Leeds United head to Old Trafford on Monday evening to face bitter rivals Manchester United as they return to Premier League action, buoyed by booking a place in the FA Cup semi-finals
Isaac Johnson Leeds United reporter
05:00, 09 Apr 2026
Ao Tanaka celebrates scoring vs West Ham
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Ao Tanaka celebrates scoring vs West Ham(Image: Steve Bardens/Getty Images)
It might have been decided by one kick of the football but Leeds United carry momentum and confidence into Monday night’s game with Manchester United thanks to their FA Cup quarter-final win over West Ham United.
They made hard work of it, having been on course to earn what would have been a deserved victory inside 90 minutes until the stoppage time capitulation. The Whites were lucky to escape a complete turnaround after two goals were ruled out for offside.
Lucas Perri made a complete hash during the first of these, misjudging a header before Taty Castellanos squeezed the ball over the line. But after that was chalked off, Perri would later go on to be the cup hero with two saves in the penalty shoot-out, to add to his two good stops in regulation time.
He will be replaced by number one Karl Darlow for the trip to Manchester United as Leeds look to try and secure Premier League safety. The Red Devils are the only club in the current top nine Leeds have left to play during the run-in, barring the FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea.
A result at Old Trafford would provide a big boost for Daniel Farke’s side, and not just because it would be the club’s first league victory there in 45 years. Leeds sit four points in front of 18th place as things stand, with West Ham due to play Wolves this weekend.
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If the gap is closed to one or three, then anything Leeds get at Man Utd will come as another mental filip given, in theory, it is the toughest test they face for the rest of the run-in. Of course it is never that simple but Leeds completed two important tasks at West Ham that will feed belief.
The first was done inside 26 minutes when Ao Tanaka found the net off the bar via a deflection. Leeds had not scored against their last four Premier League opponents and had failed to net from open play against a top-flight rival since Noah Okafor’s goal at Chelsea on February 10.
That date was also the last time they scored two goals in a game against a Premier League team, prior to Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s penalty on Sunday which in itself was a significant moment for the striker having missed a spot kick at Crystal Palace.
Another long streak was - technically - ended at the London Stadium too. Leeds recorded an away win at a Premier League club for the first time since September, albeit there is an obvious caveat.
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The two goals shipped in stoppage-time means Leeds have still yet to win on the road against top-tier opposition inside regulation time - and extra time for that matter - for nearly seven months. So there is still this to overcome in the league.
Yet do not downplay the significance of knocking a relegation rival out of the cup and the psychological impact that has, especially given the circumstances of the comeback and the two disallowed goals in extra time.
Players may toe the line by stating that the FA Cup and Premier League are different competitions but the manner of the win against a strong West Ham team will undoubtedly galvanise the players for the runin, having gone on a six-league-game winless run beforehand.
Now it’s about sustaining it and putting it into action while keeping a cool head. Because now is the time for Leeds player to show up and be counted.
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