Leeds United currently sit in 15th place in the Premier League after a mixed start. It looks like the club are in a bit of decent shape so far, and have performed a bit above expectations.
In fact, FBref data has revealed that the Whites are among some of the better defensive sides in the competition. Leeds have only conceded 7.9 expected goals (xG) but have let in 11 goals. This means that the club have conceded cheap goals from poor quality situations.
On the attacking end, Daniel Farke’s men could have done much better heading into the break. Since the 3-1 win over Wolves, Leeds have looked really dangerous on the ball. They could have gotten a maximum of six points in the games against Bournemouth and Tottenham, but their finishing let them down massively.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin and the other attackers need to find their scoring boots if the club hope to win more games this season.
QUIZ: Can you name the team Leeds United signed these players from in the 2000s?
Leeds United top Opta data chart
Leeds United Credit: Imago
After a positive start to the campaign, Opta’s supercomputer has the Whites in 17th place in their recent predictions. Now, the data company has Leeds sitting top of their rankings for this latest metric. Daniel Farke’s side are the Premier League side who keep the ball in play for the most minutes in a match.
How long is a Premier League game, and how much time in the ball in play in reality?
We dig into the data to find out…
🔄 What % of time is the ball in play?
⌚ Which teams take the longest to restart play?
🕐 Who sees the lowest % of time with the ball in play?— Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) October 10, 2025
According to the chart, the Whites rank above the likes of Manchester City and Arsenal. Leeds average 56 minutes and 48 seconds with the ball in play – which accounts for 57.5% of the total match. It comes as a surprise for a newly promoted side.
What does this mean?
Leeds keep the ball in play the most in the league on average; meaning their games see a lot of the ball being played on the ground. Daniel Farke likes his side to possess the ball while creating chances. And it looks to be working; almost every top opponent the Whites have faced struggle with just how good Leeds are on the ball.
This season, Farke’s side have managed to beat Everton, draw with Newcastle and hold Bournemouth to a draw. Not many teams in the league can boast of that.
