Leeds United secured an important Premier League victory as they defeated West Ham United 2-1, Softfootball reported. The club manager Daniel Farke praised the teams spirit and resilience after a challenging week.
Daniel Frake Post Match Reaction (Credit: Leeds Media)
Farke admitted that winning under such circumstances was never easy. He said:
To win the momentum back is always a difficult game and then you have to dig in and grind out a result. We had a difficult week in terms of illnesses, injuries—many players were struggling individually
Despite these challenges, the team showed determination, with several players stepping up to make key contributions. The manager also highlighted the team’s strong start and improved performance after halftime.
We corrected some issues at halftime and were way better in the beginning of the second half,
he explained, while noting that the players were visibly tired in the final stages.
In the last 20 minutes, you could feel that the lads were getting tired… We didn’t have the substance to go for 90 minutes on full strength, but we wanted to bring this over the line.
Brenden Aaronson gives Leeds the lead (Photo credit: Leeds United – X)
Farke was pleased with Leeds’ finishing after previous criticism of their conversion rate. Highlighting goals from Joe Rodon and Brenden Aaronson, the latter earning man-of-the-match recognition, he said:
There was lots of criticism with our conversion rate. Today we were clinical, especially with the first chances.
He also stressed the importance of teamwork and confidence.
It was a real team performance… The boys should be proud of themselves. It’s important in the Premier League that you keep planting the flag every few games. You can’t let runs go on too long.
Despite the challenges of injuries and fatigue, Farke believes this win will boost morale and momentum.
The only thing that matters today are the three points, and we’re pretty happy with them,
Leeds United held on for a vital 2–1 win over West Ham in a game full of energy, drama and late tension. There was a bright start from Leeds and a tense finish.
Softfootball reported that Leeds United had a tough start this season with only two wins in their first eight matches, including a match they lost to Burnley recently with a 2-0 result. So, tonight’s victory was a much needed boost for their season and would help them bounce back on track.
Brenden Aaronson gives Leeds the lead (Photo credit: Leeds United – X)
Leeds took on dominance as early as the third minute when Brenden Aaronson reacted first to a loose ball and calmly sent the ball home to make 1-0.
That first goal established confidence in Leeds and they had control of the game at the onset, pressing high and creating chances. The second goal from Leeds came from a carefully drafted corner.
Rodon doubles the lead (Photo credit: leeds media)
In the 15th minute, Sean Longstaff swung in a set piece and Joe Rodon quickly gave the goal that made it 2-0. There was joy from the spectators and Leeds continued to defend strongly with Joe Rodon and Ethan Ampadu assisting numerous times.
West Ham gradually started making a comeback and frustrated Leeds a few times. Alphonse Areola made a sharp save which denied a wonderful kick from Jarrod Bowen.
Lucas Paquetá and Bowen began to create more openings as the match continued. West Ham’s recent form hasn’t been so strong, having suffered back to back losses, including a 2-0 defeat in a match against Arsenal.
Leeds team had a couple of injury concerns and had to make some replacements. Gabriel Gudmundsson was replaced by James Justin in the first half and Noah Okafor was replaced by Jack Harrison.
There were other changes made to secure the lead like Dominic Calvert-Lewin being replaced by Luka Nmecha. About the time it seemed Leeds was going to take on another goal, West Ham finally hit just at the stoppage time.
Fernandes goal against Leeds (Photo Credit: West Ham Media)
In the 90th minute Jarrod Bowen crossed and Mateus Fernandes headed past Lucas Perri to make it 2-1. The final minutes were heavy but Leeds didn’t back down.
The Leeds team are now filled with so much excitement and they have shared the video on their official X handle:
Chelsea has announced that midfielder Reggie Walsh has signed his first professional deal. The 17 year old academy midfielder made the deal shortly after his birthday, making it a big milestone in a journey that started when he joined the club as an Under-8. The Blues have secured another of their talented young prospects, Softfootball reports.
Reggie Walsh made his debut last season with the senior team. He left a lasting impression that got many thinking. He started in Chelsea’s UEFA Conference League Semi-Final against Djuragaden, making him the thirds youngest player in club’s history.
