The three things Daniel Farke must improve to save his Leeds United job

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The pressure is on Daniel Farke, but here are three things he can do to help save his job at Leeds United.

Daniel Farke must be feeling the heat after his Leeds United side lost to yet another relegation rival on Sunday, being humbled 3-1 by Nottingham Forest despite Lukas Nmecha giving them the lead.

It’s left Leeds in a precarious position going into the international break, just one point above the relegation zone with a terrifying run of fixtures to come once domestic football returns.

Leeds must play Aston Villa, Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool in their next four games, which very likely will result in zero points. After that, they face Brentford, Crystal Palace and Sunderland in a difficult but crucial stretch, before then facing Liverpool again, Manchester United and Newcastle United.

It’s going to be an extremely difficult period, one that could see Leeds marooned in the relegation zone come the new year. If Leeds are to stick by Farke, then they need urgent improvement from the manager.

Here are three key places to start.

• Leeds United Premier League 2025-26 stats – Top goal scorers, assists and results

Leeds United need to score more goals

The biggest, most obvious, yet most challenging problem facing Leeds is scoring more goals. After 11 games, they have just 10. Only rock-bottom Wolves have fewer with seven. Even Burnley have managed 14.

It’s clearly not good enough for survival.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin has been the main culprit and the fact that Nmecha has now scored double his tally in about half the minutes does not look good for him.

The No.9 is underperforming on xG by -1.02. That’s the 15th-worst performing in the entire Premier League, with Beto, Jean-Philippe Mateta and Ollie Watkins the only other strikers below him in the list.

Meanwhile, Pascal Struijk (19th in the league), Jayden Bogle, Brenden Aaronson, and Ethan Ampadu are all underperforming as well. It says a lot when Joe Rodon is the biggest overperformer with 1.31.

It’s not all on Calvert-Lewin, though, as he’s only had 17 shots, with 28 players in the league having more than him. If his conversion rate isn’t great, which Leeds knew before signing him, then they need to create more chances for him.

Calvert-Lewin’s only goal was a great header vs Wolves, but Leeds have not been swinging in enough crosses for him to do it again, something Ross McCormack blames Farke for.

Whether it takes Dan James and Willy Gnonto getting back to full fitness, a formation change to give Calvert-Lewin more support or giving Harry Gray a chance, Farke has to find a solution. Pronto.

Daniel Farke has to make better and earlier substitutions

Farke’s substitutions have always been an issue, even with Leeds flying high at the top of the Championship. The manager makes a game plan and he likes to stick to it as long as possible.

But issues soon arise when you’re in the Premier League and up against willier, most astute tactical practitioners. Even luminaries like Sean Dyche can outfox you.

On Sunday, Dyche realised the match was there to be won. He made three positive changes and one of them, Omari Hutchinson, went on to set up the goal that put Forest ahead less than 10 minutes later.

Dyche was proactive, whereas Farke was only reactive. Making his three attacking changes six minutes after going behind with the game already lost.

He needs to start taking opportunities when they present themselves. Be more brave, bold and anticipatory with changes instead of waiting until a disaster to try and do anything about it.

Daniel Farke must be more brutal with his team selections

In a similar vein, Farke must start being more brutal before the players even take to the field. He has to start dropping those who underperform immediately.

Aaronson may work hard but he is not effective enough going forward, other than a rare uptick against West Ham. Not enough crosses or attacking verve are coming from the right and he must make way.

Ampadu may be captain, but he’s being dominated in the middle of the park and Leeds have no solidity protecting the defence. It’s time he was dropped.

Jaka Bijol may be rusty after going so long without Premier League football and he might be good in the air, but he is proving to be positionally unreliable at present and isn’t fast enough to get back. He should be removed as well.

No player is doing enough to have a guaranteed spot and it’s time Farke stops showing undeserved loyalty, or it will cost him his job.