Leeds United take on Newcastle United at Elland Road this Saturday, and Daniel Farke is already talking up his side’s gameplan.
As a newly-promoted club, Leeds United are unable to dominate games in the same way they did in the 2024/25 Championship season. Daniel Farke and co. need ways of adapting their game model.
Leeds’ owners, the 49ers, have done their Premier League research. It is not a guarantee that the decision for Leeds to prioritise Premier League physicality will work, however.
There also has to be increased focus on Leeds using set-pieces this season and a horses for courses approach to games. That has yet to be seen so far, albeit there have only been two games thus far.
Leeds United's German head coach Daniel Farke.
Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images
Daniel Farke hints at Newcastle strategy after Arsenal approach
Leeds’ Premier League team is already significantly taller and more powerful and pre-season had Farke talking up tactical flexibility in the Premier League.
However, Leeds are yet to see that. Farke’s gameplan versus Arsenal was a mistake, with the German outlining that Leeds would possess the ball frequently and try to build through Arsenal.
It went against ideas of being able to adapt to the opponent throughout the summer, with Leeds going away to one of Europe’s elite and playing more or less the same way and same team as Everton.
Instead of accepting some accountability for that, Farke doubled down that his approach was the right one in yesterday’s press conference.
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Per Beren Cross of The Athletic, he said: “After you lose a game (Arsenal), you would change everything. Decisions we took before the game, I would do same again.
“This group played well against Villarreal, Milan and Everton. If you change this, everyone would question why he is going away from winning formula.”
❓ Should Rúben Amorim change formation?
📊 He’s used 3-4-3 in 98% of games – far above the PL average of 58%.
⚽ Only Keith Andrews has been less flexible (but from just 2 matches).
🔮 Will Amorim’s loyalty to 3-4-3 be a masterstroke or a hindrance in England? pic.twitter.com/x3qBfVArC9
— Aurel Nazmiu (@AurelNz) August 28, 2025
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What makes his stubborn approach more damning is Aurel Nazmiu revealing that Farke is the manager who had made the fourth-fewest tweaks to formation of any Premier League managers since 2012.
That includes Keith Andrews with a sample size of two, with Farke opting for his preferred formation in 90% of matches. It’s a damning indictment of the German in many ways and he looks likely to do the same against Newcastle.
Daniel Farke during Arsenal v Leeds United - Premier League
Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images
Why Daniel Farke is already making a mistake with Newcastle
Per Opta Analyst, the Premier League has had a significant rise in goal ending high turnovers over the last decade. Last season was 0.32 and the year before 0.33, which was a 0.07 jump from Leeds’ last season in the top flight.
The likes of AFC Bournemouth, Arsenal, and Newcastle are the best sides in the league in this respect. Per Opta, only Brighton have had more shot ending high turnovers so far (6) than Newcastle and Bournemouth (4).
Only five teams have had a better passes per defensive action rate than Newcastle. It may well be a sample size of two, but these are the hallmarks of an Eddie Howe Newcastle team now.
Farke would be making a huge mistake to fall into that trap again, even with his side being at an intimidating Elland Road against Newcastle.