A relatively low-key opening to the match at Elland Road was devoid of action until a nasty clash of heads between Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi and Leeds’ Dominic Calvert-Lewin, which saw the latter require extensive treatment.
Both sides looked to attack at every opportunity, though Adam Wharton and Will Hughes’ industry in midfield often stopped the hosts’ attacks at source. At the other end, a lack of accuracy from Jean-Philippe Mateta and Yéremy Pino saw chances go to waste.
It was 19 minutes before the game’s first shot on target arrived from Palace striker Eddie Nketiah, though it was the Yorkshiremen who started to dictate play as the half progressed, with Pascal Struijk going close on two occasions.
The hosts were denied a penalty after Brenden Aaronson looked to have been felled by Tyrick Mitchell, but they were soon celebrating as Calvert-Lewin tucked away the opener in the 38th minute, sliding home the rebound after Dean Henderson saved his initial effort.
In stoppage time, the striker added his second, getting around the back of the Palace backline before powerfully heading past Henderson for his sixth strike in five games.
Leeds snapped into tackles and were first to every ball after the break, barely allowing the visitors to get out of their own half. At times, Chris Richards was the only Palace defender matching the hosts for effort and application, but it was his inability to clear a second ball from a Leeds corner which allowed Ethan Ampadu to beat the offside trap and drill home a third to put the contest to bed.
Henderson then pulled off a stunning one-handed save from Struijk’s towering header as the hosts turned the screw.
Palace threatened late on, yet despite winning a penalty when Christantus Uche was felled by Lucas Perri, converted by Justin Devenny for his second goal in as many games, the result was never in doubt.
That result got even better deep into stoppage time when Anton Stach curled home a beautifully weighted free-kick, putting the seal on a victory that sees Leeds score 3+ goals in three successive top-flight home games for the first time since January 2002.
Palace, by contrast, continue their poor run of not winning any of their games that have followed a European outing this term (D1, L5).
Flashscore man of the match: Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Leeds United)