The 2022–23 season was the 103rd season in the existence of Leeds United and the club's third consecutive season in the Premier League. In addition to the league, they also competed in the FA Cup and the EFL Cup.
Review
August
Leeds began their Premier League campaign against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Elland Road on 6 August, winning by a score of 2–1. Daniel Podence opened the scoring for Wolves in the 6th minute. Before the half-time interval, Rodrigo levelled the scores. Leeds went ahead in the 74th minute after Rayan Aït-Nouri turned Patrick Bamford's cross, intended for Brenden Aaronson, into his own goal.[3][4] A week later, Leeds drew 2–2 against Southampton at St Mary's Stadium, with Rodrigo scoring at the near post from a cross shortly after half-time before doubling Leeds' advantage in the 60th minute with a back post header from a corner. Southampton scored in the 72nd minute after Adam Armstrong's pass found Joe Aribo, who took the ball around Leeds goalkeeper Illan Meslier to score. Southampton equalised in the 81st minute after Sékou Mara found Kyle Walker-Peters who scored from a tight angle.[5][6] Leeds next hosted rivalsChelsea on 21 August, winning 3–0. Brenden Aaronson gave Leeds the lead when he pressured Chelsea goalkeeper Édouard Mendy into giving away the ball for Aaronson to tap in on the 33rd minute, scoring his first goal for the club. Rodrigo added Leeds' second minutes later heading in from a Jack Harrison cross. Harrison added Leeds' third on the 69th minute to complete their first win over Chelsea in nearly twenty years. Kalidou Koulibaly was shown a second yellow card and subsequently sent off for Chelsea, for bringing down Joe Gelhardt in the 84th minute. The result moved Leeds up to 3rd in the Premier League table.[7][8] Leeds defeated League One club Barnsley 3–1 at Elland Road in the EFL Cup second round on 24 August, with Luis Sinisterra scoring Leeds' first goal, before a brace from Mateusz Klich.[9] The team lost their first match of the season on 28 August, being defeated 1–0 away to Brighton & Hove Albion after Pascal Groß scored a powerful right-footed shot in the 66th minute.[10] This was followed by a 1–1 draw at home to Everton on 30 August, with Luis Sinisterra's goal from the edge of the box in the 55th minute cancelling out Anthony Gordon's first-half opener.[11][12]
Leeds began November by hosting Bournemouth at Elland Road on 5 November, winning 4–3. Rodrigo opened the scoring for Leeds in the 3rd minute with a penalty following a foul on Crysencio Summerville by Marcos Senesi, Marcus Tavernier then equalised for Bournemouth in the 7th minute following a cross by Ryan Fredericks and then Philip Billing put Bournemouth ahead following a shot by Tavernier that was saved by Leeds goalkeeper Illan Meslier in the 19th minute, Dominic Solanke then scored a third for Bournemouth in the 48th minute following a low-cross by Tavernier. Sam Greenwood then pulled a goal back for Leeds in the 60th minute with long-range shot following a cross by Pascal Struijk, Liam Cooper then equalised for Leeds in the 68th minute following a corner by Greenwood, Summerville scored the winner for Leeds in the 84th minute following a pass by Wilfried Gnonto.[28][29] Leeds were defeated 1–0 away to Wolverhampton Wanderers in the EFL Cup third round, with Boubacar Traoré scoring the only goal of the match in 85th minute.[30] Leeds then travelled to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to play Tottenham Hotspur on 12 November, losing 4–3. Crysencio Summerville opened the scoring for Leeds in the 10th minute following a pass by Brenden Aaronson, Harry Kane then equalised for Spurs in the 25th minute, Rodrigo then put Leeds ahead three minutes before half-time following a header towards him by Rasmus Kristensen, Ben Davies equalised for Spurs in the 51st minute, Rodrigo then put Leeds ahead again in the 76th minute, Rodrigo Bentancur then equalised for Spurs again in the 81st minute following a cross by Matt Doherty and Bentancur then scored winner for Spurs in the 83rd minute following a pass by Dejan Kulusevski. Tyler Adams was then sent off for Leeds in the 87th minute following a foul on Yves Bissouma.[31][32]
December
Leeds began December by hosting Manchester City at Elland Road on 28 December, losing 3–1. Rodri opened the scoring for Manchester City in first-half stoppage time following a shot by Riyad Mahrez which was saved by Leeds goalkeeper Illan Meslier, Erling Haaland then scored a second for Manchester City in the 51st minute following a pass across goal by Jack Grealish, Haaland then scored a third for Manchester City in the 64th minute following another pass by Grealish. Pascal Struijk then scored a consolation goal for Leeds in the 73rd minute following a corner by Sam Greenwood.[33][34] Leeds then travelled to St James' Park to play Newcastle United on New Year's Eve, drawing 0–0.[35][36]
January
