Leeds United made some serious reinforcements in the summer transfer window as the Premier League season approached. At the end of last season, the Whites had a core of the team as they lifted the Championship.
Farke had his players he relied on, and they delivered as the team scored 95 goals and hit 100 points in the league. But there was a feeling that most of the starters would be sidelined when the club reached the top flight. Because at a higher level, not every player can adapt.
This is why recruitment splashed over £100 million in the summer window, bringing in quality players from across Europe. The summer spree ticked a lot of boxes for the club, with Leeds adding a new goalkeeper, some defenders, key midfielders and some firepower up front. Fans disagreed with some of the arrivals, including Dominic Calvert-Lewin, but as the season has gone by, some signings have proved themselves.
Daniel Farke will be furious with what Leeds United duo did on Saturday
Leeds sprung another surprise result in front of their home crowd when Crystal Palace came to visit. Before this game, Farke’s men had already taken points off Chelsea and Liverpool. Calvert-Lewin opened the scoring in the first half, and was on hand to score from a Jaka Bijol flick on to double the lead. Ethan Ampadu score his first ever Premier League goal for the Whites to make it 3-0.
Then, in a bizarre moment in the game, Jaka Bijol and Lucas Perri failed to clear their lines and gave away a penalty. Justin Devenny dispatched to make it 3-1, before Anton Stach’s free kick sealed a 4-1 win.
The goal Leeds conceded was an all round failure in defending; Bijol got caught ball watching, and was not fast enough to catch up Christantus Uche who outpaced him. Perri then quickly came off his line, making the wrong decision as he took out the striker without getting anywhere near the ball.
Perri and Bijol are already on tight ropes
This is not the first team either player has been in trouble this season. Since getting into the starting lineup, Jaka Bijol has always been shaky, which has been surprising considering his reputation as a top defender in Europe. He has been caught out far too many times despite not being a consistent starter.
| Statistic | Value | Accuracy |
|---|---|---|
| Accurate Passes | 8/27 | 30% |
| Passes in Opposition Half | 4/21 | 19% |
| Passes in Own Half | 4/6 | 67% |
| Long Balls | 4/23 | 17% |
Perri has also had his problem this season, with Daniel Farke having had to defend his distribution at some point. The Brazilian is still poor with the ball at his feet, something that could lead to a big error as the season progresses.
