Team news: Daniel Farke names XI to face Stoke City..
Leeds United are back in action at Elland Road this afternoon as they take on Stoke City in the Sky Bet Championship for the penultimate home game of the 2024/25 campaign.
Daniel Farke has chosen the same starting line-up for the Bank Holiday Monday fixture following our 1-0 win over Oxford United, however we do see the inclusion of Harry Gray to the squad for the first time.
Karl Darlow is in goal for the Whites, with captain Ethan Ampadu joined by Joe Rodon, Jayden Bogle and Junior Firpo in our defence.
Ilia Gruev and Ao Tanaka link up in the midfield, with Brenden Aaronson, Willy Gnonto, Manor Solomon and Joel Piroe all featuring in the Leeds United attack.
Our substitutes bench tonight includes Gray alongside Patrick Bamford, Largie Ramazani, Sam Byram, Max Wöber, Isaac Schmidt, Josuha Guilavogui, Mateo Jospeh and goalkeeper Illan Meslier.
The match is scheduled to kick off at 3pm and will be shown live on Sky Sports. For those not in attendance or without access to the stream, you can follow the live blog online here.
Starting XI: Darlow (GK), Bogle, Firpo, Ampadu (C), Rodon, Piroe, Aaronson, Solomon, Tanaka, Gnonto, Gruev.
Substitutes: Meslier (GK), Bamford, Ramazani, Joseph, Guilavogui, Byram, Schmidt, Wöber, Gray.
Leeds United ‘could save Premier League clubs £51m’ at Elland Road.
Leeds United could clinch promotion to the Premier League on Easter Monday, and will immediately look to reap the financial benefits of the top-flight next term.
If Leeds beat Stoke City at Elland Road and Sheffield United fail to win against top-two rivals Burnley, Daniel Farke’s men will clinch promotion with two games to spare.
Last time out, the Whites enjoyed a 1-0 win at Oxford United on Friday, making it three consecutive victories after a torrid patch of form.
Leeds United manager Daniel Farke
Farke looks set to guide Leeds to the Premier League (Credit: Imago)
Premier League implications if Leeds and Burnley win promotion
If Burnley beat Sheffield United after a Whites win over Stoke, the Clarets will win automatic promotion to the Premier League alongside Farke’s men, while the Blades will have to compete in the playoffs.
Opponent Result
Middlesbrough (A) 0-1 W
Preston (H) 2-1 W
Oxford (A) 0-1 W
Leeds are in top form ahead of their game with Stoke
Both the Clarets and Leeds are currently receiving Premier League parachute payments after being relegated in 2024 and 2023, respectively.
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Football finance expert Kieran Maguire shared the implications of that, writing on X: “When Leicester and Southampton were relegated in 2022/23 and promoted the following season, £102million in parachute payments were saved…these savings have been split between Premier League clubs.
“Should Burnley and Leeds be promoted today, then a further £51m will be saved…this will also be divided between Premier League clubs.”
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Leeds should perform better in the Premier League than recently promoted sides
Neither Farke nor Scott Parker should be thrilled by the fact that the £51m that they were going to receive will now be shared among next season’s Premier League rivals.
Meanwhile, just last season, all three newly promoted teams suffered relegation back to the Championship from the top-flight at the first time of asking.
That eventuality looks set to happen once again this term, as Leicester City and Southampton have already been relegated and Ipswich Town look set to join them in the second tier next season.
But Leeds will fancy their chances of beating the drop next season, after narrowly missing out on promotion to the Premier League last campaign.
Farke’s men have largely shown their class in the Championship this term and have played an entertaining, attacking brand of football in the process.
Leeds have a lot of work to do in the summer transfer window to prepare for Premier League life, but with strong owners in The 49ers Enterprises and the Elland Road faithful behind them, the West Yorkshire outfit should be ready for the challenges of the top flight.
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