of the Premier League table, but they are still a massive part of the conversation of what happens next. Daniel Farke's side are clear from any drop talk with a seven point advantage over West Ham and with just three games to play.

Mathematically they may not be safe yet, but with more points than any team has ever been relegated with in a 38-game season, Leeds are effectively safe. However, with Tottenham Hotspur to play on Monday night and then a match at West Ham on the last day of the season, Farke's team will have a major say in who goes down.

West Ham face Arsenal on Sunday and should the Gunners win, as is expected, Spurs could be four points clear with far greater points difference if they beat Leeds. At the same time, an extension of Leeds' unbeaten run on Monday would ensure Spurs stay in deep trouble.

Former Liverpool defender and Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher believes the Hammers' only chance is to ensure they go into the last game against Leeds with a chance of staying up.

Speaking first about Sunday's game against the Gunners, he said; “Are they going to beat Arsenal? I find that difficult to believe. They’ve almost got to hope that Leeds go there (to Tottenham) and get a point. Could they get a point at home to Arsenal? Yes."

The following week West Ham visit Newcastle, while Spurs are at Chelsea two days later because of the FA Cup final.

"Both tough games, but you can imagine the motivation inside Chelsea and their supporters wanting to send Tottenham down. Imagine that," added Carragher, looking at the penultimate round of games.

“Then you’re looking at them two fixtures thinking ‘could we get a better result than (Spurs v) Chelsea?’ This situation here (this weekend) gives Tottenham a great opportunity to almost put it to bed. West Ham have got to hope that they can get it to the last day.”

Leeds can officially rule themsleves out of the relegation battle this weekend - here is how

In the eyes of many, Leeds United are safe from relegation following the 3-1 win over Burnley last week.

The Whites sit on 43 points with three games remaining and have relegation rivals Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United play. Leeds will be hopeful of getting a result at home to Brighton & Hove Albion between these two games too.

But until Leeds have officially secured survival, Daniel Farke will not be celebrating, he says. The results over the weekend have left Leeds seven points clear of the drop zone with Spurs leaping out of the bottom three due to their win over Aston Villa and West Ham sinking into it after a 3-0 loss to Brentford.

There are bound to be more twists and turns in the final few weeks and Leeds can play their part in deciding who goes down amid their meetings with West Ham on the final day but first, Tottenham on Monday.

United can mathematically secure their place in next season’s Premier League this coming weekend, and they might not have to kick a ball. Here are the three ways Leeds can officially achieve their main season objective.

If West Ham lose

Simply, if West Ham fall to defeat against Arsenal, who have had a title boost after their convincing win over Fulham coupled with Manchester City drawing at Everton, then Leeds will have their safety rubber-stamped.

That is because West Ham currently sit seven points behind United with three games to go. Therefore, a defeat at home to the Gunners would mean they would need seven points from two games to catch Leeds - impossible. West Ham play Arsenal on Sunday evening.

If West Ham draw and Leeds get a result vs Spurs

Should West Ham manage to secure a draw against Arsenal then Leeds would need to secure a result at Tottenham to take them over the line. In this scenario, a draw would do given it would keep the gap to seven points with two games to go.

The Hammers being at home increases the chances of the Irons getting a point - but Arsenal will have new fire in them given this weekend’s results and possibly having booked their place in the Champions League final.

If Leeds beat Spurs

Regardless of how West Ham do, should Leeds beat Tottenham, they will be safe. A draw will still keep Spurs within that six-point range and if West Ham draw and Leeds lose, the relegation battle is technically still on.

However, a win for Leeds not only puts West Ham beyond reach but Spurs too - Tottenham would slip to nine points behind the Whites with two games to play. The cards are in Leeds’ favour - just match or better West Ham’s result and they are finally there.

Leeds United are next in action when they face rejuvenated Tottenham Hotspur in their next Premier League game

Roberto De Zerbi is hopeful Tottenham’s injury problems did not get worse against Aston Villa on Sunday evening.

While Spurs' Premier League prospects received a massive boost with an excellent performance and vital 2-1 victory at Villa Park, there were fears their swingeing injury situation had deteriorated.

However, Rodrigo Bentancur came off with what looked like a knock and Micky van de Ven was limping at the end. De Zerbi confirmed Bentancur was merely tired and that van de Ven was OK.

That said, Tottenham will still have plenty to worry about in their next match, which is against Leeds United at Elland Road on Monday, May 11.

As things stand Cristian Romero is out for the rest of the season with a knee injury, as are Xavi Simons and Mohammed Kudus who has a thigh injury.

Winger Wilson Odobert has ruptured his ACL, Ben Davies has fractured his ankle and Dejan Kulusevski has not played all season.

Goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario has missed the last four with a hernia albeit he has not yet been ruled out for the rest of the campaign.

James Maddison has made the bench after coming back from a knee injury but is doubtful to start on Monday night and Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s England rival Dominic Solanke is struggling with a hamstring.

As for Leeds, Ilia Gruev ’s season is over, while Gabi Gudmundsson has effectively been ruled out by Daniel Farke.

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Roberto De Zerbi has hailed Leeds United

Tottenham Hotspur manager Roberto De Zerbi has hailed Leeds United for their performances of late and described the club as 'deserving' of keeping their Premier League status this season.

Leeds have long been locked in a relegation fight with Spurs and a host of other clubs including West Ham and Nottingham Forest. Daniel Farke's men head to Tottenham next Monday evening for a match that had been earmarked as crucial for both sides to stay in the division.

That scenario is no longer really a threat for Leeds, who look safe following Friday night's win at home to Burnley, which has taken the club to 43 points in the table, a total which no side has ever been relegated on during the 38-games era of the Premier League. Leeds could even be officially confirmed as safe from the drop before they travel to London next week, with a win for Arsenal on Sunday against West Ham making it impossible for the Hammers to catch Leeds.

Next Monday still remains a huge night for Spurs, however, with just one point between them and the Hammers in the league table. Looking ahead to their next match, De Zerbi has called for a new focus after guiding Tottenham to successive victories which has lifted them out the bottom three.

That call came along with praise for the job Farke has done. “We have to play another three games, starting on Monday night with Leeds," said the Spurs boss.

"Leeds are playing very well. They are deserving of staying in this position in the table. We can’t forget what the situation was before Wolverhampton.

"The crucial thing now is to keep in our heads what was the situation before the Wolverhampton game. This is the most important memory to keep in our heads because in football it's very easy to change. If you lose you are stupid, if you win you are a champion. No, we have to find the balance.

"We have to work this week because Leeds is another very tough game and to remember in ourselves what we have done in the past, in the last month."