Leeds vs Southampton: How to watch live, stream link, team news

Leeds United and Southampton clash at Wembley Stadium on Sunday for the ‘richest game on the planet’ as the two sides aim for an immediate return to the Premier League.

But only one will reach their seasonal goal.

Daniel Farke took over at Leeds last summer with the team in disarray and so many players gone, either permanently or on loan, after an unexpected and chaotic relegation from the Premier League. But Farke, who has been promoted from the Championship twice before with Norwich City, used all his experience to turn them into a clinical, high-pressure camp that fell just short in their quest for automatic promotion. Leeds’ 90 points this season would have automatically promoted them most seasons, but Leicester City and Ipswich Town stunned everyone.

Russell Martin’s Southampton finished fourth in the table, just three points behind Leeds, and the Saints beat Leeds home and away in the regular season. Martin played for Farke at Norwich City briefly and there is a lot of respect between these two teams. Southampton have completely changed their style of play to possession-based football and have a mixture of players left over from recent years in the Premier League and a host of loanees that have taken them to the brink of a return to the top flight.

Throughout the season, the championship was a mini-league, with the top four head and shoulders above the rest. Now the playoff final is between the two who missed out on automatic promotion and these two are so evenly matched. It should all lead to an epic Championship play-off final at Wembley as both teams are desperate to get back on the mark at the first attempt.

How to watch Leeds vs Southampton live in the Championship Playoff Final

Date: Sunday (May 26)
You start: 10 am ET
How to watch in the US: ESPN+

Leeds United team news, beware

Leeds have become a robust, intense side throughout the season and Farke has made extremely good use of the brilliant attacking talents of Georginio Rutter, Crysencio Summerville, Wilfried Gnonto and Joel Piroe. They have missed the injured Patrick Bamford (he could be on the bench for the final) as their focal point up top in recent weeks, but you couldn’t see him against Norwich as Leeds ran past them in the second leg of the semi-final. Illan Meslier continues to come up with big saves in goal at the other end, while Ethan Ampadu has been a rock in central defense and Gruev and Gray have added so much energy to this side. Pascal Struijk remains injured after groin surgery, while right-back Sam Byram had a hip flexor problem and missed the second leg against Norwich.

Southampton team news, focus

Saints are without starting goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu after suffering an Achilles injury in April, while playmaker Stuart Armstrong picked up a serious thigh injury at the end of the campaign and will not feature. Forwards Che Adams and Ross Stewart are struggling for fitness. If they’re not fit then expect Southampton to go with a fluid front three of Adam Armstrong, Ryan Fraser and David Brooks, with Brooks shining in the second leg playoff semi-final win over West Brom. Flynn Downes in central midfield is the heartbeat of this Southampton side, while their fluid 4-4-3 formation often becomes a 3-4-2-1 in possession and allows them to put Joe Aribo and Brooks on the ball as much as possible. Playing three centre-backs in the starting line-up, they have become more solid defensively in recent weeks.