
Leeds United sit at the summit of the Championship table with a three-point lead over their rivals. Despite a 1-1 draw at home against Blackburn Rovers, the Whites have done extremely well during the festive period and have looked the most likely contender for automatic promotion. Sheffield United and Burnley have stumbled and Sunderland will need a really good run of results to break into the top two. If they can repeat what they did at the start of 2024 in 2025, Leeds would be almost certain to be playing in the Premier League next season.
The Whites are carrying the scars of last season’s failure to get promoted. Leeds would have been in the Premier League in any other season over the last two decades with 90 points but in an outlier of a campaign, they finished third and lost the playoff final to Southampton at Wembley.
Leeds do not want to commit the mistakes from last season and are determined to ensure that they finish in the top two to earn automatic promotion to the top flight of English football.
They did stumble towards the end of last season, which eventually allowed Leicester City and Ipswich Town to earn automatic promotion to the Premier League.
Leeds look like the real deal this season but last year’s experience means Daniel Farke and his players will not take anything for granted until promotion becomes a mathematical guarantee.
However, it seems Leeds look better equipped this season to handle the pressure of a promotion chase than last season and are in a better place to get the job done this year.
Leeds United are a more well-rounded team this year
Farke knew at Wembley that he would be in for a tough summer last year as Leeds were set to lose several key players following their failure to get promoted.
The Leeds boss painstakingly rebuilt the squad at the end of last season and despite the departures of Crysencio Summerville, Archie Gray and Georginio Rutter, the Whites look a better team this season.
Summer signings such as Ao Tanaka, Manor Solomon and Joe Rothwell have made a big difference and returning stars such as Brenden Aaronson have made a major impact.
Leeds are the top scorers in the Championship at this stage of the season but their top marksman, Joel Piroe, is yet to hit double figures this term.
The Whites have shared the load of goalscoring amongst different players and they have looked like a more complete attacking unit in the ongoing season.
Leeds depended heavily on Summerville for goals last season and once his form dropped towards the end of the season, the Whites struggled to get over the line.
They are no longer depending on one or two stars for the goals and creativity and different players are chipping in with the goods in front of the goal.
Last season’s experience will always stand them in good stead
The defeat at Wembley was heartbreaking as Leeds United became the first side since 1998 to score 90 or more points but not get promoted to the Premier League.
It was a painful experience for the team and several of the players are carrying the scars from last year. However, it could also be an advantage in the second half of the season.
All of Leeds’ top players now have the experience of being in the thick of a promotion race and they are again on course to equal or even better last season’s points haul.
Leeds are almost certain to get promoted to the Premier League if they score 90 points as their rivals are not as good or consistent as Leicester or Ipswich.
The Whites’ players would also know what to avoid and how to react to pressure when the race gets tighter towards the end of the season.
The Leeds stars are only likely to be more determined to ensure that they right the wrongs from last season and ensure the club are back in the big time in the 2025/26 campaign.
