Daniel Farke’s Leeds United unloaded on Newcastle United at Elland Road on Monday, using a 4-1 win to surge into third on the Premier League table.
Leeds are now 2-2-0 to give them eight points, ahead of Hull City on goal differential and four points behind Arsenal and Manchester City.
MORE — Latest Premier League table
Bazoumana Toure came off the bench to score Newcastle’s 90th minute goal as the Magpies lose for the first time this season, dropping to a 1-2-1. Their five points leave them 12th.
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Farke takes advantage of younger model Jaissle
Farke and Jaissle are both German managers but the similarities go deeper than that. Farke came under criticism when he lead Norwich City to the Premier League with attack-forward play and refused to settle down when the quality took the next step. There were similar speed bumps at Leeds, but he learned from them. Jaissle’s talent at Newcastle runs much deeper than Farke’s Canaries did, and the former Hoffenheim defender will have more luck, sooner with the Magpies, but his men were overwhelmed away from home. Farke’s system is solid, his players get it, and they’ve been around the block. This might’ve been a perfect storm. That doesn’t mean Leeds won’t hang around the top-half of the table and push for Europe, though. They have attacking depth and a physical edge. These three points could be the difference when jockeying for position later in the season... maybe even against Newcastle.
Nico Gonzalez concussion crushes Newcastle’s midfield
Newcastle have a number of promising young midfielders in Lewis Miley, Aladji Bamba, and Sean Steur. But there’s a Premier League learning curve there for the last two, and Nico Gonzalez’s concussion led to Steur partnering with Miley... it didn’t go well. Miley, after all, is just 20 despite being part of the Magpies set up for a while. With Joelinton out of the lineup, it just wasn’t there for Newcastle tonight as Steur made a couple of errors. Maybe Jacob Ramsey would’ve done better. Maybe Bamba, too. But Newcastle will mostly be thankful that the international break will follow their next game so Gonzalez shouldn’t miss too much time.
Leeds vs Newcastle final score: 4-1
Lewis Miley o.g. 23', Dominic Calvert-Lewin 34', 45+1', Noah Okafor 59', Bazoumana Traore 90'
What’s next?
Newcastle return to St. James’ Park for a 10am ET Saturday visit from Hull City, and Leeds host Crystal Palace on Sunday.
What went wrong? “It’s football. It’s the Premier League. It was clear from the start. I’ve said many times that we will have ups and downs. Tonight we faced that challenge. It’s tough and difficult to digest but not a lot of time til the next match and that is at home and that is good.”
“You need to bring the fundamentals on the pitch especially against a physical strong team. Leeds is so intense, especially at home. We couldn’t match that in the first half.”
Message to the players? “This is also a challenge we need to overcome, and we will. We need to learn out of it. We need to bring first the fundamentals on the pitch and we can build out of it.”
There won’t be a confidence hit from this? “No.”
You were visibly upset with the clean sheet being spoiled late: “For each and every manager it would be a nightmare after such a game to concede so late. It doesn’t take anything away that my boys brilliant. Perfect start with eight points but it’s never perfect, there’s always something to moan about.”
So much energy on the pitch: “Energy, quality, good structure in and out of possession. It’s difficult against Newcastle with their pace and strength on counterattack. We found the balance and in the first half we were the dominant side.”
A bit of luck on the first goal: “I wouldn’t say lucky because we brought ourselves into a good shooting position. You have to ask the opponent a question. It’s most important to combine into this area and to be brave.”
Calvert-Lewin is flying: “Well-deserved. He’s in outstanding shape and he plays with lots of confidence. I expect him to lead the group. He’s done that and his workload is never in doubt. He’s one of the standout strikers of this league.”
Rough night? “Sorry to the fans. We are incredibly disappointed — about the performance, about the result. Sorry to the fans.”
What went wrong? “I think it was first of all about the duels. I think they won most of the duels — second balls, first balls. They just wanted it more, it looked like. We have to do better.”
What can you learn from the loss? “We can learn quite a lot. If we are not 100%, it’s not enough. With our quality we have to bring 100% energy from each player. This is the firstn topic of all because it will never work if the energy and attitude are not 100%.”
