Gary Neville names Leeds United among Premier League’s most improved as Roy Keane and Ian Wright agree | OneFootball

Leeds United have been named among the Premier League’s most improved sides after a strong return to the top flight, with safety all but secured by last week’s 3-1 win over Burnley. That result moved Daniel Farke’s team to 43 points, seven clear of 18th-placed West Ham with three to play.

Gary Neville selected Leeds alongside Sunderland as joint most improved. “I wouldn’t be too far away from going Sunderland and Leeds. I think to play in the Championship and stay in the Premier League has become a massive jump.” He said this on The Overlap.

Farke has repeatedly underlined the widening gap between divisions, noting that the last six newly-promoted teams all went straight back down. In both 2023/24 and 2024/25, 27 points would have been enough to survive.

Promoted last summer with Sunderland and Burnley, Leeds were widely tipped to struggle. In a season where even 40 points could realistically end in relegation, the Whites and Black Cats have upset those forecasts. Roy Keane said, “You’ve got to give credit to the two teams who have stayed up. We’ve all seen the stats from promoted teams over the last few years, and we all asked at the start whether two of them could stay up.”

Owners 49ers Enterprises prioritised smart recruitment, missing out on Igor Paixao but landing Anton Stach and Noah Okafor, plus steady arrivals James Justin and Sean Longstaff.

Keeping faith with Farke through an autumn slump has been vindicated. After six league defeats in seven, Leeds then lost only four of the next 22. Ian Wright said, “I’d say Leeds. You know what? Farke has done well again, you have to give him some credit.”

Source: yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk