View from the Opposition: Farke on Palace form & potential Leeds fitness doubt

Match previews

14 Mar 2026

Crystal Palace host Leeds United on Sunday (15th March, 14:00 GMT), looking to make it back-to-back Premier League wins – so here’s the lowdown on the visitors, including the latest from their manager Daniel Farke, who spoke to the media on Friday ahead of the game...

Factfile

• Manager: Daniel Farke
• League Position: 15th
• Ground: Elland Road
• Founded: 1919

In their manager's words…

Ahead of Sunday’s league clash at Selhurst Park, Daniel Farke shared his pre-match thoughts on Palace and his side’s preparations.

“Palace are definitely a strong team and a side back in form,” Farke said. “They’ve picked up a lot of points in recent weeks at Premier League level.

“For that, we travel in a good mood and with confidence, but also with respect – we know we’ll have to be at our best this weekend.

“In terms of what we want to achieve, we’re on 31 points already, which is pretty good, but the job is not done. I think seven to nine more points are needed to stay in this league, and we know we’re capable of achieving that in the upcoming games.

“But work is still needed and good performances are required, and for that we are focused as always.”

Leeds team news

Farke expects to have almost a fully fit squad available for selection, albeit with top scorer Dominic Calvert-Lewin, as well as Noah Okafor, doubtful.

“Dominic was out for a few days but has returned to team training,” Farke explained. “We have to see how his body reacts, but I’m carefully optimistic that he’ll be available.

“Noah has just returned to full training and missed today due to a hip issue, so it’s very doubtful he’ll be ready for the weekend.

“Everyone else is fit, in good spirits, and ready for the game.”

Their season so far

Despite back-to-back league defeats against title-chasing Manchester City and in-form Sunderland, Leeds have enjoyed a notable revival since the turn of winter.

Those results represent just their fourth defeat in 18 matches across all competitions since the start of December, a run that has helped lift them clear of the immediate relegation places.

The Whites currently sit three points above West Ham United in 15th, and will hope to avoid being dragged into a tense battle near the bottom involving the Hammers, Nottingham Forest and Tottenham Hotspur.

Leeds had been tipped to test City on the back of their strong form, but defeat in that match brought a four-game unbeaten run to an end.

Even so, Daniel Farke’s side have picked up valuable points in recent weeks against the likes of Chelsea and Aston Villa, while a 3-1 victory over fellow strugglers Forest could yet prove crucial in the fight for survival.

Form has dipped slightly of late, however, with Leeds winning just one of their last six matches in all competitions and arriving in South London following a slender 1-0 defeat to Sunderland.

There has been encouragement in the cup, though. Leeds are now just one game away from Wembley after cruising past Norwich City 3-0 in the FA Cup fifth round at Elland Road – a result wihch also ended a run in which they had conceded in nine of their previous 10 matches.

In the league, the Whites are winless in their last four Premier League fixtures – their longest such run within a single campaign since going nine games without victory at the end of the 2022/23 season.

Summer signing Calvert-Lewin, meanwhile, has been a key figure in attack, netting 10 times so far this term. Palace have been a particularly favoured opponent for the striker: he has scored seven Premier League goals against the Eagles, including a brace in Leeds’ 4-1 win in the reverse fixture.

The Boss: Daniel Farke

A three-time winner of the EFL Championship, Farke’s task this season is to show he can guide a newly promoted side to survival in the Premier League.

During a four-year spell at Norwich City, the German twice guided the Canaries to promotion from the Championship. However, he was dismissed during their second Premier League campaign, with Norwich ultimately unable to avoid relegation.

After a season back in Germany with Borussia Mönchengladbach, Farke returned to England in July 2023 to take charge of Leeds, following their own drop from the top flight.

Within two years he had overseen a return to the Premier League, with Leeds clinching the Championship title after amassing an impressive 100 points from 46 matches.

Pre-match Stat Attack

Palace are unbeaten in their last seven home league games against Leeds (W4 D3), a run stretching back to a 2-1 defeat in the Championship in March 2006.
Leeds are winless in their last 11 Premier League away games against London sides (D2 L9). However, they did come from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with Chelsea in their most recent visit to the capital.
Palace have won three of their last five Premier League matches (L2) – as many victories as they managed in their previous 14 (D4 L7).
Palace midfielder Adam Wharton has provided more assists from line-breaking passes than any other player in the Premier League this season (5), including two against Tottenham Hotspur last time out in the league.
In 22 Premier League appearances for Wolverhampton Wanderers this season, Jørgen Strand Larsen scored once from 21 shots (4.8% conversion), averaging a goal every 1,405 minutes. In five games since joining Palace, he has scored three times from 11 shots (27.3%), averaging a goal every 136 minutes.

Match Details

Crystal Palace v Leeds United

Sunday, 15th March
14:00 GMT
Premier League
Selhurst Park
Live audio commentary on Palace TV+.

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