Elland Road expansion plans - send your viewspublished at 19:50 GMT 8 January
19:50 GMT 8 January
Image source, Leeds United
Leeds City council have approved plans to redevelop Elland Road, with capacity set to increase by more than 15,000.
The expansion will see Leeds United's ground become the seventh largest stadium in English football, as it jumps from 37,645 seats to about 53,000.
Chairman Paraag Marathe said: "As custodians of this great club, we are committed to its long-term success.
"Today's decision supports our ambition to establish Leeds in the Premier League and continue progressing over the years to come."
The club said the regeneration would help meet demand from supporters, with 26,000 people currently on a waiting list for a season ticket.
It will allow Leeds to bid to host fixtures in major international tournaments and generate about £29m annually for the region's economy, the club said.
So, how do you feel about the expansion? Are you excited for the redevelopment or do you think it is not a priority?
Farke on not risking players, 'love' for the cup and Perri criticismpublished at 17:52 GMT 8 January
17:52 GMT 8 January
Nicola Pearson BBC Sport journalist
Leeds United boss Daniel Farke has been speaking to the media before Sunday's FA Cup third round tie against Derby County at Pride Park (kick-off 12:00 GMT).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
Farke began by paying tribute to club legend Terry Yorath, who has died at the age of 75: "Very sad news. All our thoughts and prayers are with his family. Very sad news for us, a proper club legend. Always sad to hear this. It is a part of life and he will never be forgotten - he will always be part of our Leeds family. His legacy will live forever."
The Leeds boss confirmed that if it is "risky" to do so, then he will not play Jayden Bogle at Derby and it will "more or less be the same group of players as for the last game" who are available, with Sam Byram a "little question mark" because of a back problem.
Despite a "tough run" of four games in 10 days, Farke insisted he is a "big believer in cup competitions" and "loves this traditional cup". However, despite always wanting to win the FA Cup, he also acknowledged the "big priority this season is to stay in the Premier League, so we won't risk any players".
He added: "I don't want to come across that it is over-ambition off back of defeat that I want to win a major competition. We know it is not realistic as promoted side, but we have shown, whether it be a quarter-final, semi-final, final, against top sides we are capable to win this. But to get there, you have to make sure you win early rounds and we respect Derby."
Farke confirmed that Karl Darlow will start in goal on Sunday, and on Lucas Perri, who has come under criticism for recent mistakes, he said: "Always like to be open and honest about everything. Of course, last few games Lucas had situations he could have saved and decision-making wasn't great. It is better not to hide this fact and talk nonsense. Important to hold hand up and be self-critical."
He added: "You can't just take praise, have to take negative aspects too. And if you don't meet expectations then you will get criticised. I'd rather try not to sugar-coat it and be honest about it, instead of hiding behind elephant in the room."
With Joel Piroe and Jack Harrison struggling for game time in recent weeks, Farke explained how highly he rates Piroe for his "finishing skills" and this is important for them in games they dominate, but it is "not failure of Joel" that they have had to alter their approach recently. He also praised Harrison for being "professional" and when an opportunity next comes, he "has to use it and shine".
Throughout the season, Opta's "supercomputer" is continually predicting how the final table might look and what percentage chance clubs have of winning the title, finishing top four, in Europe and also relegation.
But for those teams currently occupying the relegation spots in the Premier League, they may want to avert their gaze.
Having only just picked up their first win last weekend, most Wolves fans will have been settled on the fact they would be returning to the Championship come the end of the season.
And Opta's predictions would suggest the same.
Of course, 14 points off 17th place with 17 games to go, it is still very much mathematically possible to save themselves - and with five points in three games there has been an uptick in form - but with a predicted chance of survival of just 0.73%, it would take something incredibly special.
Burnley's return to the top flight has not been the easiest.
While the Clarets have been picking up points, it has not been at the rate needed to get themselves out of the danger zone.
Like Wolves, Opta's statistics and simulations suggest Scott Parker's side will be back in the second tier next term, with just a 6.59% survival chance unless they can start turning more draws into wins and eking out points from the narrow defeats.
As for West Ham, the defeat by Forest could prove to be one of the most damaging for their season.
A classic six-pointer, a win could have seen them close the gap to just one point. Instead, it sits at seven and sees them with a now 88.76% chance of relegation.
