Leeds United are all too aware of the problem that needs to be fixed
Isaac Johnson Leeds United reporter
14:24, 20 Oct 2025
Isaac Johnson
Isaac is the Leeds United reporter for LeedsLive. An NCTJ-qualified journalist, Isaac has interviewed many football icons during his career, including World Cup winners and Premier League champions. He has also sat down with a number of Olympic greats, such as Adam Peaty MBE and Dame Laura Kenny.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin tried an over-head kick
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Dominic Calvert-Lewin tried an over-head kick(Image: ANDY BUCHANAN/AFP via Getty Images)
Leeds United’s ability to find the net has waned over the last four games. After scoring three against Wolves and two against Bournemouth, one was netted against Tottenham Hotspur.
Against a Champions League side, that is perhaps forgivable, but failing to find the net against Burnley, a direct relegation rival, has left a sour taste in the mouth. Daniel Farke pointed to the post-game statistics but he underlined that only goals win games.
As many as 19 shots rained in on Burnley but just four were on target and Martin Dubravka was only truly troubled once. Brenden Aaronson’s missed chance was typical of United’s attacking story this season.
Farke had already urged his side to be more clinical prior to the international break but his team are in fact on a downward trajectory. The lack of chances Dominic Calvert-Lewin had at Turf Moor was notable, his ambitious but wayward overhead kick his only real effort on goal.
The striker won his flick-ons and duels yet Leeds need him to score more. One goal in six Premier League games is not a ratio to rave about and it’s not like he hasn’t had chances.
The attacker had five good chances across the home games against Bournemouth and Tottenham Hotspur but has nothing to show for his efforts since that looping header at Wolves a month ago.
He is not the only one to blame, though. He can only do so much and cannot help teammates, such as Aaronson and Jack Harrison, squandering good opportunities.
Leeds are technically still on track with their point-per-game aim after eight Premier League fixtures but fans nevertheless feel anxious given the tough run ahead after Friday's game with West Ham United.
A trip to Brighton is followed by the visit to Nottingham Forest, who might enjoy a new manager bounce - albeit that is far from certain. Then comes a home game against Aston Villa before Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool in the space of eight days.
Points need to be accrued before that spell and goals need to be scored. So far, Leeds have netted seven goals - but their xG (expected goals) rating says they ought to have scored 10.
Following Saturday’s defeat to Burnley, Leeds now have an xG score of -3, the fourth-worst in the Premier League. Critics may cast such statistics aside but xG is a metric Farke often refers to in his debriefs.
Daniel Farke gestures on the touchline
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Daniel Farke gestures on the touchline
“We dominated every aspect - possession, shots, shots on target, big chances, expected goals, corners, everything,” he said on Saturday. “I’m pretty sure that even when Liverpool and Man City are traveling here, they won't have better wasted statistics than we did today.”
And that right there is United’s attacking problem. Leeds cannot afford to keep being wasteful. Being so in one or two games is acceptable, but Leeds are slipping into the trend that fans feared after deadline day in September.
When plan A does not work, plan B needs to. Injuries have not helped but every team has their problems and Leeds knew Noah Okafor’s history and Daniel James’ summer fitness worries after several muscle setbacks since April.
Perhaps that’s why they were after a right winger. Farke made clear that it would be difficult to stay up without more attacking signings. None ultimately came in and there have already been multiple signs of the ramifications of that.
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