Leeds United

Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter

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The Premier League has opened a Pandora's box of problems which cannot be closed. However well-intentioned, however morally upright they mean to be, the way the product is perceived around the planet by fans will be negatively affected.

This looks like a gigantic mess, but could also become a bit of a joke, especially if they attempt to rewrite history, and change the winners' names on the Premier League and cup trophies over these past 15 years. I wouldn't want the engraver's job.

I believe financial rules brought in to prioritise financial sustainability were also aimed at limiting the money being spent by the clubs, especially the staggering, ever-inflating sums spent on sometimes fairly average players. It could lead to a de facto salary cap, which many fans would approve of.

The long-term problem for the league is easy to see here: if the top players are then offered significantly more money to play elsewhere, they will be off before you can say 'man on'.

I always thought the Premier League had taken a huge risk going down this regulatory road. As with Manchester City's future, nobody knows what the real long-term ramifications will be.

I have a suspicion it could end up being the greatest own goal in the sport's entire history.

The big take: If City are cast out of England's top leagues, what might the owners do – hang around the lower reaches, or find something else? Wasn't there the idea of a Super League? Keep that thought in the back of your mind.

Pat Nevin writes weekly in the Football Extra newsletter. If you're outside the UK and would like to receive it, sign up here.

Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter

Image source, Getty Images

Most of the time it is not that big a deal if you go into the international break having just lost a club game if I am honest, as teams lose games frequently.

That is just the life of a professional footballer. You have to be able to cope with disappointment as an individual and as a team.

‌Admittedly, players will sometimes say that they want another domestic game quickly, but it is almost always specifically after a 'bad' defeat as opposed to just a run-of-the-mill loss.

‌However, if the team has genuinely played terribly, or lost a game they were expected to win comfortably, you will commonly hear the phrase "we want to have a chance to get back out there and put it right quickly".

‌Players who have had a stinker, even if their team won, might also want to get out again as soon as possible to put it right in front of their fans, or 'reset'. The 'reset' argument is just current football jargon to say, "we will try to get it right next time, and we blew it this week, sorry".

‌The international break can also have the beneficial effect of taking your mind away from a bad defeat. This is not to say that you don't care, it is just that you must compartmentalise your thoughts and feelings. Footballers are among the best at this.

‌You simply cannot go to play for your national team and spend the time brooding about what happened against Brentford last week. That way lies madness and another poor performance, only this time in front of the entire nation.

Pat Nevin writes weekly in the Football Extra newsletter. If you're outside the UK and would like to receive it, sign up here.

As Leeds United fans wait for the Whites' return to the Premier League after the extended international break, their number one, James Trafford, was given the opportunity to represent England against the world champions Spain.

Although Trafford conceded three goals in his second start for his country, he became the third Leeds goalkeeper to don the Three Lions on his chest in a senior international, after Nigel Martyn and Paul Robinson.

But, does Trafford deserve his start ahead of Jordan Pickford?

On the latest Don't Go To Bed Just Yet podcast, Kaiser Chiefs' bassist Simon Rix suggested Pickford, aged 32, is "getting a bit old, so at some point you have got to think about the plan for the future".

"I thought Trafford made some good saves. His ex-Man City colleagues hung him out to dry with a couple of bad passes. I don't think he was at fault for anything," added Rix.

After Trafford proved his worth at the Under-21s European Championships, England head coach, Lee Carsley said: "Wherever he goes and wherever he plays, he's got a really top mentality."

However, when you have England's most capped goalkeeper at major tournaments standing in your way, opportunities are few and far between.

Before Trafford's first England start in March 2026, the 23-year-old spent 15 consecutive games on the bench.

"When Pickford came in, it was his feet that were good, but Trafford looks a level above. It is just his manner; it is just chill," said Rix.

The former Man City shot-stopper is expected to start again for England against the Czech Republic on Tuesday, which will give Tuchel another chance at forging the competition he desires between Pickford and Trafford.

Listen below or on BBC Sounds here - and don't forget to subscribe to get each episode into your My Sounds feed.

Explore all Leeds United content on BBC Sounds

Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter

Image source, Getty Images

Unbelievably, sensible and well-informed people are seriously discussing Manchester City getting a huge points deduction or being demoted or kicked out of the English leagues completely.

‌There is also reasonable talk about them being sued by just about every other major club in the domestic game, and a few beyond that. That is before you get to the concept of titles being stripped and trophies retrospectively re-awarded to others.

There is still an appeal to be heard, but they have been found guilty already. Serious consequences must be considered. Following the draconian punishments handed to Everton and Nottingham Forest, among others, City might find they don't just have the book thrown at them, it is the entire British Library lobbed in their general direction.