The change of manager from Graham Potter to Nuno Espirito Santo is yet to have the desired effect and both the head coach and the ownership are coming under pressure from the fanbase.
It was pressure that Daniel Farke was feeling at Leeds before their turnaround in results that has left them with just a 7.49% chance of relegation, while Sean Dyche may once again be steering a team to Premier League safety with a less than 10% chance of dropping out of the top flight.
But this is the Premier League, and teams have upset the odds before.
Paul: Superb - game of the season. Well done Newcastle. That win was for Kevin Keegan.
Colin: Eddie said it would be a "season defining month". I think we just saw a season defining match. Behind three times and came back three times with a little extra oomph at the end to win the game. Howay the lads.
John: Quite a frustrating watch for Newcastle fans. Leaky defence, individual errors and a slow/predictable build up to attacks. We have much to improve, but 100% for our never say die mentality. Kevin Keegan will be proud of his former club.
Lee: What a game to win, Leeds more than played their part and were unlucky not to at least get a point but we will take that as we've been on the other end a few times ourselves!
Leeds fans
Crhis: Probably one of the most exciting/stressful games I've watched in a long time. Personally I think Farke bringing subs on so late in the game lost us the three points. Perri with another couple of shockers didn't help either
Andy: Great effort from Leeds in a cauldron, but sat far too deep in the second half and not as disciplined as of late. Perri never looked commanding or a safe bet with with anything coming across into the box and it all felt desperate for the last 20 minutes. Hats off to Aaronson, but he looked tired a long time before he was replaced - as did some others.
Peter: I watched with dismay. We just cannot keep defending for a full 90 (plus) minutes after tremendous opening. We relaxed after scoring again, then could not defend the corners...again! What a waste, we could be mid table by now. Can we buy a defender or two?
Richard: I sent a text to my brother after we went 3-2 up saying we would lose 4-3 .....knew we would try to defend it too deep. Should have put a few quid on it.
'A great of the game' and a 'gentleman' - Leeds fans remember Yorathpublished at 11:33 GMT 8 January
11:33 GMT 8 January
Image source, Hulton Archive via Getty Images
We asked for some of your favourite memories of Terry Yorath, following news that the former Leeds midfielder and ex-Wales manager has died aged 75.
Here are some of your replies:
Peter: We have lost another of Don Revie's great Leeds side of the 60s and 70s. Terry never gave an inch to his opponents and was a fiercely combative player who more than played his part in the successes of that team. I met him a few times and he was a real gentleman who always had time for a chat. Condolences to his family and friends.
Chris: Terry Yorath was a great force in the game. He came into a fabulous Leeds team and was unfairly criticised on occasions simply because he was not as good as Bremner or Giles. He would be the linchpin of most teams in his prime. Skilful and versatile and, in my book, a great of the game.
Richard: I "met" Terry Yorath once, about 25 years ago. I let him pull out of his driveway when I was stuck in the usual commuter traffic on the way to work. He smiled and waved a thank you. Made my day!
Andrew: I had the pleasure of meeting Terry at Elland Road in 2016, he was a gentleman and will be missed.
Watch Premier League highlights and analysispublished at 07:24 GMT 8 January
07:24 GMT 8 January
Pundits Danny Murphy and Stephen Warnock are on hand to bring you the action and talking points from the nine Premier League fixtures so far this week.
Newcastle 4-3 Leeds: What Farke saidpublished at 23:01 GMT 7 January
23:01 GMT 7 January
Media caption,
Leeds boss Daniel Farke spoke to BBC Match of the Day after his side's defeat by Newcastle: "It's football, it was a great advertisement for the Premier League. A game full of class. Of course there were mistakes otherwise there wouldn't be goals. But more or less football how we want to see it - emotional, offensive, great from us here at Newcastle. It was always clear the not-losing streak would come to an end and I would prefer to do it like this, a top performance from the lads.
"Of course it's heart-breaking to concede a penalty in the 91st minute and the 12th minute of added time, the winner for them. Heart-breaking.
"We should have been a bit smarter in the final stages in terms of game management because it was like a basketball game and a point for us would have been a bit more valuable. We were a bit naïve."
