Daniel Farke has emphatically gone from zero to hero at Leeds, masterminding an incredible turnaround with his 3-5-2 formation.
Many Leeds fans wanted the German sacked as the side were appearing to sleepwalk towards relegation, but a tactical tweak has now seen the Whites thump Crystal Palace to make it four games unbeaten.
The result moves Leeds six points clear of the relegation zone, and it has also put Daniel Farke in the record books right next to Elland Road icon David O’Leary.
Leeds United score (at least) three goals in three consecutive Premier League home games for the first time since 2002
Before the win over Crystal Palace, Leeds had netted three goals in the 3-1 win over Chelsea and again scored three in the 3-3 draw against Liverpool at Elland Road.
Who was your MOTM in Leeds’ brilliant win over Crystal Palace? 🦚
Surely there is only one option…
After doing it once again in a third successive home game, Farke has now become the first manager to achieve this feat since O’Leary watched his Leeds side bag three goals in three straight home fixtures in the 2001/02 season.
The 67-year-old began that run with a 3-2 win over Everton at Elland Road on 19th December 2001 and followed it up with a 4-3 loss to Newcastle in Yorkshire, before a 3-0 victory over West Ham on New Year’s Day of 2002.
Not even the legendary Marcelo Bielsa managed to emulate this achievement during his spell in the Premier League with Leeds, so Farke deserves a huge amount of credit.
Daniel Farke has created a monster as Dominic Calvert-Lewin shines in the 3-5-2 formation
Dominic Calvert-Lewin has now remarkably scored six goals in his last five Premier League appearances, and that run started just minutes after Farke switched to 3-5-2 away at Manchester City.
Answer this: Leeds United will finish in ___th place if Dominic Calvert-Lewin stays fit 📊
Six goals in five for the big man!
It is a system which suits the England international down to the ground, enabling him to link up with a strike partner for support having previously looked quite isolated as a lone frontman.
The best managers are able to notice these shortcomings and tweak the system accordingly for the betterment of the team, which is exactly what Farke has done as Leeds continue to surge away from the bottom three.
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