Leeds United picked up a valuable point on the road against Brentford over the weekend.
Whilst Elland Road has proved to be somewhat of a fortress so far this season, with Daniel Farke’s men only losing two of their eight home fixtures this season, their away form has not been so great.
Before the 1-1 draw with Brentford, the Whites had picked up just three points away from home in seven matches, with all three coming from their 3-1 win against Wolves back in September.
However, despite United’s upturn in form, former Manchester United player Tim Howard still believes Leeds will be relegated, and whilst Theo Walcott did not take this same harsh stance, he believes the outcome of Leeds’ season rests on the shoulders of one man.
Theo Walcott labels Dominic Calvert-Lewin as ‘the best opportunity’ Leeds have of staying up
Calvert-Lewin’s goal against Brentford was his fifth of the season, and his fourth in as many games.
This purple patch has seen him leapfrog Lukas Nmecha to become Leeds’ top scorer so far, with Farke even referencing Harry Kane when speaking about Calvert-Lewin’s performance against Brentford.
Leeds’ top scorers in the 2025/26 Premier League campaign so far:
- Dominic Calvert-Lewin – 5 goals
- Lukas Nmecha – 4 goals
- Anton Stach – 2 goals
- Noah Okafor – 2 goals
- Joe Rodon – 2 goals
- Ao Tanaka – 2 goals
With his influence in this Leeds side growing, Walcott highlighted the towering striker’s performance when analysing the game on Match of the Day on 14 December.
“He (Calvert-Lewin) just needs to stay fit,” Walcott said.
“If he can stay fit, look after himself, he’s matured as a player, as a person. That’s the best opportunity they’re going to get to stay in this league.”
With the former Everton striker’s current form, it’s hard to disagree with Walcott, with Leeds supporters hoping he will continue to stay fit and find the back of the net.
Calvert-Lewin offers Leeds far more than just goals
With Farke’s new 3-5-2 system requiring two fit strikers, United’s reliance on Calvert-Lewin has only increased in recent weeks.
Aside from his goals, however, the physical outlet he offers the team is perfect for a side battling at the bottom of the table like Leeds.
| Dominic Calvert-Lewin stats per 90 – Premier League 2025/26 | |
|---|---|
| Total duels won | 5.1 |
| Ground duels won | 1.9 |
| Aerial duels won | 3.2 |
(Credit: Sofascore)
Whilst the likes of Joel Piroe may be a better pure finisher than Calvert-Lewin, the outlet he provides up top, combined with his goals in recent weeks, arguably makes him Leeds’ most important player right now.
