Daniel Farke believes 'dominant' Leeds United were better side against Manchester United
How far Leeds United have come in the last year could be seen in their disappointment at not beating Manchester United according to Whites manager Daniel Farke.
Farke's team had to settle for a point in a 1-1 draw when Dominic Calvert-Lewin equalised early in the second half after Bryan Mbeumo had fired the visitors ahead 10 minutes before the break.
On chances a draw was a fair result, but Leeds should have had a second half penalty when Ethan Ampadu was grappled to the ground by Harry Maguire and they showed again that they could live with the so-called big six.
Determination was there for all to see, although they were let down too often by final passes and crosses after getting in good positions as the manager outlined.
“You have to say it says a lot about what we've done over the last years that we're right now slightly a bit disappointed with a point, just a point against Man United.
"I think we were the better side today, the dominant side.
"It was not necessary to be in a losing position at a half time, because even the first half we were very dominant.
"But it's still Man United and if you're in one moment not switched on to defend forward and also to spot the run and track the run then with their quality and Mbeumo they can hurt you – and this is what we did.
"I think we lacked a little bit in our decision making in the first half so we could have done a bit better and can play it and around the box with a bit more clarity.
"I think this is what we added in the second half, especially in the beginning, we pushed for the equaliser, fully deserved, a really good equaliser, we had the momentum, completely on our side.
"The problem was there were too many strikes over the crossbar and too many crosses were a bit too long and this situation killed then a bit our momentum.
"I think otherwise we would have capitalised even more and we would have won this game.”
Farke added: "But this lack of quality in the finishing and the crossing was more or less, the only thing I can criticise.
“You always have to be aware it's still Man United and the quality that they have and can bring in more or less with the counter attack, they can still hurt you.
"We have not allowed anything in the second half and for that many, many compliments to my players for another really good performance, a dominant performance against Man United.
"With a bit more quality in our final third I think we could have even won it but that's more less the only thing I can criticise."
It was a typical competitive Leeds – Man U game in the first 20 minutes with more crunching tackles than efforts on goal and the hosts keen to impose themselves on their opponents, winning the ball high up the pitch.
The first sight of goal was an easy save for Senne Lammens from a Nico Elvedi flick on after a long throw and the first real chance fell to defender Elvedi as he powered in a header from an Anton Stach free-kick only to see it well saved.
An even better opportunity followed at the other end with Mbeumo left free in the area only to direct his header just wide.
Mbeumo then had a shot saved by James Trafford, but made it third time lucky with a close range finish from a fine Youri Tielemans low cross – showing what the Whites had been missing as their crosses either did not beat the first man or went just over the heads of well placed forwards.
Leeds' response was good as Ao Tanaka's half-volley from the edge of the box had to be saved by Lammens and Calvert-Lewin sent a diving header just wide from Jayden Bogle's chip in.
But they went in behind at the break and needed a strong start to the second half. They got it as they forced the visitors back and Calvert-Lewin got a header in that was easily saved.
The next chance was put away as Stach's corner was headed down by Tarik Muharemovic and Calvert-Lewin chested the ball down before firing home emphatically for his fifth goal of the season.
The noise level was now up several notches and Leeds surged forward looking for more, but Tanaka sent a volley over and Noah Okafor also fired well over after referee Darren England failed to spot a foul in the corner that preceded this.
Replays showed that defender Maguire dragged Ampadu down as the ball came in, but there was no VAR interference and no penalty.
It could have been another turning point as Bruno Fernandes – only previously visible for his continued complaints to the referee and first half deserved booking for a late challenge – suddenly came into the game.
His smart turn and shot ended with the ball going just wide and he then got another shot in from the edge of the box, but it was straight at keeper Trafford.
At the other end Stach sent a volley well over and he had the best chance to snatch the points at the start of added time when his shot in a crowded box had the keeper beaten only for Noussair Mazraoui to make a desperate block to keep the ball out of the net.
(Calvert-Lewin 52)
(Mbeumo 35)
Sunday, October 18, 2026
Premier League
Attendance: 36,983
Leeds: Trafford 7; Justin 6, Elvedi 7, Muharemovic 7; Bogle 6, Ampadu 7, Tanaka 7 (Longstaff 80, 6), Stach 6, Gudmundsson 7; Okafor 6 (Nmecha 74, 7); Calvert-Lewin 8.
Man Utd: Lammens 7; Yoro 7, Martinez 7 (Mazrauoui 45, 7), Maguire 7; Amad Diallo 6, Santos 6, Baleba 7 (Mount 74, 5), Dalot 8; Tielemans 7 (Cunha 84), Fernandes 6; Mbeumo 7.
Referee: Darren England 4