The road back to the Premier League can be cruel, uncertain, and unforgiving. But on Easter Monday, clarity came in two definitive performances that settled it all.
Leeds United obliterated Stoke City 6–0 at Elland Road, a ruthless showing led by Joël Piroe, who found the net four times. Hours later, Burnley completed the picture with a gritty 2–1 win over third-placed Sheffield United at Turf Moor. The double result pushed both clubs to 94 points—out of reach for the Blades—and confirmed automatic promotion with two matches left to play.
Different styles, same destination
For Leeds, the return ends a two-year exile from England‘s top flight. The club, which lost last season’s playoff final to Southampton, responded under Daniel Farke with the league’s most potent attack—89 goals and counting.
Farke, achieving his third promotion from the Championship, now faces the more difficult task: survival. Financially, the stakes could not be higher. Leeds reported a loss of $81 million in 2023–24, and this season was their last receiving parachute payments. Without promotion, a player exodus would have been imminent.
Burnley’s return is no less significant. After a chaotic summer that saw 21 players depart and 15 arrive, Scott Parker took charge and reshaped the squad into a defensive machine. The Clarets have conceded just 15 goals in 44 games, boasting 12 straight clean sheets at one point, and remain unbeaten in 31 league matches.
Captain Josh Brownhill, who scored both goals against Sheffield United, summed up the mood: “We’ve had so much stick, people saying we’re boring … we’ve bored our way to the Premier League! All that hard work we’ve done, we’ve got back there. I’m so delighted [my penalty] went in. I’m just buzzing for some of the lads, who haven’t played Premier League football, what it means to them.”
Parker, still fresh into his tenure, is now being discussed as a possible Manager of the Year contender.
Both teams will spend the final two fixtures chasing the Championship title. But the bigger challenge looms just beyond the summer—assembling squads that can do more than just survive in the Premier League.
Burnley’s foundation is defense. Leeds thrive in chaos. Whether or not they can thrive in the Premier League will depend on what comes next—on the pitch and in the boardroom.
