Leeds United continued their resurgence with an emphatic 4–1 win over Crystal Palace at Elland Road on Saturday night, stretching their unbeaten run in the Premier League to four matches.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin once again stole the spotlight, with the 28-year-old forward scoring twice to maintain his red-hot form. His brace lifted him to six Premier League goals in just four appearances for the Whites.
Further goals after the break from captain Ethan Ampadu and Anton Stach sealed a comfortable and convincing victory for Daniel Farke’s side, who are increasingly showing the signs of a team capable of staying in the top flight.
Leeds have now picked up eight points from their last four league games, a dramatic shift after losing six of their previous seven. The turnaround has been swift and decisive, with momentum firmly back on their side.
Daniel Farke was left stunned by Leeds United captain Ethan Ampadu
The 25-year-old Welsh midfielder only scored the third goal of his Leeds United career in his 101st appearance for the club against Crystal Palace on Saturday night.
Ampadu is not known for his scoring ability. However, he showed excellent instincts inside the penalty box to get into a good position and hit the back of the net at Elland Road.
However, the Leeds head coach was adamant that Ampadu lacks a striker’s instincts, insisting he has never shown anything remotely like that in training.
But Farke stressed the importance of the Welshman in the team because of his consistency and the way he leads the squad, on and off the pitch.
Farke told BBC Sport: “He definitely has no striker instincts, believe me, I see him every day in training.
“But about him we can sing his praises, he has for such a long time delivered on a daily basis, a weekly basis.
“He has developed into a leader and a top player. One of our key players, if not the most important player, is my captain. He is in the heart of the game; he is fantastic.”
Ampadu is the most important player for Farke in the Leeds squad
Ampadu has been a model of consistency since he joined Leeds from Chelsea in 2023, and is the first name on Daniel Farke’s team sheets.
It was no surprise when he was made the club captain at Leeds when Liam Cooper left the club at the end of the 2023/24 campaign.
Farke has often rushed the Welshman back from injury to get him back into the team, as it seems the manager cannot envision an eleven with Ampadu.
Despite the arrival of two midfielders in the summer, the Welshman has remained undroppable for Farke when fit and available to play.
| Appearances | 101 |
|---|---|
| Goals Scored | 3 |
| Assists | 2 |
He is a hugely popular member of the squad, which was evident in the way the rest of the players celebrated him scoring a goal against Palace on Saturday night.
Ampadu’s presence in the team adds calmness and leadership, and Farke is right, he is probably the most important player in the current Leeds squad.
Ampadu is a great leader, a force to be reckoned with. When he is fit and on form, there is no other player like him. Ampadu is loyal, he is Leeds United through and through. #ALAW #MOT