Leeds United cruised to a 2-1 upset of Manchester United at Old Trafford on Monday evening, pushing themselves one step closer to retaining their place in the Premier League for 2026/27
Aaron Morris Senior Sports Reporter
17:39, 14 Apr 2026
Daniel Farke gestures
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Leeds United will avoid the drop if the experts are correct(Image: Getty Images)
Leeds United will play Premier League football next season if the experts' predictions ring true.
It's been a testing first season back in the English top flight for Daniel Farke's side, despite holding their own against some of the division's more-established teams.
Not only have Leeds managed to make it to the semi-finals of the FA Cup thanks to their penalty shootout win over West Ham earlier this month, but they have also put the likes of Chelsea and Everton the the sword in the league.
Elsewhere, Farke has masterminded draws with Liverpool and Newcastle United, earning vital points as they look to stay afloat for the new season.
Arguably one of the biggest results of the season, however, landed on Monday evening, when the Whites made the trip to Old Trafford to face an in-form Manchester United.
With 12 places in the Premier League separating the two teams, nothing short of perfection was needed to walk away with anything from the bitter grudge match.
However, as evidenced so many times this season already, Leeds thrived under the weight of the world - running out 2-1 winners and returning to Yorkshire with all three points.
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Noah Okafor opened the scoring for Leeds just five minutes into play, before bagging his brace for the evening 24 minutes later.
While Casemiro was able to pull one back for the hosts midway through the second-half, his goal came as all but a consolation - United's evening going from bad to worse when Lisandro Martinez was sent off.
As a result of the win, the Whites now sit 15th in the Premier League standings with 36 points - six safe from the drop zone with just six games remaining.
And if the experts over at Opta are correct, that's the same position they will finish the season come May.
The number crunches for the firm anticipate that Leeds will end the season with a tally of 44.37 points, slapping them with just a 1.61 per cent chance of being relegated at present.
In terms of teams who will suffer the drop according to Opta, Wolves, Burnley and Tottenham Hotspur will make up the bottom three - Nottingham Forest and West Ham United also avoiding relegation in 16th and 17th respectively.
Up next for Leeds is a clash with Wolves at Elland Road come Saturday, April 18, before they take on Bournemouth on the road just four days later. An FA Cup semi-final with Chelsea then ensues at Wembley on Sunday, April 26 to round off the month's fixtures.
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Games against Burnley, Spurs, Brighton and West Ham then await in May, as the Premier League enters a crucial period of play.