Daniel Farke looks to overturn horror record vs Brighton as Leeds manager comes full circle
Daniel Farke was sleepwalking towards the sack at Leeds United when his team travelled to take on Brighton in November.
The Whites had started the season with just three wins from their opening nine games, and would lose the next four straight.
That run started with a hammering at the American Express Stadium, with Leeds downed 3-0 courtesy of goals from Danny Welbeck and a brace by Diego Gomez.
Farke bounced back, however, and on Monday, saw his side extend their Premier League unbeaten run to seven games after safety was confirmed last week.
Leeds have two Premier League games left this season, and will hope to see off a strong top-flight return in style.
Daniel Farke's terrible record vs Brighton
Former Manchester United scout Mick Brown exclusively told Football Insider last month that Leeds have no plans to dismiss Farke this summer, after a stabilising season in the Premier League.
The Whites faced relegation fears earlier in the season, but have proven themselves a fiercely competitive team in the months since.
| Leeds United | Premier League 2025-26 | League rank |
| Expected goals (xG) | 52.3 | 11th |
| Expected goals against (xGA) | 50 | 10th |
| xG difference | +2.3 | 11th |
| Average possession | 45.8% | 15th |
| Big chances missed | 55 | 10th |
Just seven teams have lost fewer games than Farke's side this season, and turning some of those draws into wins could leave them in a very promising position next time around.
Leeds still have hopes of conquering the 50-point mark that they have not reached since Marcelo Bielsa's superb 2020-21 team, but Brighton stand in their way on Sunday.
The Seagulls have been a nemesis for Farke throughout his time in the Premier League, with the German still yet to see his teams score a single goal against them in four attempts.
His Norwich team lost twice to Brighton in the 2019-20 season, but did eke out a goalless draw at Carrow Road in the 2021-22 campaign.
This season will give Farke's Leeds a second crack at Fabian Hurzeler's side, after November's battering.
Leeds' record vs Brighton is awful
It is not just Farke to have struggled massively with Brighton in recent years. Leeds, as a club, have not beaten the Seagulls in their last seven attempts, with their last win coming in 2017.
Before that 2-0 victory in the Championship, the Whites lost six consecutive editions of the clash.
In fact, of the last 20 meetings between Brighton and Leeds, the latter have, staggeringly, won just two of them.
Sunday's clash will serve as a chance to start to put that record right, with Farke hoping for a personal first.