Daniel Farke takes his Leeds United side to Wolves on Saturday afternoon in a crucial clash that could have an impact on the battle to avoid relegation come the end of the season.
It is only the fifth Premier League round of fixtures and yet, Leeds and Wolves will know that there are only a limited number of opportunities that they will be able to win points between now and next May.
Saturday, for both sides, is one of those opportunities. Wolves will be hopeful given they are at home, but the Midlands side have lost all four games so far. Vitor Pereira’s side sit at the bottom of the League table.
Wolves could also be without star striker Jorgen Strand Larsen, which will be a huge blow to their chances. Leeds will also have injury concerns as Lucas Perri and Dan James look set to miss the trip down south.
Daniel Farke during Leeds' loss to Fulham.
Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images
Vitor Pereira could have been in the Leeds dugout on Saturday
Daniel Farke took over at Leeds in the summer of 2023 and has since surpassed 100 games in both league and cup. The German has won records, the Championship title and yet, still gets criticised by supporters.
Leeds even considered replacing Farke in the summer. One option was Roger Schmidt, who is a potential suitor for Farke’s old side Gladbach. Farke arrived at Leeds just a few months after Jesse Marsch left.
Jesse Marsch looks on during his time as Leeds manager.
Photo by Harriet Lander/Getty Images
Leeds worked frantically through a raft of names and rejections to replace Marsch and after a three-game interim spell under Michael Skubala, were left with Javi Gracia. But it could well have been Pereira.
During the Portuguese gaffer’s stint as Flamengo manager, Pereira was being linked with a move to the Premier League. Brazilian outlet Mundo Bola said Pereira was a contender for the job after Marsch.
Vitor Pereira, Wolves manager.
Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images
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Pereira, Farke and Marsch’s Premier League numbers so far
Instead of joining Leeds or any other Premier League club at the time – he was also linked with a move to Southampton – he left Flamengo in April 2023 and had to wait until February 2024 for his next role.
His 13th, in the form of Al Shabab in Saudi Arabia. Later that year, he joined Wolves and has since stayed in England for 30 matches. But the pressure is now on Pereira, who has managed in eight countries.
Name Clubs in PL Games Wins Draws Losses Points PPG
Vitor Pereira Wolves 26 10 3 13 33 1.27
Jesse Marsch Leeds 32 8 9 15 33 1.03
Daniel Farke LeedsNorwich 53 7 9 37 30 0.57
But instead of joining Leeds after Marsch and being in the Leeds dugout on Saturday, he will be in the home dugout facing Farke’s side. Farke has a worryingly poor record against Wolves, in his four games.