What did the manager say after the game? “He said quite the same. He hopes that we don’t have these nights too often. We have to learn from it and now we have to show character and do much better.”
Did you imagine you could go from free agent to Elland Road hero in one year? “It’s going well. It’s just what happens when you back yourself. Resilience, perseverence, you have to have it to stay at this level if you want to stay here.”
You said you yearned for nights like this under the lights: “It was a perfect night. We felt the atmosphere and we often feed off what the fans bring to the stadium. It’s very much a mutual experience, we bounce off each other. It’s the 12th man and ultimately it pulls the ball into the back of the net.
Possession: Leeds 51%
Shot attempts: Leeds 15-7
Shots on target: Leeds 6-5
Touches in opposing box: Leeds 30-18
Corners: 5-5
Yellow cards: Calvert-Lewin 44', Murphy 54', Livramento 90+1'
Unsure if a riot was predicted, but it’s what happened in favor of Leeds as they sing the Kaiser Chiefs hit after rising to third on the table.
Barnes works the ball out wide to Valentino Livramento, whose cross is settled and finished by 20-year-old Bazoumana Toure.
That’s two goals in three appearances across all competitions for Toure, who had five goals and 12 assists for Hoffenheim last season.
Calvert-Lewin exits for Lukas Nmecha, then Newcastle make a move as Aladji Bamba replaces Lewis Miley.
The 73rd minute sees Brenden Aaronson, Melvin Bard, and Harry Wilson plugged into the game for Tanaka, Okafor, and Gudmundsson.
To be fair, it would’ve been difficult to be worse, but Newcastle are now working the ball around a bit and sending in crosses.
Harvey Barnes had a penalty shout go unheeded, and it could’ve gone either way.
Ethan Ampadu’s long throw is knocked back toward the edge of the 18.
Noah Okafor is there and steers a shot through traffic for 4-0.
That is a high-quality bit of precision.
Tino Livramento, Joe Willock, and Bazoumana Toure will look to rescue something for Newcastle in the 58th minute as Dedic, Fernandez-Pardo, and Murphy exit with their side down 3-0.
Calvert-Lewin’s header has been confirmed to have changed directions off Bogle, so now both players are on two goals for the season.
Jaissle is telling his men to work it out and will not make a single change at the break.
There could be any number of changes at the break as almost any Newcastle player not named Hornicek has struggled to affect the game. Wissa and Fernandez-Pardo may also get a reprieve.
Leeds have had no passengers. Muharemovic and Justin have been strong for them, as has Anton Stach.
An absolute nightmare for Newcastle.
Calvert-Lewin gets between Miley and Botman for a long ball, sending the latter for concessions.
3-0.
Wissa leads a rush and Barnes runs onto a brilliant chance.
He’s beaten James Trafford but Muharemovic gets a thigh on the ball to limit the damage to a corner kick.
Shots are 10-0 to Leeds and the Miley-Steur midfield is being destroyed right now. Nico Gonzalez’s exit has provided a jarring absence.
Newcastle have no idea what to do with Leeds.
Hornicek makes a ridiculous double save inside his six, both shots coming from pretty close.
Steur is struggling right now.
Sean Steur makes a bad giveaway with a slow, low pass in his final third, but Newcastle have plenty of time to recover.
Harvey Barnes watches as James Justin weighs up a cross for what seems like ages, and Calvert-Lewin heads it home. Did it touch Bogle on the way in? Either way, 2-0 in the 34th minute.
Some good fortune on the strike but Leeds deserve their lead.
Ao Tanaka steps into a shot from inside the arc and it turns off two Newcastle players, popping into the air to leave Hornicek on an island.
Hosts go ahead in the 32nd minute.
Nico Elvedi is at the back post for a prime opportunity to shoot across goal.
Maybe he’s aiming for the near post but either way the Swiss back slices way wide of the mark.
Shots are 4-0 to Leeds, but it’s 0-0 into the 28th minute.
Newcastle’s big signing from Man City has not recovered after an early shot to the head.
Sean Steur takes his place in the 19th minute and it’s a concussion sub so it will not count toward the Magpies’ five substitutions.
Leeds have been the more promising side and Lukas Hornicek’s fine start to life in the Premier League continues.
