Leeds United are becoming far more effective in front of goal under Daniel Farke this season. The West Yorkshire outfit have, as many expected, been sucked into a relegation battle this season, but there has been a real upturn in their form, especially in front of goal.
Farke’s side were the highest scorers in the Championship last term with 95 goals. That sort of level hasn’t carried over, but the Whites do have 24 goals.
That is more than all four sides below them in the Premier League table, which is certainly helping in their fight to avoid relegation.
One reason for their impressive upward trend in goalscoring is down to Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s form.
A look at Calvert-Lewin’s recent form
When England international Calvert-Lewin moved to Leeds this summer on a free transfer after his Everton contract expired, it certainly raised some question marks.
Former Premier League midfielder-turned-pundit Danny Murphy said it is a “big risk for them” due to his injury record, but did say it could be a “great addition” if he can stay fit.
Well, once the Sheffield-born number nine got into the groove at his new club, he has been a roaring success. Farke even called Calvert-Lewin “one of the best English strikers in this league,” which is huge praise.
Indeed, that form is something to sign about, with the 28-year-old on a fine run in front of goal. Calvert-Lewin has seven goals in 15 games this season, but six of those have come in the last five appearances.
There is an impressive collection of opponents in that, too. The former Everton star bagged against Liverpool and also scored against Manchester City away and at home to Chelsea.
He has been unstoppable, which has certainly been a big boost for Leeds.
However, it is not just the Leeds number nine who can help keep up this impressive goalscoring form.
The Leeds star who looks like another Bamford
Calvert-Lewin was not the only striker who moved to Elland Road this summer. 27-year-old Lukas Nmecha also joined the Whites on a free transfer from German side Wolfsburg, and has four goals this season.
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Yet, he is out injured, and has missed the last three games with a hamstring issue. That could open the door for Joel Piroe to get an opportunity under Farke.
He was a key member of their title-winning side last term, but has not been utilised anywhere near as much in the Premier League.
This season, the Dutchman has only played nine Premier League games. After starting the first two, he has only managed fleeting substitute appearances since. Piroe has yet to find the back of the net in the 200 minutes he’s had on the pitch.
Compare that to last term, and the contrast is stark. The attacker featured 46 times in the Championship for Farke’s side, scoring 19 goals and assisting seven. That included bagging four times in one game against Stoke City at the end of the campaign.
Farke once called Piroe the “best finisher” he’s ever seen, and it is easy to see why based on his numbers from last term.
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He averaged 0.56 goals per 90 minutes, which ranked him in the top 5% of Championship strikers.
Piroe key stats in 24/25 Championship
Stat (per 90)
Number
Percentile
Goals
0.56
95th
Goals and assists
0.76
99th
Expected goals
0.49xG
95th
Shot-creating actions
2.43
84th
Goal-creating actions
0.38
91st
Stats from FBref
The Piroe situation is similar to the one Patrick Bamford experienced last season. The ex-Leeds man could not get into the team under Farke, making just 17 Championship appearances and playing only 235 minutes.
That certainly feels familiar to the situation that the Leeds number 10 is going through. Just as Farke didn’t seem to fancy Bamford, it feels like a repeat of the same situation. Of course, the Englishman is now at Sheffield United after leaving this summer.
Piroe, however, might yet get a chance to show what he can do, unlike Bamford. Let’s not forget how highly Farke rates him, and with Leeds firing in front of goal, this could be a great environment for the Dutchman to step into.
He could well be the man Farke needs to help maintain this form alongside Calvert-Lewin.
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