Tottenham Hotspur are set to face Leeds United in the Premier League tomorrow. Thomas Frank & Co. started the 2025/26 season with some splendid performances, but we have seen some weakness exposed in the past few games.
The Lilywhites have picked up barely 2 points in the last two Premiership games with successive draws against Brighton and Wolves. This continued in the midweek fixture as well, given that Tottenham were forced to a draw against Bodo in the Champions League.
Coming from a run of successive draws, Tottenham would be desperate to get back to winning ways this weekend. And this is where a game against a newly promoted side seems a welcoming sight.
But Leeds are also adapting well to life in the English top tier, given that they have accumulated six points already this season. But there is more: they drew 2-2 against Bournemouth last weekend, which extended their unbeaten run to 23 league games at Elland Road.
This sets up a tricky tie for the Lilywhites, and that is where Thomas Frank would have to be wary of a few key duels which could end up weighing the scale Leeds’ way.
Three key battles in Leeds United vs Tottenham
Cristian Romero vs Dominic Calvert-Lewin
Romero has been quite integral at Hotspur Way since he moved to N17. But his importance has been increasing since he was named skipper by Thomas Frank. He has been central to Spurs’ defensive structure under the Danish head coach. But this weekend, he will be lining up against a very different type of striker in Calvert-Lewin.
The former Everton man thrives when he is being met by physical duels. He loves getting direct service in the box and cherishes aerial battles. And I think this is exactly the type of game that can unsettle Tottenham if Romero isn’t sharp.
Given how lethal DCL is in the air, Romero needs to ensure that he dominates the England international physically and positionally. This will end up preventing Leeds from gaining momentum through knockdowns and second balls.
Joao Palhinha vs Sean Longstaff
This is the battle that can end up defining who dominates the second phase. Two summer singers who have been making their mark for their new employers.
The former Newcastle United midfielder has found himself as an engine in the middle of the park at Elland Road, and that shows how he is among the league leaders for both chances created and tackles. And he will surely be looking to be a menace against Tottenham come tomorrow.
And then he will be shouldering a player who is more of a destroyer at the base of the midfield. And this is where Palhinha needs to ensure that he gets the better of Longstaff and dominates the tempo of the midfield.
Given the game is at Elland Road, the crowd will try to force their tempo onto the pitch, and that is where someone with the experience of the Bayern loanee will come in crucial.
Mathys Tel vs Joe Rodon
With an expectation that Richarlison will be rested and Tel will start, he will be rubbing shoulders with someone who has been at Tottenham in Joe Rodon. The Frenchman is quite different in how he uses his physical side of things than Richarlson, but his pace and movements are quite smart. And Thomas Frank will be looking to take advantage of it.
Rodon is a no-nonsense defender, though. And he is a leader at the back. He will surely be looking to lay into Tel physically and try to strong-arm him into getting in the game. But this is where Tel has to show his capabilities and smartly work his way around the marshalled troops of Farke’s backline.