James Justin has his back to goal and wheels to put a screened, close-range shot toward the line and Hornicek gets low very quick to slap the ball to the right.
0-0, 15'.
Nico Gonzalez gets a deflected pass into the side of his head and needs medical attention but stays in the game.
Yoane Wissa then catches Tarik Muharemovic with an arm while challenging for a header and the latter gets a whistle.
0-0 into the 10th minute.
Matthias Jaissle confirmed that Anthony Elanga suffered an injury in training and that it is likely cost him some time.
Elanga will need an MRI scan.
Newcastle in dark blue while Leeds, of course, are all in white at home.
Obviously, three points, but it’s more about context.
This is a bit of a litmus test game given the upheaval at Newcastle and last year’s upwards trajectory for Leeds. One of these teams could make a surprise charge to Europe but would likely need the other to fall away.
Newcastle next have Hull at home, while Leeds host Palace before the international break. And that break is longer than usual, so a pair of wins could leave one of these two in the top four for three weeks.
Livramento is on the bench as are Jacob Ramsey and Joe Willock as Jaissle opts for Fernandez-Pardo and Jacob Murphy in his front four.
Newcastle XI
Hornicek
Hall
Botman
Thiaw
Dedic
Gonzalez
Miley
Barnes
Fernandez-Pardo
Murphy
Wissa
Subs: Pope, Livramento, Schar, Bamba, Steur, Toure, Willock, Ramsey, M. Miley
To answer our previous question, neither Aaronson or Wilson start the game.
Leeds XI
Trafford
Bogle
Gudmundsson
Muharemovic
Elvedi
Justin
Ampadu
Tanaka
Stach
Okafor
Calvert-Lewin
Subs: Zetterer, Bard, Bijol, Longstaff, Aaronson, Wilson, James, Bahoya, Nmecha
We’re still over 90 minutes from team news but here’s what to monitor at that time.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Lukas Nmecha have been rotating starts at center forward, while Brenden Aaronson, Harry Wilson, and Noah Okafor give a rich vein of choices on the wings.
Leeds won’t have Mateo Joseph or Joe Rodon.
Newcastle are waiting on long-term ailments affecting Joelinton, Dan Burn, and Will Osula, while backup goalkeeper Ewen Jaouen is 50/50.
Will Jaissle give a start to Matias Fernandez-Pardo, who has looked dangerous coming off the bench, or continue with Harvey Barnes, Anthony Elanga, and Yoane Wissa?
New star Amar Dedic may not be able to go, and it would also give Jaissle a chance to start Tino Livramento at right back.
Cue the Martin Scorsese “absolute cinema” meme.
Newcastle trailed 1-0, 2-1, and 3-2 but won in the 12th minute of stoppage time through Harvey Barnes.
USMNT man Brenden Aaronson, who has since signed a new Leeds contract, scored twice for Leeds.
Read the recap here, or watch the video highlights below.
The record books show a very even series over nearly 102 years since the clubs first met for a 1-1 draw on November 15, 1925.
Newcastle have won 41 times with 22 draws, while Leeds have claimed victory on 39 occasions.
Lately it’s been a different kind of even. Leeds swept Newcastle in the 2020-21 season but have drawn four times with two losses. The latest meeting was Newcastle’s thrilling 4-3 victory on January 7 this.
Let’s dig up those highlights....
This is a sort of ‘feast or famine’ prediction, as Jaissle’s Magpies have excited but overperformed while Farke’s Leeds have out-earned their performances as well.
Check it out.
Leeds have 3.44 expected points, 3.85 expected goals and 4.49 expected goals against. They have 5 points, 3 goals, and 2 goals conceded.
Newcastle have 2.38 expected points, 3.38 expected goals, and 5.89 expected goals against. The have 5 points, 6 goals, and 4 conceded.
The Magpies likely have an edge in talent but Leeds are at home and Farke’s had his team together for a long time aside from standout defenders Tarik Muharemovic and Nico Elvedi (plus goalkeeper James Trafford).
All this feels like a number of good reasons to dial up a draw. Leeds 1-1 Newcastle.
Kick off time: 3pm ET Monday
Venue: Elland Road — Beeston, Leeds
TV Channel: USA
Stream link: Watch on USA
