Leeds United striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin is better than Man City’s Erling Haaland among Premier League strikers in a key attribute.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin penned a three-year contract after signing from Everton on a free transfer. Leeds United have handed him the number-nine shirt as well since joining to spearhead Daniel Farke’s attack.
The reality with the centre-forward is that he missed pre-season, but Calvert-Lewin chose Leeds over other suitors and is a player with enormous upside when fully up to speed and sharp.
Calvert-Lewin apologised to Leeds fans after the Sheffield Wednesday clash. However, he is the main striker at the club and needs to be scoring the goals.
That fact is especially true when considering Calvert-Lewin is Leeds’ highest paid player. That is also something most Leeds fans are frustrated about with Calvert-Lewin and regarding the deal as a whole for an injury-prone player.
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Leeds’ Dominic Calvert-Lewin is incredible at near-post running
Michael Dawson was on Sky Sports Soccer Saturday punditry duties on Saturday for the 1-0 defeat at Craven Cottage and he thought Calvert-Lewin struggled against Fulham. It’s fair to say he hasn’t had much to go off so far.
Leeds need to get the most out of Calvert-Lewin, with others earmarking him as vital as well. Ross McCormack had this to say on Calvert-Lewin over the weekend: “The biggest signing Leeds have made could be Calvert-Lewin.
“At home, you’re okay. You’re always going to be competitive at Elland Road. When you go away, you’re going to be under the cosh sometimes.
“If you’re a centre-half, you’re not always going to be able to play out. So, at times, you can go long and get the ball into big Dom’s chest. Give your defenders a rest. I think he’s a massive signing for the club.”
Of course, it is also somewhat impacted by a team’s playing style and the instructions of the manager on his centre-forward, but Calvert-Lewin is a player who excels at attacking the near-post.
Mark Carey of The Athletic has analysed the experts at doing it, and the players who love darting in and profiting. Only Fulham’s Raul Jimenez has received more crosses in that area (137) than Leeds’ new centre-forward since 2018/19.
Erling Haaland has only been in England since 2022 and he already has 101, but he also plays for the best and most dominant team in the country during that time span. Leeds’ 28-year-old striker has 121 and Farke perhaps needs to make more use of it.
Daniel Farke must utilise Willy Gnonto with Jayden Bogle to unlock Calvert-Lewin
Ashley Williams claims Calvert-Lewin is under ‘big, big pressure’ at Leeds and Ally McCoist had similar feelings towards Calvert-Lewin.
However, the service has not been right, especially if the latest reveal is anything to go by. Leeds have had the fewest shots on target so far, which is why they have to improve from both set-pieces and in open play.
Fortunately, Willy Gnonto could unlock Leeds’ right-hand side in terms of the latter. Not only would he help to bring more creativity and guile while Calvert-Lewin and Noah Okafor take up the other forward positions, but he can unlock Jayden Bogle as well.
When Dan James plays, Bogle inverts more. When Gnonto starts, Bogle can go down the outside more often due to the Italian working best in the half-spaces. Bogle is adept at low crosses into the near-post, too.
The right-back can score goals but driving down the flank and playing flat crosses or cutbacks into the box is perhaps his greatest strength.
Leeds had Patrick Bamford and Mateo Joseph, who were not as clinical nor as good as Joel Piroe last season, but they were both better at finding space near-post. Calvert-Lewin is the same and it’s on Farke to unlock it.
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