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Breaking records, Elland Road fortress and more! Seven OPTA stats ahead of Bournemouth

Leeds United host Bournemouth at Elland Road, looking to build on their first away victory of the Premier League season. Daniel Farke’s side produced a confident 3-1 win at Wolves last weekend, with the Whites sitting 12th in the table after five matches.

Bournemouth have enjoyed one of their best-ever starts to a Premier League campaign and arrive in West Yorkshire sitting fourth. But history favours the home side, with Leeds having dominated this fixture at Elland Road and carrying several positive trends into the encounter.

Our friends at OPTA Stats have compiled 7 key facts that underline why the Whites will fancy their chances this weekend.

1) PERFECT RECORD AT HOME TO BOURNEMOUTH

Leeds have hosted the Cherries seven times in league football and won all seven, scoring 18 goals in the process. It is the highest number of home matches Leeds have played against a single opponent while maintaining a 100% winning record.

2) HOME FORTRESS

Elland Road has become one of English football’s most difficult away days. Leeds are unbeaten in their last 22 league fixtures on home turf, with 18 wins and four draws in that time. Defensive solidity has been central to that run, with the Whites keeping 15 clean sheets and conceding only eight goals. Farke has turned LS11 back into a fortress, a trait that could prove vital in the Premier League survival race.

3) SOLID START ON HOME SOIL

This season, Leeds have started as they mean to go on. In their opening Premier League games at Elland Road, they have yet to concede a goal. Only two other newly promoted clubs in the Premier League era – Swansea City in 2011-12 and Watford in 2015-16 – have ever gone their first three home games of a campaign without shipping a goal. Matching that record would place Farke’s men in impressive company.

4) BACK AMONG THE GOALS

After three goalless games, Leeds roared back into form last weekend with a 3-1 win away at Wolves. It was their most fluent attacking performance of the season, with goals from Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Anton Stach and Noah Okafor. The last time Leeds scored three or more goals in successive Premier League matches was in November 2022, one of which was the memorable 4-3 comeback victory against Bournemouth at Elland Road.

5) CAPTAIN FANTASTIC

Ethan Ampadu’s influence on this side cannot be overstated. Since the start of last season, Leeds have won 72% of the league matches in which the Welshman has started – 21 victories from 29 games. Without him, their win rate drops sharply to just 45%. Across his 75 league starts for Leeds, the captain boasts a 64% win ratio, the highest of any Leeds player to have begun at least 50 league fixtures in the club’s history. His leadership in midfield has been the platform on which this resurgence has been built.

6) OKAFOR'S RECORD-BREAKING DRIBBLING

Noah Okafor’s dynamism shone through against Wolves. The Swiss forward completed 14 dribbles in that match – the most by any player in a Premier League fixture this season. It is also the highest number ever recorded by a Leeds player in a top-flight match. His ability to drive at defenders and create opportunities will be a crucial weapon against a Bournemouth defence that has been difficult to break down in recent weeks.

7) COMEBACK CREDENTIALS

When Bournemouth last visited Elland Road in November 2022, they stormed into a 3-1 lead before Leeds produced one of their greatest Premier League fightbacks. Goals from Sam Greenwood, Liam Cooper and Crysencio Summerville turned the game into a famous 4-3 victory. It highlighted the club’s resilience and ability to feed off the home support. For fans returning to the stands this weekend, memories of that afternoon will only heighten anticipation.