Phil Jones says Leeds United have a ‘real chance’ of staying up if they can do one thing

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Daniel Farke will have returned to work this week at Leeds United relieved that he still finds himself in a job, having gone into fixtures against Chelsea and Liverpool almost expecting the sack.

Reports said Farke needed a result in Leeds’ last two games to keep his job. Paraag Marathe was in the stands at Elland Road last Wednesday as Leeds faced Chelsea, perhaps ready to pull the trigger if needed.

Does Daniel Farke get the credit he deserves? 🤔

The Leeds manager changed the game against Liverpool with his subs

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It wasn’t, in the end. A Farke masterclass earned Leeds a 3-1 win at Elland Road against the Club World Cup Champions. Then, Ao Tanaka scored a late goal to draw level with Liverpool on Saturday night.

A remarkable few days for Leeds, which has seen Farke’s men win four points from two very tough games and go into Sunday against Brentford with their tails up. Phil Jones says if Leeds can stay up this season.

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Phil Jones identifies what Leeds United need to do to survive

Leeds have 15 points from 15 games and the belief is that if Farke’s men can remain on the point-a-game line, they will achieve Premier League safety at the end of the campaign. Easier said than done, however.

Speaking to Sports Illustrated, former England and Blackburn Rovers defender Phil Jones believes Leeds can stay in the Premier League. However, it will require a significant effort, and Elland Road will be crucial.

“Leeds, I mean the place at Elland Road, if they can create that sort of vibe at Elland Road, they’ve got a real chance. They’ve got a real chance,” Jones said following Saturday’s last-gasp draw against The Reds.

The two players who impressed Phil Jones during Liverpool draw

What was interesting tactically about the 3-3 draw against Liverpool was that the new-look 3-5-2 system wasn’t working. So Farke was as proactive as he could be, and reverted to a 4-2-3-1, making some subs.

Indeed, all three of the subs Farke made just after the hour mark made a difference. Tanaka scored, Willy Gnonto won a penalty, and Brenden Aaronson got the assist for Leeds’ first equaliser, in Anton Stach.

“The changes Daniel Farke made were brilliant. Right players at the right time, perfect, they had a massive impact on the game. Is it Aaronson who came on? I thought he was really, really good. Gnonto as well.”

It will be interesting to see which system Farke starts when Leeds go to Brentford on Sunday, but what it does show is that Farke can switch formations and the Leeds players are now adept at using a plan B.