On conceding a late penalty: "If this is a penalty in this situation then I've got no clue about football. It is not in the sense of the game to give away such a decisive penalty. Of course it's heart-breaking for the lads."
Speaking to Sky Sports, he added: "It was more like on the line, but not one intention to play the ball so in this sense of the game, it should never be a penalty but we have to accept it. There was a lot of pressure on the referees with the whole home crowd looking for a penalty."
Leeds United were the first team since Leeds themselves to go ahead three times in a Premier League game and then lose, doing so previously in November 2022 against Spurs in a 4-3 defeat.
'We fight for each other' - Okaforpublished at 12:49 GMT 7 January
12:49 GMT 7 January
Image source, Getty Images
Forward Noah Okafor says it would have been "impossible" for everything to be "perfect" from the beginning of the season for Leeds.
Daniel Farke's side struggled to find their feet back on their return to the Premier League, but a win over then in-form Chelsea in December started their current seven match unbeaten run.
"In the start, it was sometimes a [story of being] little bit unlucky losers," Okafor, who joined the club in the summer, told BBC Radio Leeds.
"We had to find each other, but from the first day I joined, I felt like home. I felt really comfortable. It's like a family and I knew maybe we need some time.
"This wasn't normal [form] because we were loads of new players. It's impossible that after two, three weeks everything is perfect and smooth. You have to be some weeks with them [new team-mates], to train and work on some tactical stuff.
"Now, even every day, every training, every game, it gets better and better. So now we also can see it on the pitch that we are like one family, we fight for each other. That's why we are unbeaten for seven games."
Boss Farke had been coming under pressure before this recent run of good form, but a tweak in system has helped the team move away from the relegation spots.
"In football you always have time pressure," Okafor said. "He's [Farke} a really good coach. He's so clear in what he wants and, how he wants to play.
"From the first day, when he spoke to me, he gave me freedom on the pitch. Sometimes, he wants small details. I think he's one of the best coaches that I had.
"He gave me full confidence. I can be how I really [want to] be on the pitch, so for me this is the most important.
"I'm so happy that we are now unbeaten and that he's the coach of Leeds. We have so many goals to achieve this season and we take it day by day, training by training."
Newcastle v Leeds: Key stats and talking pointspublished at 09:23 GMT 7 January
09:23 GMT 7 January
Leeds take their unbeaten seven-match run to St James' Park to take on a Newcastle side that has won back-to-back league games for only the second time this season.
Leeds' stunning upturn in form since early December has helped them rise from 18th to a full eight points clear of the bottom three. They are also now only nine points off fifth-placed Chelsea, such has been the unpredictable nature of the top flight this season.
The 11 points they have picked up since losing 3-2 to Manchester City on 29 November is as many as they managed across their opening 13 league fixtures of the campaign.
Only two of those seven games have ended in a win, but given how tough their fixtures were with Liverpool twice, Chelsea and Manchester United all in the mix, it makes the achievement of Daniel Farke's side even more impressive.
In further news to boost a buoyant Leeds fanbase, only five Premier League teams that had an eight-point buffer above the bottom three after 20 or more matches went on to be relegated.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin may have drawn a blank in his past two games, but the in-form forward has scored six Premier League goals against Newcastle, only scoring more in his top-flight career against Crystal Palace (seven).
Newcastle enjoy a mini resurgence
After three frustrating matches without a win, Newcastle made it back-to-back league victories for only the second time this season against out-of-form Crystal Palace.
It stretched their unbeaten run at home to seven league games and they have scored exactly two goals in each of those matches at St James' Park.
Maybe more pleasing to head coach Eddie Howe will have been at the other end of the pitch, as his side finally ended their 12-match league run without a clean sheet dating back to early October.
Central to their performance against Palace was 19-year-old Lewis Miley. He once again excelled in the unfamiliar right-back role he has been parachuted into for the first time in his career over their past five matches. Defensively sound, he was also an attacking threat with an assist in an all-action performance.
He completed all 59 of his passes, which was the best 100% rate of any player in a top-flight game this season and the second highest by a Newcastle player on record since 2003-04.
Another player to receive praise was Yoane Wissa. The big-money signing from Brentford endured a frustrating start to his Newcastle career because of the injury he suffered on international duty that delayed his debut until December. His introduction to the starting XI has coincided with their two wins from two.
Image source, Leeds United