Leeds began January by hosting West Ham United at Elland Road on 4 January, drawing 2–2. After Wilfried Gnonto opened the scoring for Leeds with his first goal for the club in the 27th minute from a pass by Crysencio Summerville, Lucas Paquetá equalised for West Ham in first-half stoppage time for a penalty awarded following a foul on Jarrod Bowen by Pascal Struijk. Gianluca Scamacca then put West Ham ahead in the 46th minute after Brenden Aaronson gave the ball to him and Rodrigo then equalised for Leeds in the 70th minute following a pass by Jack Harrison.[37][38] Leeds then travelled to the Cardiff City Stadium to play Championship club Cardiff City in the FA Cup third round on 8 January, drawing 2–2. Jaden Philogene opened the scoring for Cardiff, with Sheyi Ojo scoring a second seven minutes later. Rodrigo pulled a goal back for Leeds following a cross from Sam Greenwood. Sonny Perkins' equaliser for Leeds in second-half stoppage time, sent the match to a replay at Elland Road.[39] Leeds would go on to win the replay 5–2 on 18 January. Wilfried Gnonto opened the scoring just 26 seconds in, before Rodrigo made it 2–0. Gnonto then scored his second of the night, with Patrick Bamford also scoring twice, after coming on as a substitute. Callum Robinson scored a pair for Cardiff, one of which was a penalty kick awarded for a handball by Marc Roca, but Leeds progressed to the fourth round of the Cup for the first time since the 2016–17 season under the management of Garry Monk.[40] Before their FA Cup replay with Cardiff, Leeds travelled to Villa Park to play Aston Villa on 13 January and lost 2–1, with Leon Bailey opening the scoring for the home team in the third minute, following a pass from Boubacar Kamara. Emiliano Buendía then added a second for Villa in the 64th minute, following a shot by Bailey that was saved by Illan Meslier and which, after a VAR check for offside, was eventually given as onside. Patrick Bamford scored a consolation goal for Leeds in the 83rd minute, from a pass by Joe Gelhardt, but the result put pressure on Leeds' head coach Jesse Marsch as Leeds now had not won in the league since their victory over Bournemouth in November 2022.[41] Leeds then hosted Brentford at Elland Road on 22 January, drawing 0–0.[42][43] Leeds ended the month by travelling to the Wham Stadium to play League One club Accrington Stanley in the FA Cup fourth round on 28 January, winning 3–1. Jack Harrison opened the scoring for Leeds in the 23rd minute, scoring from outside the box. Junior Firpo added Leeds' second—and his first goal for the club—in the 66th minute following a pass from Bamford and just minutes later Luis Sinisterra put away Leeds' third. Leslie Adekoya scored a late consolation goal for Accrington, but Leeds progressed to the fifth round for the first time since the 2015–16 season under the management of Steve Evans.[44][45]
Leeds began April by travelling to the Emirates Stadium to play league leaders Arsenal, losing 4–1. Gabriel Jesus opened the scoring with a penalty following a tackle from Luke Ayling. Jesus also scored Arsenal's second after a cut-back from Leandro Trossard, before Ben White scored Arsenal's third, following a cross from Gabriel Martinelli. Rasmus Kristensen scored a consolation for Leeds, before Granit Xhaka scored a fourth six minutes from time.[67][68] This was followed by a 2–1 home victory over relegation rivals Nottingham Forest, where Jack Harrison and Luis Sinisterra scored first-half goals to put Leeds ahead after Orel Mangala opened the scoring for Forest.[69][70] Leeds then hosted another relegation rival in Crystal Palace on 9 April. A Patrick Bamford header from a corner (his fiftieth goal for the club) saw Leeds take a first-half lead, though Palace equalised through Marc Guéhi minutes before halftime. Palace scored four times in the second half however, with Michael Olise registering a hat-trick of assists to consign Leeds to a 5–1 defeat.[71][72] A 6–1 defeat at home to Liverpool followed, with Luis Sinisterra scoring Leeds' only goal early in the second half following a mistake by Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konaté.[73][74] Leeds travelled to Craven Cottage to play Fulham on 22 April, losing 2–1. Harry Wilson opened the scoring for Fulham in the second-half. Andreas Pereira then doubled Fulham's lead. João Palhinha then scored an own goal seven minutes later to act as consolation for Leeds.[75][76] Leeds hosted Leicester City at Elland Road on 25 April, drawing 1–1. Luis Sinisterra opened the scoring for Leeds following a cross from Jack Harrison. Jamie Vardy then equalised for Leicester City with ten minutes left.[77][78] Leeds ended April by travelling to the Vitality Stadium to play relegation rivals Bournemouth on 30 April, losing 4–1. Jefferson Lerma opened the scoring for Bournemouth, Lerma then doubled Bournemouth's lead four minutes later with his second goal of the match and with minutes remaining of the first-half Patrick Bamford then pulled a goal back for Leeds. In the second-half, Dominic Solanke then scored a third for the home side. Antoine Semenyo then scored a fourth for Bournemouth.[79][80]
Source: Premier League Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) If the champions, relegated teams or qualified teams for UEFA competitions cannot be determined by rules 1 to 3, rules 4.1 to 4.3 are applied – 4.1) Points gained in head-to-head record between such teams; 4.2) Away goals scored in head-to-head record between such teams; 4.3) Play-offs[136] (R) Relegated
Note: The match was originally scheduled to be played on 18 September 2022, but was postponed due to police concerns surrounding the State funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.[138]