Leeds United have had good and bad stretches this season, but this past week they delivered in a big way under pressure. Daniel Farke lead his side to spring huge upsets against Chelsea and Liverpool.
When faced with one of the more difficult schedules from the last international break, many tipped Farke to be sacked as early as December. But the German seems to have silenced the doubters in recent weeks. The second half performance that almost sealed a draw against Manchester City was just the start.
With a new tactical system, Leeds were able to beat Chelsea at home. The club went into this weekend’s game against Liverpool with a lot of confidence, but reality hit when the visitors took a 2-0 lead. Farke then made some tactical changes, and his side levelled the game. Dominik Szoboszlai looked to have wrapped up all three points for the Reds, before Ao Tanaka came off the bench to seal a draw for his side.
Chris Sutton believes Leeds United star can make the World Cup
In this impressive stretch of games, some players have stood out. Anton Stach for example, was solid in the draw against the Reds, with tennis legend Boris Becker calling for him to return to the German national team fold. Another player who has delivered in this run is Dominic Calvert-Lewin; he has had his inconsistencies this season but three goals in three games against difficult opposition has been a huge return.
| Season | Club | Games | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-23 | Everton | 17 | 2 | 1 |
| 2023-24 | Everton | 32 | 7 | 2 |
| 2024-25 | Everton | 26 | 3 | 1 |
Former Premier League star Chris Sutton has backed the striker to be in the mix to make the England squad for the World Cup next year:
“Dominic Calvert-Lewin has been sensational.
“He has given them someone to hit, a focal point, a way to get up the pitch. A real handful. The game-changer is Calvert-Lewin. If he goes on a run, there’s no reason why he can’t make the World Cup.”
Dominic Calvert-Lewin has found his feet again
After going on a long goalless run since scoring in September, the striker now has three goals in his last three games. Much of this has been due to the new system switch which has seen another striker play alongside the former Everton man. Lukas Nmecha fulfilled that role before his injury, and against Liverpool, Noah Okafor filled in.
| Opponent | Expected Goals | Goals Scored |
|---|---|---|
| Man City | 0.13 | 1 |
| Chelsea | 1.38 | 1 |
| Liverpool | 0.94 | 1 |
With another body up top, it allows Calvert-Lewin to play like a real focal point; winning the ball and laying it off to his strike partner. If this run is the start of something great, Leeds will very much benefit from the 28-year old’s goal returns.
