Best start in 25 years? 8 OPTA stats ahead of Leeds vs Palace | OneFootball

Leeds United return to Elland Road on Sunday afternoon looking to build on their superb start to the 2026/27 Premier League campaign, with Daniel Farke’s side welcoming Crystal Palace for a 2pm kick-off.

The Whites head into the contest with eight points from their opening four matches, including a thumping 4-1 victory over Newcastle United last time out, and there are plenty of reasons for optimism ahead of the visit of Pierre Sage’s Palace.

Ahead of the latest Premier League meeting, our friends at Opta Stats have picked out eight facts to know.

1. Strong home record against Palace

Leeds have won four of their last six Premier League home games against Crystal Palace, with their only defeats coming in August 1997 and April 2023.

2. Leeds won this fixture last season

The Whites produced a 4-1 victory over Crystal Palace at Elland Road last December, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin netting twice before Ethan Ampadu and Anton Stach completed the scoring.

3. Palace have been conceding goals

Crystal Palace have conceded two or more goals in each of their last 10 Premier League matches.

Only Fulham have ever endured a longer such run in Premier League history, conceding at least twice in 13 consecutive matches between January and April 2019.

4. Leeds enjoying best start in 25 years

Farke’s side have collected eight points from their opening four Premier League matches, their best start to a top-flight campaign since 2001/02, when David O’Leary’s Leeds also had eight points from their first four games.

Victory on Sunday would give Leeds their joint-best points tally after five Premier League matches, alongside that 2001/02 campaign.

5. DCL is chasing Leeds history

Dominic Calvert-Lewin has scored in each of his last five home Premier League appearances.

Only one other Leeds player has previously achieved that feat: Mark Viduka, who scored in five consecutive home appearances between March and August 2003.

Should Calvert-Lewin find the net again on Sunday, he would become the first Englishman to score in six consecutive home top-flight appearances for Leeds since Arthur Hydes did so between October and December 1932.

6. One of the league’s top point scorers

Since December 2025, Leeds have won the fifth-most points in the Premier League, collecting 44 from 29 matches.

During that period, the Whites have lost just five times, with 10 wins and 14 draws.

7. Palace giving opponents opportunities

Crystal Palace have faced the most expected goals (8.15) in the Premier League so far this season, while also conceding the most goals, with 11.

They have also faced a joint league-high 26 shots on target and allowed opponents the most touches inside their own penalty area, with 164.

8. Okafor in fine form

Noah Okafor has been one of Leeds’ standout attacking threats since the start of February.

The winger has been directly involved in eight goals in his last 11 Premier League appearances, scoring seven and providing one assist. His rate of one goal or assist every 79 minutes is the best of any player to have played at least 500 minutes during that period.