The underlying numbers at the start of the season for Leeds United are painting a rosier picture than the same stage last year despite the team losing influential attackers such as Crysencio Summerville and Georginio Rutter.
Leeds scored their first league win of the season at Elland Road on Saturday when they beat Hull City 2-0 at home and moved to fourth in the Championship standings.
The Whites had a tumultuous summer where they lost key players such as Archie Gray, Summerville and Rutter from the team that lost the playoff final at the end of last season.
The Yorkshire giants expected to lose Gray and Summerville but were stunned by the departure of the French attacker towards the end of the summer transfer window.
Underlying numbers soften the impact of Summerville and Rutter’s departures from Leeds United
Leeds fans have been worried about the impact the departures of the duo would have on the team’s chances of promotion this term given Summerville was the top goalscorer last season and Rutter was the creative hub.
The Whites have apparently created more and better chances whilst conceding fewer at the same stage this term compared to last year.
Leeds are sitting fourth following wins over Sheffield Wednesday and Hull City while they were 13th after four matches in the 2023/24 campaign.
Creating more while conceding less compared to last season
The Yorkshire giants are boasting the third-highest Expected Goals (xG) in the division and the second-lowest Expected Goals Conceded (xGC), according to Opta (via the Yorkshire Evening Post).
Leeds have conceded less than half the chances compared to last season after four games. The xGC this term at this stage of the campaign is 2.57, which was 5.65.
While at the other end of the pitch, Leeds are doing better than last season when they went into the August international break.
The Yorkshire giants have a combined xG of 6.76, which is more than the 5.59 xG they managed after four games last term.
With new signings such as Manor Solomon and Largie Ramazani earning praise following their debuts, Daniel Farke and the Whites will hope to take that one extra step this season and get promoted back to the Premier League.
