Credit: Imago
Fri 28 November 2025 7:10, UK
Leeds United have crashed into the Premier League relegation zone.
Leeds are now 18th after their 2-1 defeat against Aston Villa, with Daniel Farke now under severe pressure of being sacked at Elland Road.
Farke’s over-reliance on Brenden Aaronson has lost him the fanbase already, with the likes of Dan James and Willy Gnonto staying on the bench.
Despite returning to fitness weeks ago, James has only featured for 80 minutes in the previous four Premier League outings.
Credit: Imago
Dan James ‘is not good enough’
Leeds have many issues within their squad right now, but James isn’t one of them.
The Whites take on Manchester City next at the Etihad Stadium on 30 November, with things not expected to get any better.
Speaking to Sportskeeda for his weekly Premier League predictions, Merson, for some reason, randomly picked out James, despite his injuries.
“Talking about Leeds, I really worry for them this season,” he said. “Five losses in the last six games, and they are not an exciting team.
“When they were in the Championship, they had the X-factor in Dan James.
Credit: Imago
“That’s not the case anymore because James is the type of player who is too good for the Championship but not up to the mark in the Premier League.”
Merson would go on to predict a 3-0 win for Manchester City.
How has Dan James performed this season?
At first glance, it doesn’t make for good reading.
James has made nine appearances and is yet to register a single goal or assist, but that doesn’t tell the whole story for the Welsh international.
Credit: Imago/Sofascore
James suffered an ankle injury, which kept him out for weeks in October, but he has yet to return to the starting XI since that blow.
With that limited game time, it’s strange that Merson has decided to pick James out of the hat to try and criticise Leeds and their squad.
Chelsea and Liverpool come to Elland Road next week, and the Welsh winger could be a real weapon on the counter-attack for Farke, or whoever is in charge.
He would love to make that a reality and shut Merson up directly; that’s the goal.
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