Leeds United v Manchester United: Daniel Farke strives to 'fulfil the dreams' of supporters on special day

Over many decades for example, Anfield, the venue where Leeds United stepped out on New Year's Day, has possessed an electricity on major European nights which is pretty unsurpassed.

The raucous energy of Elland Road similarly comes into its own, certainly whenever Manchester United or Chelsea are in town.

After saying farewell to ‘old school’ Goodison Park, the return of Leeds' home to the Premier League scene in 2025-26 carried historical and emotional importance for traditionalists whose love of football extends beyond team loyalties. Top-level English football is all the better for it.

Elland Road maybe be showing its age a bit, but still retains an bearpit atmosphere which few stadiums can replicate. It’s theatre.

Ask Chelsea's players who failed to do their homework and disintegrated on December 3. Head coach Enzo Maresca never recovered from that bruising loss and it proved the beginning of the end.

Should Ruben Amorim endure a punishing afternoon a month and a day on, then it may also have ramifications down the track.

Six games unbeaten they may be, but Leeds remain 'underdogs' in the eyes of Daniel Farke. Underdogs with a bark and a bite.

"Everyone knows how big this game is for our supporters and everyone connected with Leeds United", Farke said.

"And it's a special game. But the circumstances are perhaps not in our favour at the moment. There's less time to recover and there's key players that will miss a game.

"But we have, at least for once, a home game right now. And for that, at Elland Road, we always have a chance and we’ll try our very best to fulfil the dreams of our supporters.

"We have fought so hard over the last two years to be back in Premier League level and to have these type of games.

"We need to show again a top performance against a side who is perhaps outperforming us in terms of individual quality in the squad.

"But we want to show our strength and our skills again. If we do so, then together with our supporters, we also have (a chance) in this game."

The enmity between these two bitter rivals is legion. Its history has not just been played out at Elland Road or Old Trafford. There's Hillsborough, Burnden Park, City Ground; there's Cantona, McQueen, Jordan and so much more.

The last time they met in January in West Yorkshire was back in 1992, during three 'War of the Roses' meetings in Leeds - in league and cup - in the space of 18 days. The Red Devils had the better of it, but Leeds won the war by way of the title.

A run of four games in 10 days is Farke's concern in the present.

His opponents have had two extra days to prepare with Farke, despite overseeing a tactical success and fine draw at Liverpool, unable to sit 'on the sofa with coffee and cake and enjoy it' as he put it. It was straight onto the next one.

Leeds have their recent exploits against Chelsea in their memory banks to draw upon, but Farke adds a caveat.

He continued: "The difference was, more or less, we had the normal fixture list and it was not such a quick turnaround.

"We had two more days to recover and we play (now) Thursday evening and then whatever on Sunday; it feels like breakfast (time).. We had several key players available (for Chelsea).

"So it's even more complicated than the Chelsea fixture. But it is what it is. And the good thing is we are in a good position on the table right now.

"We have won many points. But we also want in these circumstances to win as many points as possible; also in the upcoming home games."

Leeds will be without suspended captain Ethan Ampadu - much to the chagrin of Farke - with Joe Rodon, Sean Longstaff and Daniel James also missing. When asked about how would replace the former, Farke's answer was a dry one. 'Good question', was his response.

Recent evidence has more than suggested that the German will come up with something. His tactical game plan was astute and high level at Anfield. His players were totally on-message too.

He said: "It's not like on the PlayStation, where you just put a different base formation, then it works. And you put some names in different formation, it works..

"The players need to know what they have to do in different positions. So it's a difference if you play three centre backs or two centre backs. It's a difference if you play with wingers wide or in the pocket or without wingers and two strikers, for example. So a lot of work goes into it.

"But all credit goes to the players because I know I demand a lot at the moment to also change from game to game and within games. They always have to be on it.

"My group is very intelligent. Football intelligence is quite important. And also they are so open to adapt to it.

"Right now, it's difficult. But so far, we have always tried to find some good solutions and we have found many, many good solutions. Also, in moments when the adversity was against us."