Tottenham Hotspur welcome Leeds United to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium tomorrow, 11 May 2026, for a Premier League Matchweek 36 fixture carrying enormous importance for the hosts' fight against relegation. Spurs enter the game in 17th place with 37 points from 35 matches, while Leeds are considerably more comfortable in 14th with 43 points and are within touching distance of mathematically securing their Premier League status for another season.
The situation has improved dramatically for Tottenham since Roberto De Zerbi replaced interim head coach Igor Tudor. Spurs had gone 15 Premier League matches without a victory and were sliding towards their first top-flight relegation since 1977, but successive wins over Wolverhampton Wanderers and Aston Villa have lifted them back above West Ham and given them control of their survival hopes. De Zerbi collected seven points from his first four league games before the Leeds fixture, transforming the mood around a club that appeared to be in serious trouble only a few weeks ago.
Leeds arrive under much less pressure after an impressive recent run under Daniel Farke. Their 3-1 victory over Burnley on 1 May moved them onto 43 points, and another victory at Tottenham would take them beyond the maximum total that the relegation-threatened clubs beneath them could realistically use to drag them back into danger. With three fixtures remaining before kickoff, Leeds are in an excellent position to complete a successful first season back in the Premier League.
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Tottenham vs Leeds United Head-to-Head Summary: Last 10 Premier League Matches
Tottenham have enjoyed a commanding recent record against Leeds in the Premier League. Across the 10 league meetings immediately before Monday's game, Spurs recorded eight victories, Leeds won once, and one match ended in a draw, giving the north London club a clear historical advantage heading into another important encounter.
The last 10 Premier League meetings before the 11 May 2026 fixture were:
4 October 2025: Leeds United 1-2 Tottenham Hotspur
28 May 2023: Leeds United 1-4 Tottenham Hotspur
12 November 2022: Tottenham Hotspur 4-3 Leeds United
26 February 2022: Leeds United 0-4 Tottenham Hotspur
21 November 2021: Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 Leeds United
8 May 2021: Leeds United 3-1 Tottenham Hotspur
2 January 2021: Tottenham Hotspur 3-0 Leeds United
10 January 2004: Leeds United 0-1 Tottenham Hotspur
23 August 2003: Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 Leeds United
12 April 2003: Leeds United 2-2 Tottenham Hotspur
Those matches produced eight Tottenham victories, one Leeds victory and one draw, with Spurs scoring 25 goals compared with Leeds' 12. That gives the last 10 league meetings 37 goals in total and an average of 3.7 per game, which helps explain why this fixture has developed a reputation for producing attacking football whenever the clubs meet.
Tottenham have been particularly dominant since Leeds returned to the Premier League in 2020. Spurs have won six of the seven meetings in that period, with Leeds' only success coming in a 3-1 home victory in May 2021. Tottenham have since won five consecutive league encounters, scoring at least twice in every one of those victories.
Most Recent Meeting: Leeds United 1-2 Tottenham Hotspur
The reverse fixture took place at Elland Road on 4 October 2025, when Tottenham earned a 2-1 victory despite Leeds producing a competitive performance.
Mathys Tel put Spurs ahead after 23 minutes with an effort that took a deflection before Noah Okafor equalised for Leeds 11 minutes later. Mohammed Kudus eventually scored the winner in the second half, cutting inside before finding the bottom corner to restore Tottenham's advantage. Leeds continued to push for another equaliser and created several late opportunities, but Guglielmo Vicario and the Tottenham defence held on.
That result was Tottenham's fifth consecutive victory over Leeds and ended the Yorkshire club's year-long unbeaten league record at Elland Road. The circumstances surrounding Monday's return fixture are very different, however, because Tottenham have since changed managers and become involved in an unexpected relegation battle, while Leeds have built enough distance from the bottom three to approach the final weeks with considerably greater confidence.
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Tottenham's Current Premier League Form
Tottenham's overall season has been extremely disappointing, but their immediate form under De Zerbi has finally given supporters genuine hope. The Italian began his tenure with a 1-0 defeat away to Sunderland before Spurs produced a much-improved performance in a 2-2 home draw with Brighton. That draw was especially painful because Tottenham led twice and conceded the equaliser deep into stoppage time, extending their winless league run to 15 matches.
