Leeds United boss Daniel Farke looking angry, Arne Slot in inset.
Credit: Imago
Declan Carr
Thu 1 January 2026 20:54, UK
Leeds United have proved a lot of people wrong with their form in recent weeks.
Leeds have a significant buffer on the relegation zone after a run of two wins and four draws from their last six Premier League matches.
Daniel Farke implemented a new system that has led to Dominic Calvert-Lewin notching seven goals in his last seven matches.
He blanked against Liverpool as Leeds drew 0-0 at Anfield on 1 January, but that is still a positive result against the defending champions.
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Micah Richards hates what people have said about Leeds
Micah Richards has been full of praise for Leeds, and he was blown away by their wonderful team goal against Sunderland last time out.
He continued that positive feedback after the draw against the Reds, claiming that pundits are being far too negative about the Whites.
Speaking on Sky Sports (19:40 pm), he said: “I think it has been magnificent, if you look at the games, the Chelsea, Liverpool, Brentford, the Palace, you’re thinking on paper, if you get a few draws, maybe one win, you have done your job.
“To go through that and get the amount of points that Leeds have, when everyone wrote them off, and I think it was because Dominic Calvert-Lewin wasn’t scoring, now he is taking them chances.
"They are a really good team to watch, ESPECIALLY at home as well!"
Micah Richards & Daniel Sturridge are impressed with the run of form Leeds are putting together 📈 pic.twitter.com/4ZKjiD9idq
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 1, 2026
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“With Leeds, I don’t like the way everyone just talks about them like they are a set-piece team, and they are hard to beat, yes, they were hard to beat tonight, but they also can play with an energy.”
How Leeds can continue to prove the doubters wrong
Leeds were pinned as relegation contenders at the start of the season, but perceptions are quickly changing.
That has not got rid of the negativity, though, as Richards claims, many have labelled the Peacocks as a set-piece team and doubted whether they can rely on that for the rest of the campaign.
If they can continue to score lovely goals, like the one against the Mackems, it may help to prove the doubters wrong and change their views.
Leeds and Farke will not really care about how people perceive them; their only concern is staying in the division this season, and beyond, and building the Elland Road side into an established top-flight team.
Right now, that seems like a very realistic possibility, but if standards slip, then they could be dragged back into the battle, especially with rival teams set to be active in the transfer market.
They need to ignore the outside noise, and if they are a top-flight team next season, that will be enough to silence those who have not respected them.
Pundits will eventually have to respect the LS11 outfit, if they keep up their current form and keep their place among the elite.
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