Leeds United boosted their Premier League survival hopes with a 2-1 win at Manchester United, ending a long wait for a league victory at Old Trafford and moving six points clear of the relegation places after Noah Okafor struck twice before half-time and Casemiro replied late on.
The result delivered Leeds United a first league success over Manchester United since September 2002 and a first top-flight away win at Old Trafford since February 1981, halting an 18-match winless league run there that contained seven draws and 11 defeats, underlining the scale of this outcome.
Daniel Farke welcomed the mood lift yet warned Leeds United must keep pushing in the Premier League survival battle, stressing that nothing is settled despite this high-profile
success and reminding the squad that further points are essential over the coming weeks to secure safety and avoid any late-season tension.
Farke told Sky Sports his side deserve more rewards for their work so far, saying: "Yes. A win is always good for the mood, for confidence. Also for the table, Farke told Sky Sports when asked if this win would give his team confidence moving forward. The reality is that, performance wise, we should already be with far more than 40 points. This team has performed over the whole season with unbelievable consistency. We can be more effective in both boxes. For that reality, we are on 36 points. A few more points are needed. For now, three points closer, nothing is achieved yet, we have to stay humble, grounded, hungry, we need to make sure we are also on it in the upcoming games to win as many points as possible. "
Leeds United built their Premier League advantage early, with Noah Okafor scoring twice before the break, yet Manchester United remained competitive as Casemiro’s 69th-minute header cut the deficit, forcing Leeds to defend deep during a tense closing spell to protect a precious away victory.
The visitors might have led by more at half-time, with Ao Tanaka denied by a sliding recovery challenge from Lisandro Martinez, who later collected a red card in the 56th minute for pulling Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s hair, leaving Manchester United with 10 players for the final third of the Premier League match.
Leeds United registered 10 attempts in the first half, the most Manchester United have allowed before the interval in any Premier League game this season, yet Farke still pointed to missed chances and emphasised that sharper finishing in both penalty areas remains vital for long-term survival ambitions.
Calvert-Lewin described the wider Premier League survival picture, saying: "It's important we don't read too much into the external noise and continue to focus on what's in front of us, striker Calvert-Lewin warned. It's easy to come here and make history, but it doesn't matter come the end of the season when the points tallies are in. That's all we're focussed onone game after another, making sure that we stay in the Premier League. "
The forward also reflected on the tactical plan and outcome, adding: "It's a massive result for us. We came here to win, that's how we set up. We executed the game plan and came away with three points. We're delighted. "
Calvert-Lewin then addressed the incident with Martinez, which produced Manchester United’s sixth Premier League dismissal since the start of last season, a figure that only Chelsea, with nine, exceed, and which left the hosts undermanned for the final phase of this tense league contest.
On the red card, Calvert-Lewin said: "I don't know, I don't make the rules. I felt my hair get pulled, told the ref, he makes the decisions, he said.Unfortunate for him, whether he meant it or not. I hold no grudges. "
The victory ended a sequence of six Premier League games without a win for Leeds United, a period that contained four draws and two losses, and it also became only their second away league success of the season after a 3-1 triumph at Wolves in September, underlining their previous travel difficulties.
The Opta supercomputer currently gives Leeds United a 2.2% probability of relegation from the Premier League, projecting 15th place as their most likely finish at 52.6%, figures that reflect improved performance levels yet still leave work to complete before safety can be considered secure.
UNITED TAKE ALL THREE POINTS!!! pic.twitter.com/sdWKXWynTILeeds United (@LUFC) April 13, 2026
Leeds United leave Old Trafford with history made, pressure eased in the Premier League survival race and confidence lifted, yet both Daniel Farke and Dominic Calvert-Lewin stressed that attention must now move quickly to the next fixtures, with consistency and focus crucial to turning this result into lasting safety.