The breakthrough finally arrived at Wolves on 25 April, when Tottenham secured a 1-0 victory to record their first Premier League win of 2026. Antonín Kinský played an important role in preserving the clean sheet, and the result ended a run that had pushed Spurs deep into the relegation battle.
Tottenham then produced an even more impressive performance away to Aston Villa on 3 May. Conor Gallagher opened the scoring after 12 minutes before Richarlison doubled the advantage, and Spurs controlled most of the game before conceding a late consolation in a 2-1 victory. The win lifted them onto 37 points and back into 17th place, one point ahead of West Ham before the following round of fixtures.
De Zerbi's first four league matches therefore produced a sequence of L-D-W-W, giving Tottenham seven points and two consecutive victories heading into the meeting with Leeds. The improvement is significant, but Spurs remain in danger and cannot afford to assume that two positive results have solved the problems that have affected them throughout the season.
Tottenham's Home Form Remains a Major Concern
The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium has surprisingly offered very little protection this season. Before the Leeds match, Spurs had won only two of their 17 Premier League home games, alongside five draws and 10 defeats, giving them one of the poorest home records in the division. Their last league victory in north London came in December, meaning both of De Zerbi's wins so far had arrived away from home.
That record makes Monday's fixture particularly important. Tottenham still have another home match against Everton on the final day, and finding a way to turn their stadium into an advantage could ultimately determine whether they remain in the Premier League. The recent improvement in performances should at least give the crowd more belief than there was during the long winless run.
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Leeds United's Current Premier League Form
Leeds enter the fixture in considerably stronger overall form and are unbeaten in their previous six Premier League matches. Their run began with goalless draws against Crystal Palace and Brentford before an impressive 2-1 victory away to Manchester United on 13 April. Farke's side then defeated Wolves 3-0, drew 2-2 at Bournemouth and most recently beat Burnley 3-1 at Elland Road.
That sequence gives Leeds a recent league form of D-D-W-W-D-W, with three victories and three draws. It is an impressive run for a promoted side approaching the final weeks of its first season back in the top flight, particularly because Leeds have become increasingly difficult to beat away from home.
Their road record deserves special attention. Since losing 4-3 at Newcastle on 7 January, Leeds have drawn at Everton, Chelsea, Aston Villa, Crystal Palace and Bournemouth while also winning at Manchester United. That means they had lost only one of their previous 10 Premier League away matches before travelling to Tottenham, showing that Spurs cannot rely on home advantage to carry them through this encounter.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin remains an important focal point for Leeds and scored in the victory over Burnley, while Ethan Ampadu and Anton Stach give Farke strength and control through central midfield. Leeds have also demonstrated impressive resilience throughout the season, repeatedly recovering from difficult positions to collect points against stronger opponents.
Tottenham Team News and Injuries
Tottenham's injury situation remains one of the biggest obstacles facing De Zerbi. Although the manager confirmed there were no new problems following the victory over Aston Villa, several important first-team players were already unavailable.
Goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario is not yet ready to return, meaning Kinský is expected to continue after impressing in recent weeks. Dominic Solanke remains sidelined but could potentially return before the end of the campaign, while Cristian Romero, Xavi Simons, Dejan Kulusevski, Ben Davies, Wilson Odobert and Mohammed Kudus are all still unavailable.
Those injuries remove significant experience from defence and creativity from the attacking areas. Romero's absence leaves Tottenham without their usual defensive leader, while losing Simons, Kudus and Kulusevski drastically reduces De Zerbi's options behind the striker. Richarlison and Randal Kolo Muani will therefore remain important, while Gallagher's improving performances from midfield have become particularly valuable.
There is at least some encouragement surrounding James Maddison. The midfielder has been around the squad again after his lengthy absence, although De Zerbi confirmed that his involvement against Leeds would need to be carefully considered rather than rushed.
Leeds United Team News and Injuries
Leeds also have several confirmed absentees. Gabriel Gudmundsson will not be ready after his hamstring injury, while Noah Okafor is ruled out with a calf problem. Okafor's absence is significant because he scored against Tottenham in the reverse fixture and also found the net in Leeds' recent victory over Burnley.
