Leeds United’s improved form against some of the Premier League’s biggest sides has been largely down to Daniel Farke, but a handful of players have significantly stepped up their performances.
Having struggled to score goals in the first few Premier League games, Farke watched his side score eight goals in the space of a week against three sides supposedly considered title contenders in pre-season.
Four points against Chelsea and Liverpool saved Farke’s job and pushed Leeds into a more comfortable 16th. Georginio Rutter’s equaliser against West Ham keeps Leeds two points ahead of the bottom three.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin doesn’t believe in the rumours about Leeds United’s attacking threat💬
The signs are positive for Leeds. On Sunday, Leeds go to Brentford, where they face a side that has lost four of their last six, and will be looking to avoid a third defeat in a row. Then, Palace and Sunderland.
A handful of Leeds players can be applauded alongside Farke for an improvement in form, too. Lucas Perri was excellent against Liverpool, Ao Tanaka has stepped up, and Dominic Calvert-Lewin has three in three.
Conor Coady raves about “unbelievable” Dominic Calvert-Lewin
The Leeds striker has been on fire in the last week. Having managed just one goal in Leeds first 12 games, Calvert-Lewin has taken his tally to four for the season after 15. He’s been Leeds’ attacking spearhead.
On the Monday Night Club, Calvert-Lewin’s former Everton and England teammate Conor Coady raved about the striker. He says that Calvert-Lewin deserves much more credit than just being a target man.
“I played with him at Everton and lucky enough to do so for England, too. He’s an outstanding footballer. People just think he’s a big lad and he’ll win headers, but technically, he’s very very good as well,” he said.
“You play the ball into his feet, he can set, he can spin. He can hold the ball up, he can get you up the pitch. At Everton, I never felt we needed a player more than Calvert-Lewin when he wasn’t playing.
“The team was built for him. I said [his aerial ability] wasn’t the only part of his game, but it is a really strong part of his game. His leap is unbelievable. If they keep him fit, they have a right chance of survival.”
Has Dominic Calvert-Lewin silenced his critics at Leeds? ⚽🔥
The England international has rediscovered his form in front of goal
Calvert-Lewin has already outscored his last season at Everton
Proof that Calvert-Lewin is finding his feet at Leeds can be found in comparing his last season at Everton. With the Toffees last term, he managed just three goals in 26 appearances. This season, at Leeds, four.
Yes, one of those was a penalty, and one was a tap-in from a yard against Chelsea, but Calvert-Lewin is getting himself in the positions to score goals. He is doing a whole lot more alongside that, as well.
Calvert-Lewin and Lukas Nmecha looked excellent as a duo, both in the loss to Man City and the win over Chelsea. If Leeds and Farke can keep them fit, then they can be the difference in the fight for survival.
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