Football Apr 29, 2026

Leeds' display at Manchester United will 'send shiver down spine' or relegation rivals, says Jamie Carragher

👤
By Admin
Sports Journalist
Leeds' display at Manchester United will 'send shiver down spine' or relegation rivals, says Jamie Carragher

Jamie Carragher believes Leeds' shock 2-1 win at Manchester United will "send a shiver down the spine" of their relegation rivals.

Noah Okafor scored twice in a blistering first half as Daniel Farke's side moved , piling further pressure on in 18th place.

Okafor opened ‌the scoring in the fifth minute, before adding a deflected second before the half-hour ‌mark in a swaggering performance that Carragher reckons is ominous for the sides scrapping below them.

"For the majority of this season, they've been a breath of fresh air in the Premier League," he said.

"They've been absolutely fantastic. But how they performed in the first half tonight will send a shiver down the spines of everyone in that relegation fight.

"That was a confident performance, coming to the most in-form team at home.

"They didn't just hang on in a game like that, they absolutely bossed Man Utd in the first half.

"Those teams down there, they would have been watching tonight - the supporters, players and staff - and that will be a big blow for them psychologically.

"That was the performance of a really good team. When we go back to Tottenham, we haven't seen a performance like that from them in about six months."

Farke dropped to his knees celebrating a survival-boosting victory that was Leeds' first in the league at Old Trafford in 45 years.

"It's a monumental night for Leeds," said Gary Neville on co-commentary.

Speaking after the game, Neville backed Leeds to stay up ahead of Tottenham due to their greater cohesion.

"Before the game, I was looking at West Ham over the weekend and Nottingham Forest and thinking that they've got something going a little bit.

"It looks like they might just have enough to get out of it. Tottenham are in big trouble, and you're thinking Leeds could just get dragged down there.

"They've got some decent fixtures and it's not been good, but I thought they put a really good performance in today.

"Every time I've watched them live, they've been really good, not just in terms of their passion, their commitment but the patterns, the way in which they've got their system worked out.

"I was there at the first full game against Chelsea that they played that five at the back. They might have gone to it in the Man City game just before that on the Saturday.

"The reason I'm not a great fan of the system is because usually to find wing-backs that can do the equal attacking and defending bit is really difficult, but I think [Jayden] Bogle and [Gabriel] Gudmundsson, when they play, they do it fantastically well.

"They go forward with real energy and threat and it gives them a bit more solidity with the three and [Ethan] Ampadu in front, so I do think it suits them.

"First half tonight, they were absolutely wonderful. That is a performance that I don't think Tottenham are capable of. That's the scary thing for Tottenham, not just the six points that Leeds United have gone clear of them tonight, but the actual performance levels that they put in - they're nowhere near that.

"You watch Spurs yesterday against Sunderland and it's a set of ingredients that don't go together, a concoction of misfits.

"Yet you watch Leeds tonight and there's a flow. They had to dig in in the second half and they found it difficult when Manchester United went to ten men and they started throwing caution to the wind.

"Overall, it was a wonderful night for them and I think that does secure Premier League survival for Leeds United this season because the confidence that they'll get from that... they fully deserved it."

, as well as crunch away trips to Tottenham and West Ham after a visit to Bournemouth.

He said: "It gives us confidence. A win is always good for that, and for the table.

"But performance-wise we should be on far more than 40 points. We have performed with unbelievable consistency, but we can be more effective in both boxes.

"For that, the reality is we are on 36 points and we need a few more points.

"Tonight we are three points closer but nothing is achieved yet, we have to stay humble, grounded, hungry and make sure we are ready for the upcoming games to win as many points as possible."

Tags:

football news

Share this article

Related Posts

Man Utd 3-2 Liverpool: Kobbie Mainoo's winner secures Champions League qualification after Premier League epic

Man Utd 3-2 Liverpool: Kobbie Mainoo's winner secures Champions League qualification after Premier League epic

Kobbie Mainoo scored a dramatic winner for Manchester United as they beat Liverpool 3-2 in an epic Premier League encounter at Old Trafford.Matheus Cu...

Lyon 3-1 Arsenal (agg: 4-3): Gunners' Women's Champions League title defence over after semi-final second leg defeat

Lyon 3-1 Arsenal (agg: 4-3): Gunners' Women's Champions League title defence over after semi-final second leg defeat

Arsenal's Champions League title defence is over as they were beaten 4-3 on aggregate by Lyon in their semi-final, with the French side deservedly win...

Livingston 2-2 Aberdeen: Robbie Muirhead equaliser earns a point for the Scottish Premiership's bottom side

Livingston 2-2 Aberdeen: Robbie Muirhead equaliser earns a point for the Scottish Premiership's bottom side

Robbie Muirhead's spectacular equaliser left Livingston clinging on to their William Hill Premiership status and Aberdeen still waiting to secure safe...

Millwall 2-0 Oxford United: Lions must settle for play-offs despite victory

Millwall 2-0 Oxford United: Lions must settle for play-offs despite victory

Millwall had to settle for a place in the Sky Bet Championship play-offs despite finishing the regular season with a comfortable 2-0 victory over rele...

Hibs 1-2 Celtic: Martin O'Neill waiting on Daizen Maeda's fitness as trouble in front of goal persists despite victory

Hibs 1-2 Celtic: Martin O'Neill waiting on Daizen Maeda's fitness as trouble in front of goal persists despite victory

Celtic's attacking concerns have increased ahead of next weekend's Old Firm showdown after Daizen Maeda limped off during the 2-1 win over 10-man Hibs...

Sir Alex Ferguson: Man Utd legend taken to hospital after feeling unwell ahead of his former side's Premier League game with Liverpool

Sir Alex Ferguson: Man Utd legend taken to hospital after feeling unwell ahead of his former side's Premier League game with Liverpool

Sir Alex Ferguson was taken to hospital after feeling unwell ahead of Manchester United vs Liverpool on Sunday. The 84-year-old legendary United boss,...