Leeds United made a big bet on Dominic Calvert-Lewin when they signed him on a free transfer. He has led the line well, but has managed to score just one goal. The drought in front of goal is getting more prominent as Daniel Farke has refused to drop him from the starting eleven.
Unless there is any last-minute injury, the 28-year-old striker will be in the Leeds starting eleven when they take the pitch at the Amex Stadium to face Brighton on Saturday.
Calvert-Lewin has been Farke’s favoured striker, and he has started every game since getting up to full fitness. Lukas Nmecha has been brought on late in games, and Joel Piroe is now the third-choice forward in the squad.
The former Everton striker’s opening goal against Wolves in a 3-1 win was seen as the first of many, but he has not scored since then, and has been guilty of missing some good opportunities.
The Leeds United star needs goals, underlying stats be damned
Calvert-Lewin was not Leeds’ top target in the summer. He was the fallback option once they missed out on a priority target in the last transfer window.
However, the former Everton striker has impressed everyone at Leeds with his attitude and application and has earned the manager’s trust this season.
He is the first-choice number 9 at Leeds, and that has not changed despite just one goal in the Premier League this season.
Leeds are quick to highlight how he’s consistently winning his physical battles up front and reaching the end of chances, even if the goals haven’t yet come.
| Calvert-Lewin’s underlying numbers | Value |
|---|---|
| ⚽ Chances Created | 8 |
| 🎯 Shots on Target | 7 |
| ✈️ Aerial Duels Won | 24 |
| 🔑 Possession Won Final Third | 4 |
Calvert-Lewin is doing a lot of things that you’d want your number 9 to do. He is winning his aerial battles against defenders, consistently winning back possession in the final third and has been hitting the target.
However, he is missing chances as well, and that has been the biggest issue for Leeds. They expected Calvert-Lewin to score a few more, and he hasn’t done that yet.
Underlying stats won’t continue to save Calvert-Lewin
Leeds fans were worried about the lack of a proven Premier League goalscorer in the team going into the season, and nothing has happened to calm those fears.
The Whites have scored nine times in their opening nine league games – only the bottom three teams have scored less than Farke’s men in the Premier League this season.
Leeds need more goals, and Calvert-Lewin needs to step up to deliver the goods that a number 9 ought to do for a team this season.
| Not enough goals | Value |
|---|---|
| 📊 Expected Goals (xG) | 1.77 |
| 🥅 Goals Scored | 1 |
| ✅ Successful Passes | 63 |
| 🧭 Pass Accuracy | 68.5% |
He has Farke’s faith, but the fans will soon turn on him if he keeps missing chances and his goalscoring drought continues.
Yes, the former Everton striker is leading the line well, and his physicality is allowing other players to get into good positions in the final third.
However, strikers are judged by goals, and if Leeds go on a poor run again, and Calvert-Lewin is not scoring, expect the fans not to care about his underlying stats for the season.