In Chelsea’s 5-1 victory over Ajax, Softfootball reported how Chelsea showcased their emerging talents and the promise of a new generation stepping up. Tyrique George made an impact in the game. The 19 year old scored after his shot deflected off a defender and worng-footed Pasveer, helping the club dominate the game.
Jamie Gittens won the Man of the Match, as confirmed on the club’s official X handle, while Walsh also got to experience the Champions League at Stamford Bridge, becoming the youngest player in the competition.
Mikel Arteta has sent a heartfelt message to Arsenal fans before Sunday’s game against Crystal Palace, asking them to bring their energy and support to the Emirates Stadium, Softfootball reports.
At Mikel Arteta’s pre-match press Conference at the Sobha Realty Training Centre, he emphasized the crucial role supporters play in helping the team perform at their best.
Mikel Arteta (Photo credit: arsenal media)
The Gunners shared an insightful perspective from head coach Mikel Arteta, via their official X handle;
"The atmosphere is one of the most important things, and I love that."
The Gunners shared a video of Arteta on their official X handle, urging supporters to be in their seats early, showing energy and positive body language from the very first whistle. Watch below:
After a big midweek performance, Arteta knows the team will need another strong push from the stands. He acknowledges the physical and mental toll of recent games and sees the upcoming match as a test of resilience and focus.
He hopes the Emirates will once again be full of noise, colour, and passion, turning the fans’ support into a driving force for another important win.
Al-Nassr have been in brilliant form, enjoying a strong winning streak that they’ll be eager to extend. The team has triumphed in their last five matches and remain unbeaten so far this season. Their attack has been sharp and relentless, with goals coming from all directions in recent games.
Al Nassr players (Photo Credit: Al Nassr X handle)
Al-Hazm have had a tough season so far, struggling to find good form and consistency. They’ve scored a few goals, but their home record has been poor, and results have not gone their way. Facing an in-form Al-Nassr side makes their task even harder.
Cristiano Ronaldo (Photo Credit: Al Nassr via X)
Al-Nassr, on the other hand, are full of confidence. They’ve been unbeaten this season and have dominated recent meetings between the two sides. A major boost for Al Nassr will be the return of Cristiano Ronaldo. The superstar sat out the ACL away game, as is common in these matches, but he will start against Al Hazem.
Ronaldo has a special history against this team, having scored his 850th professional goal against them last season. Al Nassr FC shared an inspiring glimpse into the dedication of their star player, Cristiano Ronaldo on the club’s official X handle;
Al-Hazm will hope to stay compact in defense and use quick counterattacks to cause problems, but it won’t be easy
Al Nassr will be without Marcelo Brozovic, who is sidelined with a muscle injury. Defender Saad Al Nasser will miss the match due to a knee problem, while goalkeeper Nawaf Alaqidi is out with a hamstring issue.
In a pre-match press conference shared on the club’s official X handle, Al-Hazem coach Jalal Qadri expressed confidence in securing a victory over league leaders Al-Nassr. Speaking about the influence of top players, he said:
Cristiano Ronaldo is the greatest player in history and a lesson for young players.
Watch the video below:
جانب من المؤتمر الصحفي للسيد "جلال قادري" قبل مواجهة #الحزم_النصر
Al-Nassr (4-4-2): Bento; Nawaf Boushal, Mohamed Simakan, Iñigo Martínez, Aiman Yahya; Angelo Gabriel, Abdullah Al Khaibari, Kingsley Coman, Sadio Mané; João Félix, Cristiano Ronaldo.
Al-Hazm (4-1-4-1): Bruno Varela (GK); Ahmed Al Nakhli, Sultan Tanker, Abdulrahman Al Dakheel, Abdulaziz Al Harbi; Loreintz Rosier; Fabio Martins, Nawaf Al Habashi, Basil Al Sayyali, Elias Mokwana; Omar Al Somah.
Prediction:
Al-Nassr are the favourites. They have a strong record which has already given them an edge. Al-Hazm might not win because of their poor records and so Al-Nassr might end up winning with a 3-0 result.
