A look at the national media analysis after Leeds suffered a 2-0 defeat to Burnley in the Premier League
Matt C Jones
12:14, 19 Oct 2025
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The Leeds players at full time (Photo by Molly Darlington/Getty Images)
Leeds United endured arguably their most frustrating day since returning to the Premier League on Saturday as they slipped to a 2-0 defeat at Burnley.
The visitors were the stronger side in terms of possession and attempts on goal but ultimately failed to make the most of their opportunities. Goals from Lesley Ugochukwu and Loum Tchaouna proved the difference between the two sides.
The result leaves Leeds 15th in the table, three points clear of Nottingham Forest, who occupy the final relegation spot. Burnley are now just a point behind Daniel Farke’s team.
Here’s what the national media had to say about a match full of talking points — along with the verdict from our own Isaac Johnson.
Beren Cross, New York Times
Leeds came into this season with Aaronson and Harrison rooted to the bottom of the pecking order out wide. Aaronson had escaped the first season in the Championship on loan at Union Berlin and returned with mixed results last term, while Harrison had not featured for Leeds since their relegation in May 2023.
Based on opinions from the terraces, they were probably not the most popular players. With Daniel James, Wilfried Gnonto and Noah Okafor in the reckoning, Farke evidently viewed them as dependable, hard-working deputies if an injury crisis hit.
It is not quite a crisis in the medical room, but the stars aligned at the wrong time on Saturday. It was a minor miracle James was even on the bench, given the lengthy injury prognosis Farke had provided before the international break.
Okafor was still considered a possibility for this game in Thursday’s press conference, and Gnonto, fresh from minor hernia surgery, should be back in training next week. This may be the only time fans see USMNT star Aaronson and Harrison start together this season.
Based on this performance, some supporters will hope that proves to be the case. Aaronson missed a prime chance in the 33rd minute after Burnley gifted the ball away, while Harrison spurned two far more difficult volleys in the second half.
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Will Unwin, The Guardian
Liverpool are the only away team to have won here in the league over the past 17 months. Leeds struck the post in the first half but lacked creativity in midfield, making life comfortable for Burnley. They had 19 shots but only four on target — a sign of their failings.
Ceding possession and territory is a dangerous game, but Burnley are masters of it. Leeds enjoyed all the ball and should have tested Martin Dubravka when Sean Longstaff chipped a cross to an unmarked Jack Harrison, but he volleyed into the ground and wide from inside the area.
Burnley showed little ambition to attack, and their second goal came as a surprise to everyone. Kyle Walker burst down the right to lift the crowd and his teammates, but no one could keep up with him, forcing the right-back to play it backwards.
Tchaouna, who had been on the pitch for only ten minutes, has shown glimpses of his ability since joining from Lazio this summer, but few expected him to pick out the top corner from 30 yards — making the moment and the roar even more spectacular.
Mark Walker, The Independent
The visitors dominated first-half possession and, not for the first time this season, passed up a golden scoring opportunity in the 32nd minute.
Jack Harrison’s driving run drew a clutch of Burnley defenders before he played Brenden Aaronson into acres of space inside the area, only for the American’s low shot to be deflected onto a post by goalkeeper Martin Dubravka.
Leeds looked to raise the tempo after the restart, but hopeful crosses into the box were easily dealt with by Burnley’s central defenders Maxime Estève and Axel Tuanzebe.
Leeds continued to huff and puff their way into Burnley’s final third without ever seriously testing Dubravka.
Aadam Patel, Mail Online
Noah Okafor was out with an adductor injury, so Jack Harrison was handed his first Premier League start of the season.
There was no shortage of effort from Harrison, but he faced a real battle against Kyle Walker, who was excellent throughout. Late in the first half, Harrison did well to tee up Brenden Aaronson, who should have scored, and then wasted a massive chance of his own in the second.
With two goals, Okafor remains Leeds’ top scorer this season, and on a day when they failed to convert several golden opportunities — and Dominic Calvert-Lewin endured an afternoon to forget — the Swiss forward was sorely missed.
Isaac Johnson, Leeds Live
Leeds United have been left glancing over their shoulders towards the relegation zone after suffering successive Premier League defeats for the first time this season.
A must-win game for the hosts, it was a must-not-lose for Leeds, who have now collected just one point from their last three matches.
Burnley took the lead inside 20 minutes when Lesley Ugochukwu headed home a vicious Kyle Walker cross unmarked. Leeds pushed for an equaliser in the second half, but Loum Tchaouna’s strike dashed Daniel Farke’s hopes of a result at Turf Moor.
While Burnley’s Florentino Luiz shot wide early on, it was Leeds who enjoyed the majority of possession, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin winning a series of flick-ons. The tall forward even attempted an overhead kick on 12 minutes, connecting cleanly but seeing the effort fly harmlessly over Martin Dubravka’s goal.
Leeds struggled to break down Burnley’s back five, but that changed on 32 minutes when Jack Harrison intercepted a loose pass and drove forward before finding Brenden Aaronson in acres of space. The American saw his shot rebound off Dubravka and onto the post, leaving him with his head in his hands.
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