Those other clubs cooperated in the process. City have faced more charges and they involve larger sums and over a longer time period. In short, things are not looking good for the club that dominated English football for almost a decade.

This may be the biggest story in the Premier League's history and it is going to run and run.

Other serious considerations will follow hard on the heels of the Blues' dilemmas – specifically what long-term effects will this have on the Premier League? They will not all be good ones.

Some reasonably argue that the financial rules City have been found to have broken shouldn't have been put there in the first place. They were brought in to safeguard the financial security of the clubs and the league, but try telling that to many City, Everton and Nottingham Forest fans just now.

Newcastle and Aston Villa have plenty of financial backing, but these rules have hurt their ability to grow and stay competitive with the legacy clubs. This all feels unfair if you are a supporter of those two.

The money that will now be frittered away by the English game on lawyers and legal fees is eye-watering, and it will grow exponentially as the litigation increases.

Pat Nevin writes weekly in the Football Extra newsletter. If you're outside the UK and would like to receive it, sign up here.

The extended international break has Leeds United players scattered across the globe, but BBC Radio Leeds' Don't Go To Bed Just Yet podcast continues.

In the latest episode, Jonny Buchan, Adam Pope and Kaiser Chiefs' bassist Simon Rix discuss James Trafford starting in goal for England, whether European football will return to Elland Road and if Daniel Farke's side are on course for 68 points.

Listen below or on BBC Sounds here - and don't forget to subscribe to get each episode into your My Sounds feed.

Explore all Leeds United content on BBC Sounds

Leeds United have no plans to sell Wales defender Ethan Ampadu, despite links with his former club Chelsea. (Football Insider), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

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We asked you to rate Leeds' start to the season and tell us what Daniel Farke should be focusing on during this extended international break.

Here are some of your comments:

Mark: For the most part, solid. We've looked good in parts - sometimes excellent - but we've also been outplayed a couple of times. The Arsenal match is a proper litmus test. On the strength of that start, I think 10th would be fine in May.

Paul: Tough to score against and capable of running all over any opposition when we're 'on it', but still have me chewing my neck with some daft moments. Let's get some real consistency and avoid those horrible results where we lose our concentration and we could be looking at a respectable finishing position - even Europe.

Michael: It's been a solid start and the team looks like a team. They will run through walls for each other and they all know how the team ethic works. I would advise all those barking up the European tree to calm down - another year of consolidation is required.

Billy: Great start. The team are looking well organised with a decent bench to call upon - unlike last season. I'm not getting carried away too soon, though, because this is Leeds and anything can happen - but credit to Farke for the job he's doing.

Omar: Can't really ask for more. Undefeated, very few goals conceded and everyone looking sharp and fit. Thankfully we have a (very, very) decent goalie. The Crystal Palace draw felt like a let down, but that should remind us to be humble and also that survival remains the utmost priority.

Chris: Absolutely buzzing after the first five games. There will be testing times ahead and with no natural goalscorer to back up Dominic Calvert-Lewin, there will be concerns. That being said, hopefully a good, top-half finish is on the cards. European nights back under lights of Elland Road would be magical, but maybe next season might be one season too early?

Leeds United have got off to a strong start in the 2026-27 Premier League campaign, picking up nine points from the opening five games.

It's a return that has left them sitting in fifth, level on points with fourth-placed Brentford, for the three-week international break.

So what questions do you have about the Whites? They could be on the squad, injury concerns, Daniel Farke's tactics, the boardroom or a topic of your choice.

BBC Radio Leeds reporter Adam Pope will be on hand to answer a selection next week.

Get in touch with your question here

As we enter the season's first international break, we want to hear your thoughts on the opening five games of the Premier League.

Leeds have yet to be beaten in the league as Daniel Farke's men make a good start in their bid to solidify their place in the top flight. Two wins and three draws mean Leeds sit fifth and feeling buoyant about the campaign ahead.

Farke's side were knocked out of the Carabao Cup, but the Whites look like a side capable of giving any team in the Premier League a game.

How do you rate Leeds' start to the season and why? And what should Farke be focusing on during the extended break?

Get in touch with your views here

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Leeds captain Ethan Ampadu showed he is one of the best midfielders in the league in the 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace, believes Don't Go To Bed Just Yet podcaster Jonny Buchan.

Leeds United stayed unbeaten in the Premier League - with two wins and three draws - thanks to the draw with Crystal Palace.

"I thought Ethan Ampadu was brilliant. Outstanding in tight spaces. Read it really well. Cut the ball out a couple of times really well," Buchan added.

"I thought he was a proper captain. Not that he hasn't been already, but he shone for me. I thought, 'wow, he's one of the best midfielders in the Premier League'."

