Leeds United have an FA Cup quarter-final against West Ham coming up on Sunday, but the bigger concern is the battle to stay up in their final seven Premier League matches.
They sit four points above the drop zone, yet form has been a real worry; Leeds are winless in their last six league games and haven’t found the net in 419 minutes of action.
Daniel Farke will need his key players to rise to the occasion if they’re to collect enough points over the next few weeks and secure their Premier League status.
However, a key Leeds player, Noah Okakor, appears to have suffered a serious injury during the international break and could be sidelined for the upcoming games.
Noah Okafor picks up a knock on national team duty
Switzerland named Noah Okafor in their squad for the first time since November 2024, but didn’t play either against Germany or on Tuesday night, against Norway.
The winger picked up a knock in the warm-up against Germany last week, and coach Murat Yakin decided against taking any risk and kept him as an unused substitute.
He was not even in the squad in the 0-0 draw against Norway on Tuesday night, and according to Blick, the winger was sidelined due to an injury.
It is unclear whether it was just a precautionary measure, but Leeds have reasons to worry about the winger’s fitness ahead of the FA Cup clash.
Leeds will assess his fitness once he returns to Thorp Arch in the next 24 hours, and Daniel Farke will provide an update in his pre-match press conference.
Farke will keep his fingers crossed and will hope to have him in the squad when Leeds travel to London to take on the Hammers this weekend.
Leeds will not take any risks in the FA Cup game
Noah Okafor is a worry for Leeds, while West Ham are sweating over the fitness of Crysencio Summerville and Jean-Claire Todibo.
For Leeds fans, the idea of a trip to Wembley for an FA Cup semi-final is hugely exciting; it’s exactly the kind of run they’ve been craving for years.
But for Daniel Farke and the club, Premier League survival has to take priority. Staying up carries far more weight than a one-off appearance in the last four.
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | Leeds United | 31 | 7 | 12 | 12 | 37 | 48 | -11 | 33 |
| 16 | Nottingham Forest | 31 | 8 | 8 | 15 | 31 | 43 | -12 | 32 |
| 17 | Tottenham Hotspur | 31 | 7 | 9 | 15 | 40 | 50 | -10 | 30 |
| 18 | West Ham United | 31 | 7 | 8 | 16 | 36 | 57 | -21 | 29 |
| 19 | Burnley | 31 | 4 | 8 | 19 | 33 | 61 | -28 | 20 |
| 20 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 31 | 3 | 8 | 20 | 24 | 54 | -30 | 17 |
With both sides caught in the relegation battle, neither will want to risk losing key players just as the run-in begins.
Ultimately, Leeds’ season hinges on preserving their top-flight status, which is why their focus remains firmly on the final seven league games rather than getting swept up in cup fever.
