Leeds United fans will want to see changes - one will surely happen but two others might not
Isaac Johnson Leeds United reporter
11:49, 20 Oct 2025
Isaac Johnson
Isaac is the Leeds United reporter for LeedsLive. An NCTJ-qualified journalist, Isaac has interviewed many football icons during his career, including World Cup winners and Premier League champions. He has also sat down with a number of Olympic greats, such as Adam Peaty MBE and Dame Laura Kenny.
Daniel Farke has some decisions to make
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Daniel Farke has some decisions to make(Image: Michael Driver/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Daniel Farke does not change his line-up selections much but he will surely have to bite the bullet on Friday night against West Ham United.
Too many players were off the boil against Burnley for Farke to name exactly the same team this week. After full-time at Turf Moor, the manager was quizzed about his centre-back stance with summer signing Jaka Bijol yet to make his Premier League debut.
“When you don't have a perfect result, everyone is crying for change, but we don't change just for the sake of it,” he said.
“When you go into the details with what the centre-backs have done so far during the season, then there's not really much to criticise. The centre-backs have nothing to do with the goals.”
Anton Stach, though, did. The midfielder, lax in attention, lost Lesley Ugochukwu and the midfielder rose high to head home the opener on 18 minutes. Farke said he didn’t want to point fingers at individuals but he was left irked by the situation.
“I don't speak too much in public about it but I think it was also very obvious what happened there,” he said. “Quality cross from Kyle Walker, and a really good header, but we should have defended the situation in the centre better.
“It was relatively easy to defend the header. So, not happy with this, and also to block the cross we also had to be a bit more switched on.”
Jack Harrison was the man left in a two-on-one situation on the byline as Walker whipped in his assist. While that was a tough gig, he did have two opportunities to get the away end on its feet.
The first effort that fell his way saw him hammer the ball into the turf and over the bar when inside the box. The second was more difficult yet the volley was always rising high.
The inclusion of Harrison on Saturday was Farke’s first change to his starting XI for five matches, and that was an enforcing swap due to Noah Okafor’s injury. Harrison was beginning his first Premier League game of the season and at times looked rusty.
He failed to beat Walker down the left and his best moment came as a result of a giveaway by Burnley. The 28-year-old pounced on the interception and coolly played the ball to Brenden Aaronson, who was in acres of space.
Leeds United's Brenden Aaronson attempts a shot on goal during the Premier League match at Turf Moor, Burnley
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Leeds United's Brenden Aaronson(Image: PA)
“Of course, he could have been a bit more clinical and to make sure that the goalkeeper doesn't even have a chance to save it,” said Farke, who had watched Aaronson hit his shot straight at goalkeeper Martin Dubravka before the ball bounced away off the post. “I would have preferred a different finish.”
Once again, the American left supporters frustrated with a lack of decisiveness in the final third, not just his shot but his attacking forays overall. He was hooked after 66 minutes with Daniel James, not fully fit, tasked to come on and make the difference.
The reality is that Harrison and Aaronson could well start again against West Ham if there is no further good news this week. Okafor is expected to miss the game and it would seem risky to start James.
The Welsh winger was due to be out for around a month but has made a quick return from his ankle problem. There was a reason why he was suspected to be out longer and his entry into the game was essentially for emergency purposes.
Staff will be cautious about him doing too much too soon. Wilfried Gnonto could return to the squad but having not played since August, he almost certainly will not start.
One change that seems obvious is replacing Stach with Ao Tanaka. Since his impressive game at Wolves, the German midfielder has not whetted the appetite.
It could be argued that post-Everton, that trip to Molineux was his only real performance of note.
Leeds United's Anton Stach, Burnley's Lesley Ugochukwu, and Leeds United's Ethan Ampadu (left-right) battle for the ball during the Premier League match at Turf Moor, Burnley
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Leeds United's Anton Stach, Burnley's Lesley Ugochukwu, and Leeds' Ethan Ampadu (left-right) battle for the ball(Image: PA)
Left out on his feet against Arsenal, Stach was fine against Newcastle United but wayward against Fulham. He didn’t do much of note against either Bournemouth or Tottenham Hotspur, being taken off as the first substitute in the latter game.
Stach came off again 73 minutes into Saturday’s game having lost his man for the opening goal, been clumsy in possession and been slow to track back for the second strike. Tanaka has added poise in his last two showings since his needless foul that led to Bournemouth’s equaliser three games ago.
A long flight back from Japan duty meant his chances of starting at Burnley were always slim given Stach stayed at base. But now is the time for Tanaka to come back in, to offer more stability and effective phases of play.
Burnley was a must-not-lose game but the defeat there means the same now applies at home to West Ham. Going three games without a point would crank up the pressure on Farke and his decisions.
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