Kaiser Chiefs' bassist Simon Rix said on the podcast that it was a better point against Palace than some fans have suggested.

"If we imagine we're Palace, we're like the Eagles podcast, what would you think about the game? I think we'd be very different," he said.

"We'd be like, 'great, went to Elland Road, got a 0-0, could have won it'.

"So especially given their start to the season, they'll be absolutely ecstatic. And I feel like it's a game, last year, us going to Palace, we'd have been double happy with it."

"A colleague in the office, a Palace fan, the first thing he said to me was, 'really happy with a clean sheet'," Buchan added.

"We've got to remember that they're in that mix that Leeds could end up finding themselves in. So a point against Palace is still a good point against Palace, despite the start to the season for them."

Listen below on the link or on BBC Sounds here

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We asked for your views on the early talk of Leeds' chances of qualifying for Europe and whether it is a target for this season following a positive start.

Here are some of your comments:

John: It's good to be ambitious, but our first target has to be survival. Qualifying for Europe would be great but could cause difficulties in the league next year as we have a pretty small panel of quality players. One step at a time!

Pat: Unless we absolutely storm the league this season, I would be nervous of us qualifying for Europe. Let's have another year of consolidation next year, rather than a low-level competition that will also limit our spending power under SCR. A healthy 10th would be a good, ambitious target.

Graham: It's a long, tough season, and you can't make predictions based on five games. The next game is against Arsenal and that will show where we're at right now. Working towards being in the top half of the table at the end of the season should be the target for the club. After that, everything is a bonus.

Noel: The question is, are we trying to run before we can properly walk? It's great that we are doing well so early in the season, but we still have over 30 games to play before we can claim to be ready to take on European elite clubs! I would prefer to concentrate on staying in the league first, then maybe qualify when we know just how good we really are.

Eric: It is far too early to be having this discussion as many teams are still suffering from the loss of players and signing new ones in the transfer market. With 33 league games and domestic cup matches to be played, it is a long season - so there are a lot of factors to be considered in the mix. For me, let's get to the halfway point first and see how we are doing then. The target has to be getting to the point where we are not looking over our shoulders at the relegation places.

Leeds United head into the international break unbeaten in the Premier League after a 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace on Sunday.

Jonny Buchan, Adam Pope and Simon Rix discussed their position in the table on this week's episode of Don't Go To Bed Just Yet.

"It's very decent. We are now consistently good. We lost that West Ham game but apart from that I don't think we've lost since March," said Kaiser Chiefs bassist Rix.

Watch a video clip from the latest edition below or listen to the full podcast on BBC Sounds here

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Despite Sunday's "snoozefest" draw against Crystal Palace at Elland Road, Leeds United fan Lewis Deighton remains convinced that Daniel Farke's side has what it takes to secure European football this season.

The Whites are currently sitting fifth in the Premier League table, having taken nine points from their opening five leagues games, while also maintaining an unbeaten start.

"We take the point in a game that we struggled in during parts," said Deighton, who provides video reaction and analysis as part of BBC Sport's Fan Collective. "Ultimately, though, we are still unbeaten in the Premier League.

"A top four charge? Maybe that's going to be a bit of an ask this season, but I do still think we are on for Europe."

However, when quizzed about the prospect of qualifying for Europe this season on the Don't Go To Bed Just Yet podcast, Kaiser Chiefs bassist Simon Rix said: "You've got to wait until at least 10 games into a season to talk about that stuff."

James Justin, who has started all of Leeds United's league games this campaign, also reiterated that "the aspiration is to get to 40 points first and foremost" in their second season since Championship promotion.

How do you feel about the early talk of European football? Is it good to be ambitious or is it better to focus on other things instead?

Get in touch with your views here

Leeds United head into the international break unbeaten in the Premier League.

There is plenty to discuss, even after a 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace, for BBC Radio Leeds' Jonny Buchan, Adam Pope and Kaiser Chiefs' bassist Simon Rix.

In the latest Don't Go To Bed Just Yet episode, the team look back on the Palace game and the season as a whole so far.

They also reflect on how effective Ethan Ampadu's throw-ins are, whether Anton Stach is at full throttle and question how the Whites can beat champions Arsenal next up.

Listen by pressing play below or on BBC Sounds here - and don't forget to subscribe to get each episode into your My Sounds feed.

Explore all Leeds United content on BBC Sounds

We asked for your thoughts after Sunday's Premier League game between Leeds United and Crystal Palace.

Here are some of your comments:

Leeds fans

Ian: Leeds battled hard and could have easily lost. Lots of mistakes all over the pitch and nobody really stood out. Substitutes added nothing. Thought there should have been a straight red in the first few minutes when Ampadu was kicked in the head. On another day, we may have had a first-half penalty, but Palace turned up and gave better than we did.

