Premier League news: Five key factors that helped Daniel Farke and Leeds United avoid relegation

As the 2025/26 season comes to a close, Leeds United can look back on it as one of their most successful campaigns this side of the millennium.

Here, Sports News Blitz writer Charlie Fawcett examines how a phenomenal season was masterminded.

A perfect summer transfer window

Admittedly, it was a quiet January – something many Leeds fans have come to expect!

However, this season, that was completely warranted as Leeds had already built a squad more than capable of achieving the goal of survival back in the summer.

Players like Lukas Nmecha, who consistently came in clutch as a bench option, and 14-goal star boy Dominic Calvert-Lewin were both brought in on free transfers that proved to be priceless.

At the same time, what has felt like decades of trouble at left-back came to an end with the signing of Swedish international Gabriel Gudmondsson.

And last but not least, who could forget the flair and that night at Old Trafford provided by Noah Okafor.

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Second half at the Etihad

It would be rude to have this conversation and not mention that fateful afternoon in November when everything changed.

Daniel Farke came into an away fixture against Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City with his job on the line – a worst-case scenario for any Premier League manager.

The Whites then found themselves 2-0 down at half-time in a game where they had literally offered no threat whatsoever, and it appeared as though City would cruise to victory.

This was until Farke made what turned out to be a masterclass of a tactical decision during the interval.

The German manager brought Jaka Bijol into the fold to form a five-player defence and subbed on Calvert-Lewin.

Not only did DCL find the net just four minutes into his sub-appearance, Leeds also looked like a different team, one who was putting the Citizens to the sword.

Phil Foden did find an injury-time winner to send Leeds home empty-handed, but that same set-up would subsequently help the Whites to four points from Chelsea and Liverpool.

Ultimately, that afternoon at the Etihad transformed the Whites’ season.

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Home advantage at Elland Road

As you come to expect with any Leeds side, the passionate supporter base often makes Elland Road a very tricky place to go.

The 2025/26 season was no different, with the iconic old ground holding its place as a fortress once more.

Elland Road only saw five away wins in the entire season, two of which came courtesy of Arsenal and Manchester City – a simply ludicrous feat for a newly promoted club.

It also provided countless brilliant moments, whether that be the battering of Chelsea or Ao Tanaka’s late equaliser against Liverpool.

The Leeds fans were, by all accounts, treated to a phenomenal season at their home ground.

Leeds sticking to their roots

I think that, in the same way the summer transfer window was crucial, it was just as important to Leeds that they kept the spine of their successful promotion team.

Players such as Ethan Ampadu, Joe Rodon, and Jayden Bogle moved seamlessly into the Premier League and needed little time to adjust, playing almost every minute they could as a result.

This has meant that players Leeds purchased for (relative) peanuts in the Championship are now priceless assets to a successful top-flight team.

Not only does this mean the players will likely remain with the club, but when it is eventually time to move them on, a hefty profit is there to be made.

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A historic FA Cup run

For most Leeds fans, the run to the FA Cup semi-finals this season was something they had quite literally never experienced.

However, I think it could only have been a good thing to go alongside the impressive league form.

Whether you look at it through the lens of momentum or morale, picking up extra wins was clearly hugely beneficial for Leeds.

It is also worth noting the way in which the games were won – the fourth-round tie as well as the quarter-final were both won emphatically in penalty shootouts.

Once again, that surely led to a huge mental boost within the camp.

Overall, I think the return of the ‘United are back’ chants in terraces up and down the country when Leeds are in town tells you all you need to know.

This season does not feel like a fluke either, but rather one that is going to provide a springboard for Leeds to rejuvenate their claims as a side right at the top of English football.

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