Daniel Farke stresses the importance of earning Premier League survival as Leeds prepares to face Fulham. Fulham aims to rebound after a loss to Chelsea. Key players to watch are Samuel Chukwueze for Fulham and Anton Stach for Leeds. Opta predicts a Fulham victory.
Daniel Farke has issued a rallying cry to his Leeds United squad, emphasizing the need to “earn the right to stay up” as they prepare to face Fulham this Saturday. The Whites are eager to secure their first away win of the Premier League season, while Fulham are equally determined to register their inaugural victory.
After a promising start with a 1-0 triumph over Everton at Elland Road, Leeds have experienced a mixed bag of results, including a loss to Arsenal and a draw against Newcastle. The team seeks consistency and stability as they navigate the challenges of the Premier League. The recent transfer window also brought frustration, with a deal for Harry Wilson stalling due to Fulham's reluctance to let go of their Welsh international. This setback underscores the complexities of player acquisitions and the importance of having alternative plans in place.
Historically, Leeds' record against Fulham is not encouraging, with Fulham winning three of the last five encounters between the two clubs. Farke is well aware of the long journey ahead as Leeds aim to secure their Premier League status. "I’m already focused on the next game. It’s fair to say we are not dancing on the table," Farke stated, acknowledging the need for a grounded and pragmatic approach. He added, "I’ve got principles on how I work. One is, I like openness and transparency and name it how I see it and speak in general what is necessary to do as a club. We have to win as many points as possible. I’m fully focused on Fulham. We need to earn the right to stay up.” Farke's emphasis on hard work and determination reflects the challenging nature of the Premier League, where no team can afford to be complacent.
Cottage calling.
https://t.co/rhFSqTpOjv pic.twitter.com/1brvIyXxJ0
— Fulham Football Club (@FulhamFC) September 11, 2025
Fulham, on the other hand, are looking to bounce back after a 2-0 defeat to Chelsea in a West London derby before the international break. A controversial VAR decision left Marco Silva’s side disappointed. However, they strengthened their squad on deadline day with the double-signing of Samuel Chukwueze and Kevin, which will certainly boost morale. Although a late move for Chelsea’s Tyrique George fell through, the arrival of new talent provides Fulham with renewed optimism. Adding to the positive atmosphere at the club, captain Tom Cairney recently celebrated his 10th anniversary with Fulham.
“I always try and better myself,” said Cairney. “I always feel like I could have done more, and achieved more. I ask ‘could I have done more?’. But at the same time, I’m extremely proud and honoured to have had this ride with a special football club. I’ll never, ever take it for granted.” Cairney's longevity and commitment to Fulham serve as an inspiration to his teammates.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Fulham – Samuel Chukwueze
Despite a relatively underwhelming stint at AC Milan, Chukwueze has the potential to shine if he rediscovers the form he showed at Villarreal, where he contributed 35 goal involvements and created 166 chances in 155 appearances. Fulham have signed the Nigeria international on loan with an option to buy, indicating their belief in his abilities.
Leeds – Anton Stach
Anton Stach has quickly made an impact, creating the second-most chances (10) in the Premier League this season, only behind Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes (12). His creativity is particularly noteworthy as it is the highest by a player in the first three games of a season for a newly-promoted team since Emiliano Buendia with Farke’s Norwich City in 2019-20. Stach's ability to create opportunities will be crucial for Leeds as they look to score goals and secure valuable points.
MATCH PREDICTION: FULHAM WIN
The recent encounters between Fulham and Leeds have been high-scoring affairs, with 18 goals in the last four Premier League meetings (averaging 4.5 per game). Both teams have scored in each of these matches. In the 2020-21 season, Leeds won both games, while Fulham completed the double in 2022-23. Fulham are currently winless in their last four league matches, their longest such run since April 2023 (five games). They risk failing to win any of their opening four top-flight fixtures for only the fourth time, having previously done so in 1951-52 (seven), 2011-12 (six), and 2020-21 (six). Leeds, on the other hand, have struggled in London, losing their last eight Premier League away games in the capital, conceding 26 goals. Their last victory in London was against Brentford on the final day of the 2021-22 season. Their only longer losing streak in London came between 1925 and 1930 (12 straight defeats).
Leeds have struggled to respond when falling behind in games, going 66 minutes without a shot during their 2-0 loss to Arsenal. However, they lead the league in shots taken while level in games (31), indicating their attacking intent when the score is balanced. Defensively, Fulham have gone 12 league games without a clean sheet and have managed just five in their last 43 matches. Since the start of 2022-23, the only ever-present Premier League side with fewer clean sheets is West Ham (22, compared to Fulham’s 24).
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Fulham – 56.6%
Draw – 22.5%
Leeds – 21.0%