Ilia Gruev is another confirmed absentee and will not play again this season after suffering a meniscus injury in training. Farke confirmed in April that the midfielder would miss the remainder of both the league campaign and Leeds' FA Cup involvement, although he is expected to recover in time for preseason.
There is also uncertainty surrounding Pascal Struijk, who has been dealing with a hip contusion. Leeds hoped the defender would recover sufficiently to feature, but his fitness needed to be assessed closer to kickoff.
Despite those absences, Farke still has a relatively settled core available, with Ampadu, Stach, Sean Longstaff, Brenden Aaronson and Calvert-Lewin capable of giving Tottenham serious problems.
Tactical Matchup and Style of Play
1. Tottenham Hotspur
The early signs under De Zerbi have been clear, with Tottenham attempting to play with greater bravery in possession and increased intensity without the ball. His teams traditionally look to build attacks from deep and invite opponents forward before progressing through midfield, and Tottenham have already shown more confidence in those areas during his opening weeks.
Gallagher and João Palhinha have become particularly important because their physicality allows Spurs to press aggressively and compete for second balls, while Richarlison and Kolo Muani provide direct running ahead of them. De Zerbi praised the attitude and quality of those players after the Aston Villa victory, with Tottenham's improved energy through midfield one of the clearest differences from their performances earlier in the season.
The challenge is maintaining that style without taking unnecessary risks. Leeds have become extremely difficult to beat away from home and will be comfortable allowing Tottenham possession if it creates opportunities to attack spaces when the ball is lost.
2. Leeds United
Leeds have become increasingly adaptable under Farke and are capable of playing patiently through midfield or attacking more directly towards Calvert-Lewin when required. Ampadu provides defensive security and leadership, while Stach and Longstaff can move the ball quickly into wider positions and support attacks around the penalty area.
The visitors should also look for opportunities behind Tottenham's defensive line. Spurs are missing Romero and Davies, while Vicario remains unavailable, leaving a reshuffled defensive unit protecting Kinský. Calvert-Lewin's aerial ability could therefore become especially useful from crosses and set pieces.
Leeds do not need to approach the match recklessly because their league position gives them far less urgency than Tottenham. If they can frustrate the hosts during the opening stages, the pressure surrounding Spurs' relegation battle could gradually become an important factor.
Tottenham vs Leeds United Match Expectations
Tottenham deserve to be considered slight favourites because of their recent improvement under De Zerbi and the desperation surrounding their survival fight, but their home record makes it difficult to view this as a straightforward Spurs victory. Two consecutive away wins have changed the mood, yet Tottenham have still managed only two league victories at their own stadium all season.
The head-to-head record strongly favours Tottenham, who have won five consecutive Premier League meetings with Leeds and eight of the previous 10. However, Farke's current side arrive in significantly better form than several of the Leeds teams Tottenham defeated during that sequence. The Whites are unbeaten in six league matches and have proved particularly difficult to overcome away from Elland Road.
Tottenham's injury list also reduces the advantage normally associated with playing at home. Missing Romero, Vicario, Kudus, Simons, Kulusevski and Solanke leaves De Zerbi without several players who would ordinarily form an important part of his strongest starting XI.
For Leeds, the equation is far more comfortable. Victory would mathematically guarantee their Premier League survival and complete the main objective from their first season back in the division. Tottenham, on the other hand, know that three points could provide vital breathing room before difficult final matches against Chelsea and Everton.
Recent meetings suggest goals are possible, but Tottenham's current circumstances could make the opening stages more cautious than the historical scoring numbers imply. Spurs cannot afford another costly defensive mistake, while Leeds have little reason to force the game before the hosts begin taking greater risks.
Tottenham's recent momentum makes them narrow favourites, but Leeds' six-match unbeaten run and excellent recent away record mean a draw or an away victory would not be surprising. For Spurs, this is another opportunity to prove that De Zerbi's arrival has genuinely changed the direction of their season rather than simply provided a short-term lift. With Premier League survival still uncertain, Monday night's meeting could become one of the defining matches of Tottenham's campaign.
