'They don’t know what they are on about' - Daniel Farke defended in frank Leeds United comments

The mood surrounding Leeds United has become more positive after Daniel Farke’s side collected four points from two Elland Road meetings with Chelsea and reigning Premier League champions Liverpool.

After falling to an agonising late defeat against Manchester City just days earlier, the Whites produced arguably their best performance of the season as Jaka Bijol, Ao Tanaka and Dominic Calvert-Lewin all found the net in a fully deserved 3-1 win against Chelsea. Elland Road was rocking once again on Saturday evening as Farke’s men went head-to-head with Liverpool in what was a titanic affair that only heightened the pressure on Reds boss Arne Slot.

After falling two goals down to a brace from Hugo Ekitike with efforts from Calvert-Lewin and Anton Stach, the Whites appeared to be on their way to a loss as Dominik Szoboszlai put the visitors in front with ten minutes remaining. However, Tanaka made it two goals in as many games to ensure Leeds claimed a point as a reward for an energetic display against the Reds.

The results mean the Whites are now four points clear of the relegation zone and some of the talk surrounding Farke’s long-term future at Elland Road appears to have quietened. Former Leeds boss Simon Grayson believes his old club answered some of the questions being posed of them during the last ten days and praised Farke’s side for the spirit and togetherness they showed.

He told LUFCTV: “We have shown our capabilities that we can score goals against three of the best teams in the division as well. It is a huge result [Saturday] because of the desire, the spirit, the togetherness and the decision making from Daniel as well. He has been criticised a lot over the last few weeks about the change of systems, substitutions.

“Obviously 2-0 down, he went back to a back four, which was a right call to make because he had to do something differently, but again the players responded. If anybody questions, ‘this group of players are not playing for the manager’, then they don’t know what they are on about. This group of players want to play for the club, supporters and the manager as well because this week’s performances have shown that.”

What did Daniel Farke say about Leeds United’s draw with Liverpool?

The Whites boss said: "Very happy of course, all the credit goes to the boys. We got so much praise for our different formation but at 2-0 down we wanted to change the challenge for Liverpool. We wanted mobile wingers, sometimes wide, sometimes in the pocket and to press in a different way.

“The lads executed in a brilliant way, assist for Willy, assist for Brenden, Ao with an equaliser after I was a bit furious with him for opening our block [for the Liverpool third.] Sebastiaan Bornauw, we wanted to create a bit of chaos, playing as a right-back without the ball and a striker with it. We needed to change something. It caught Liverpool a bit by surprise and we were able to create a few more set-pieces and could use one to equalise. After this exhausting week, to change base formation and it works, it's amazing."

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