Thomas: Very tight game, with Palace creating more chances, but I think Dominic Calvert-Lewin will be disappointed with missing the fantastic opportunity he had to settle the match. Didn't really create much so a draw was a fair result

Hillsy: Sometimes it's more difficult when you're expected to win against a side lower on quality but possessing great grit, so it's important to be defensively resilient. Leeds will be top half and perhaps challenging for Europe with a little luck.

Richard: Lacklustre at best against a team supposedly tired from European adventures. Never mind - three weeks at least in the top five and most Leeds fans would have given an arm and a leg for that back in August.

Palace fans

James: The Eagles' best league performance to date. Quality starting to show. Important that Sarr gets a start soon to sharpen attack. Defence looking solid. Wharton not quite there yet but not far off.

Hughie: The positivity generated on Thursday carried through. Defensively, we needed that clean sheet and there was a better balance in midfield with more targets for Wharton to pass forward to. A very encouraging performance against a very competitive Leeds side. I'm happy with the point.

Steve: Palace are certainly showing signs of improvement with some delightful one-touch patterns of play. The defence restricted a dangerous Leeds attack to very few opportunities, which was great to see. With more clinical finishing, the much-improved second-half display deserved all three points. The future is definitely looking brighter with every game.

Gary: A greatly improved defensive performance and I'm loving the way we are attacking. We always look dangerous and are creating chances. Two clean sheets is very much a positive and, if we can improve further after the international break, I have high hopes for the rest of the season.

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Leeds defender Tarik Muharemovic has said the "intensity was there" for his side despite only being able to take a point from Sunday's goalless draw with Crystal Palace at Elland Road.

"It's a hard-fought point. At the end of the day, we're still unbeaten in the Premier League. It's a very good thing. We take the point and go to the break unbeaten.

"Crystal Palace are a good team and we saw how good they can play. They were very compact in defence. Respect to them - they played really good. You saw two teams who fought for everything.

"The intensity was there but, with the ball, we know we can do much better.

"It's amazing here. I love being here, with the players, my brothers.

Listen to more below or on BBC Sounds here

Leeds manager Daniel Farke, speaking to BBC Match of the Day, said: "You can't expect to have 38 games of magical nights under the lights when you always overrun your opponents. We faced a difficult Crystal Palace side and it was not our best game and a bit scruffy at the end.

"But the team had to fight and dig in and it was defensively excellent so I'm happy with that.

"Dominic [Calvert-Lewin] had an excellent chance in the second half and sometimes you want to take a dirty one-nil but I'm quite happy with the clean sheet and to extend our unbeaten run.

"In the last 30 minutes it was a bit of a basketball game and I'm happy with how we handled their counter attacks. A clean sheet, a draw, so we have to accept it.

"We have heart, spirit and tactically we can adapt. We have strong unity in the dressing room. After an intense opening [to the season]. it's important we have a bit of time to recover."

Listen to Farke speaking to BBC Radio Leeds here

Did you know?

• Leeds remain unbeaten in the Premier League this season across their opening five matches (won two, drawn three), the first time they've completed that feat in the competition since 2001-02.

• This was Leeds' fourth 0-0 Premier League draw since the start of 2026 (25 games), though two of those have now come against Crystal Palace (also in March). In fact, this is the only fixture to produce two goalless draws since the start of 2026 in the competition.

Michael Emons
BBC Sport journalist

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Leeds came into this match on the back of their best performance of the season so far as they overpowered Newcastle 4-1 on Monday, but for large parts of the match at Elland Road, Crystal Palace were the better side.

Nevertheless, it was still another resolute defensive performance from the hosts, which was epitomised by defender Tarik Muharemovic celebrating a vital last-minute block on Ismaila Sarr as if he had scored a goal himself.

Leeds go into the three-week international break having conceded just three goals, which, level with Everton, is the joint fewest in the top flight.

Daniel Farke will be delighted with how his side have performed so far this season, but will also feel they could have taken all three points if his main striker had converted a glorious chance.

Four goals in his past four games had helped Dominic Calvert-Lewin earn an England recall, with the 29-year-old named in Thomas Tuchel's squad for the four Nations League matches against Spain, Czech Republic (twice) and Croatia.

He has only made one substitute appearance for the Three Lions since 2021 - coming on as a substitute in a 1-1 draw in a friendly against Uruguay in March - and would have been keen to impress.

Calvert-Lewin, who also contributed superbly to Leeds' defensive efforts, will feel he should have done better when faced with only Walter Benitez to beat, only to be denied by the Argentine goalkeeper.

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Leeds' performance

What did you make of Crystal Palace's display?

Reaction and analysis to follow - and come back on Monday for a selection of your replies.