Leeds United have made a solid start to life back in the Premier League. They have eight points from their opening seven league games and are sitting 15th in the Premier League. However, their underlying numbers suggest they should be in Europe next season.
Daniel Farke’s men have looked more resilient and competitive than most other promoted teams from recent years, and have not appeared out of place in the Premier League. Barring the 5-0 defeat at Arsenal, they have stood up to most of the established Premier League sides at the start of the campaign.
Leeds fans have legitimate reasons to believe that they should have picked up all six points from their previous two games. Andoni Iraola admitted that his Bournemouth team struggled to cope with Leeds in their 2-2 draw, and Tottenham had no business winning 2-1 at Elland Road last weekend.
However, it is not only the Leeds fans who feel that way, as the underlying numbers of the season suggest that Leeds should not be sitting 15th in the league table.
Leeds United are playing like a top 5 Premier League side
The eye test this season has already suggested that Leeds are playing better than a side who are 15th in the table at this stage of the campaign.
Even the underlying numbers are demonstrating what fans have seen with their own eyes; Leeds should be much higher up in the Premier League table.
The xG table for the season insists that Leeds should be sitting fifth in the Premier League table if the results matched their performances this season.
They should have had two more wins, scored one more goal and conceded two fewer if the actual results mirrored the underlying numbers at Leeds this term.
It is easy to see where those two more wins would have come from – Bournemouth and Tottenham, and of course, they should have scored more goals.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin missed a host of chances in the last few games and was blamed for Leeds losing at home against Tottenham.
Leeds need to turn performances into results
Farke’s men have looked far away from a side who could be struggling to survive in the Premier League at the end of the season. However, they should have had more points.
They lost a game at Fulham that they should have drawn and should have picked up all six points, instead of just one, in their last two games at Elland Road.
Leeds will encounter a period of poor form and some struggles at some point, and they already have a few gaps in their squad, especially in attack.
The Whites will need to start picking up the points that they deserve, as if they don’t, it could cost them later in the season when they hit some poor form.
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