Liverpool is set for a Premier League clash with Brentford this Saturday at the Gtech Community Stadium. The Reds are looking to build on their recent boost of confidence, while Brentford aim to continue their strong home form.
For Brentford, it’s been a bit of a roller coaster season with some good times and some bad times. Softfootball reported how they pulled in a big win against West Ham, defeating them 2-0 away from home. Under Keith Andrews, the Bees aim to play a clever, tactical game to frustrate stronger opponents, while also using their pace to catch teams off-guard.
Arne Slot (Photo Credit – Liverpool Official Website)
Speaking in a press conference ahead of the match between Liverpool and Brentford, Arne Slot highlighted the status of his players, Mohammed Salah’s form and the challenges of the match.
Arne Slot and Mohammed Salah (photo credit: Liverpool media)
Slot spoke in favor of Salah who has played a few matches without scoring, classifying the Egyptian star as one of the most reliable players in the team. He said:
The main thing is that Mo has always scored goals for our club. The last thing I worry about is Mo starting to score goals again because that’s what he’s done his whole life and what I expect him to do in the upcoming weeks and months for our club as well
When asked about the squad changes affect Salah’s form, the manager reflected on summer changes and their possible impact, saying:
It could. Not particularly maybe the right full-back, but it could [be]… for every player if you have quite a few changes in your squad during the summer then everyone needs to find new connections again… Mo is not an exception to this because he’s also a human being like all the others…
Curtis Jones (Photo Credit: Liverpool media)
Slot noted Curtis Jones’ commanding midfield display against Frankfurt, explaining the tactical setup behind his influence:
I’m not so surprised that he touched the ball a lot because I positioned him and Dom a bit lower… Curtis has played a very good game against Frankfurt.
Speaking on the challenge of selecting the best XI, Slot said:
It’s not only about new signings… It’s about a lot of very good players, so what is your best line-up? The team you face, the tactics the other team plays with, the form of the player and the connections between the players… you can also have moments in the season where things are a bit more difficult.
He added that integrating new signings in matches also plays a role:
It was maybe also the first time there was an opportunity to play with both Alex and Hugo because of Alex missing out for so long… certain players bring different characteristics.
Keith Andrews, the head coach of Brentford also spoke ahead of the match. As shared in the club’s verified X handle, He sounded positive on the team’s recent performance and talked about the need for improvements.
The performance levels of so many aspects on Monday were very pleasing. There’s always things you can tweak. Naturally you can become a little bit more demanding, and fine tune, when everybody is in a good place. We need to build on that
He also spoke about his team’s preparation for the match against Liverpool. He admitted that the game will be tough but his players are ready.
Keith Andrews on Liverpool gameplan
"We have to manage the game. We are well aware of the strengths that they have. We’ll see what their teamsheet brings tomorrow evening. We’ll be prepared for it and are really looking forward to it" pic.twitter.com/aqE8az4jRp
For Liverpool, Alexandra Isak’s coming back is in doubt especially as he had come off at half-time in the game with Eintracht Frankfurt because of his groin injury. It is also not certain if Ryan Gravenberch will be playing in the match because of his ankle injury. Jeremie Frimpong, Alisson Becker, and Giovanni Leoni remain out.
For Brentford, Antoni Milambo and Paris Maghoma will not play because of an ACL and thigh injuries respectively. There is doubt about Aaron Hickey because of a knock to his knee.
Possible Lineups:
Brentford (4-2-3-1): Kelleher; Collins, Van den Berg, Pinnock; Kayode, Henderson, Yarmolyuk, Lewis-Potter; Damsgaard; Schade, Thiago
Liverpool (4-2-3-1): Mamardashvili; Bradley; Konaté; Virgil van Dijk; Robertson; Mac Allister; Jones; Salah; Szoboszlai; Gakpo; Ekitike.
Prediction:
With Liverpool’s superior quality, they could win with a 2-1 scoreline but Brentford will still make the game tough for them because of their strength at home.
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