“Finally easy games” — Leeds United’s next five fixtures compared to Manchester United and Sunderland amid Premier League ambitions

Leeds United’s hopes of climbing to the top of the Premier League table were dashed after a 2-1 defeat to Tottenham at Elland Road. As rivals like Manchester United and Sunderland look to consolidate their positions, the upcoming schedule for the Whites is under fresh scrutiny. Could Leeds have a stretch of “easier” fixtures to recover form — or will the challenges continue?

📅 Leeds United’s next five Premier League fixtures

According to the official fixture list for the 2025/26 season, Leeds’ next five matches are:  

Fixtures are subject to change due to TV scheduling or other adjustments.

🔍 Assessing the difficulty: truly “easy” games?

It’s tempting to label a sequence of fixtures as “easy,” but nothing in the Premier League comes without caveats. A closer look:

Burnley (Away): Burnley will be desperate for points. On paper, a possible win, but away matches always carry risk. West Ham (Home): A more favorable fixture for Leeds. Home support and familiarity count heavily. Brighton (Away): Brighton are well drilled tactically. Not an easy game, especially away from home. Nottingham Forest (Away): Historically a tough ground to visit. Could be a sting in disguise. Villa (Home): Aston Villa are usually dangerous—this could be one of the tougher ones in the run.

So while there are matches Leeds may realistically target for points, the run is hardly “soft.” Two away fixtures (Brighton, Forest) stand out as particularly precarious.

⚖️ Comparisons: Manchester United & Sunderland

Manchester United: Their schedule is unlikely to offer many breaks. As one of the big clubs, they face multiple high-stakes games against other top sides, with less room for respite. Sunderland: As a newly promoted side (or rising force, depending on context), Sunderland’s fixtures may include more midtable or lower opponents. They might see a slightly gentler run compared to Leeds, especially in away matches.

Against such contrast, Leeds’ upcoming sequence is less forgiving than one might hope. They’ll have to be sharp, particularly away from home.

📰 Final word

After the narrow loss to Tottenham, Leeds must regroup quickly. Their next five fixtures provide a mix of opportunity and peril — home ties offer chances, but away trips present dangers. In a tight top-flight race, margins are fine. Leeds will need to pick up points in the “softer” matches and avoid collapse in the tougher ones.