Leeds United third in Premier League after 4-1 Newcastle win – Farke's turnaround explained
Leeds United are third in the Premier League after Monday's 4-1 home win over Newcastle United. Daniel Farke's unbeaten side have eight points from four games – their best top-flight start since 2001-02 under David O'Leary – and it traces back to a formation change nine months ago.
- Result: Leeds United 4-1 Newcastle United
- League position: Third, eight points from four games
- Next fixture: Crystal Palace at Elland Road on Saturday
- Form since switch: Only five defeats in 29 league games
- Manager: Daniel Farke, unbeaten this season
Farke's tactical shift: from back four to back three
The turning point came on 29 November when Farke switched from a back four to a back three at half-time against Manchester City. Leeds fought back from 2-0 down to level at 2-2 before conceding in stoppage time at Etihad Stadium. Starting with the 3 December home win over Chelsea, Leeds have lost only five of their past 29 league games – form that would place them fifth in a hypothetical table for that period.
Defensively, among ever-present clubs, only Arsenal, City and Nottingham Forest have conceded fewer goals since the switch. But the change has also unlocked the attack.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin thriving with a strike partner
Since last December, only Erling Haaland, Ollie Watkins and Joao Pedro have scored more top-flight goals than Dominic Calvert-Lewin's 14. Having toiled as a lone centre-forward in a 4-3-3, Calvert-Lewin has thrived with a proper partner, often Lukas Nmecha or Noah Okafor, who has seven goals and an assist in his past 11 league appearances.
Calvert-Lewin has said: "I enjoy having bodies around me." Against Crystal Palace on Saturday, he aims to become the first Leeds player to score in six consecutive league home games since Arthur Hydes in 1932.
Recruitment: height and physicality
In the 2025 summer window, Farke and new sporting director Adam Underwood targeted tall players to add "a special physicality" for the Premier League's demands. Of 10 permanent arrivals, eight – Jaka Bijol, Sebastiaan Bornauw, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, James Justin, Lukas Nmecha, Noah Okafor, Lucas Perri and Anton Stach – stand over 6ft.
Farke said in July 2025: "I wouldn't say it's coincidence that they are all tall players but, of course, if you join the Premier League and you have one of the smallest groups, you expect that probably there is more pressure on you than there was in the Championship. You have to make sure that you're also good in defending crosses."
This summer, after losing centre-back Pascal Struijk to Brighton, Farke moved for two World Cup players – Bosnia-Herzegovina's Tarik Muharemovic and Switzerland's Nico Elvedi – to bolster his defence. Muharemovic has played every league minute in front of 6ft 5in England international James Trafford, who became the most expensive British goalkeeper in history for the second time when he joined for an initial £40m from City.
Harry Wilson, one of the league's standout players last season, joined on a free transfer from Fulham. The additions look particularly shrewd.
The Elland Road effect
Elland Road was bouncing on Monday as 36,693 fans savoured the win. Before consecutive losses to City and Sunderland in February, Leeds had gone 25 evening kick-offs in league and play-off games without a home defeat, winning 20 and drawing five. The Newcastle win meant their new manager, Matthias Jaissle, became the latest coach welcomed to what fans call 'Daniel Farke Penitentiary'.
The numbers
- 8 points from 4 games – Leeds' best start since 2001-02
- 5 defeats in past 29 league games since 3 December
- 14 Premier League goals for Calvert-Lewin since last December
- 7 goals and 1 assist for Okafor in past 11 league appearances
- 25 evening home league/play-off games unbeaten before February
- 36,693 attendance at Elland Road on Monday
What was said
"I wouldn't say it's coincidence that they are all tall players but, of course, if you join the Premier League and you have one of the smallest groups, you expect that probably there is more pressure on you than there was in the Championship. You have to make sure that you're also good in defending crosses."
"I enjoy having bodies around me."
Farke's comments reveal a manager who adapted his squad to the league's physical demands. Calvert-Lewin's words show a striker liberated by the 3-4-3/3-5-2 system.
Why Farke's back three is working
The switch to a back three gave Leeds solidity and allowed the front two to combine. Calvert-Lewin no longer battles alone; Nmecha or Okafor play off him, dragging centre-backs out of position. The wing-backs push high, creating crosses for the tall forwards. Defensively, the extra centre-back protects the box, with Muharemovic impressive and Trafford commanding behind him. The result is a team that can defend crosses and punish opponents on the break.
Farke still alternates between 3-4-3 and 3-5-2, but the core principles remain. The recruitment of Bijol, Bornauw, Justin and Stach added height and aggression, while Wilson provides creativity. The blend of physicality and technical quality explains Leeds' rise to third.
Talking points
- Is Leeds' third place a true reflection of their quality or a fixture-list quirk? Their form over 29 games suggests genuine top-six credentials.
- Should Calvert-Lewin be recalled by England? Three goals this season and 14 since December make a strong case ahead of Thomas Tuchel's Nations League quadruple-header.
- Can Farke keep Leeds in the European places? The defence has been solid, but squad depth will be tested.
- Was the height-based recruitment a masterstroke or a gamble? So far, it looks inspired, but the season is long.
What happens next
Leeds host Crystal Palace at Elland Road on Saturday. Calvert-Lewin is chasing a sixth consecutive league home goal. A win would strengthen their top-four push and keep the European dream alive after 24 years. Farke will also monitor Calvert-Lewin's potential England recall on Friday as Tuchel names his squad.
Frequently asked questions
Where are Leeds United in the Premier League table?
Leeds are third after four games, with eight points, following their 4-1 win over Newcastle United.
Why did Daniel Farke change to a back three?
Farke switched from a back four to a back three at half-time against Manchester City on 29 November, a change that sparked a run of only five defeats in 29 league games.
Is Dominic Calvert-Lewin set for an England recall?
Calvert-Lewin has three goals in all competitions this season and 14 league goals since last December. He missed England's World Cup squad but is in contention for Thomas Tuchel's Nations League squad on Friday.
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