Dominic Calvert-Lewin was meant to be the answer to Leeds United’s search for a proven Premier League striker, the physical presence who could turn possession into goals. But the lack of goals from Calvert-Lewin and the squad as a whole has started to raise questions. One league goal to his name so far this season is not the return expected of a forward with his pedigree. Yet he’s not the only one struggling. Eight goals in nine games overall suggest a deeper issue. Daniel Farke’s system may not be giving his number nine the tools he, or the team, need to thrive.
The problem begins with the team’s style of play. Leeds have had plenty of the ball at times this season, often much more than their opponents, but their build-up has been patient and predictable, short passes across the back and into midfield without real incision. That kind of football can look slick and well-drilled, but it hasn’t been effective at cutting open opposition defences and it doesn’t naturally suit a striker like Calvert-Lewin, who thrives on quick transitions, early crosses, and direct service into the box.
Leeds are averaging 19.6 accurate long passes per game this season, one of the lowest figures in the league. That tells its own story. Fewer long balls mean fewer early entries into the attacking third and fewer opportunities for Calvert-Lewin to use his aerial strength or hold-up play to bring others in. He’s taken just 15 shots in total, with seven on target and an expected goals tally of around 1.8. He’s only had 1 touch in Brighton’s penalty area on Saturday, 1 shot off which was off target resulting in an xG of 0.3, far below what you should be expecting from your centre-forward.
The result is a striker spending long stretches isolated, chasing second balls or drifting deep to find involvement. His heat map for Leeds shows heavy concentration in central zones just outside the box, not in the six-yard area where he was most dangerous at Everton. In his best season, he scored 16 league goals largely from inside the penalty area, thriving on early crosses and direct passes from wide players. The chances he gets now are still from central areas but arrive infrequently, often under pressure or without the element of surprise. The difference isn’t in Calvert-Lewin’s movement or willingness to work — it’s in the kind of supply line he’s being asked to live off.
The issue becomes clearer when you look at Leeds’ current attacking structure. Okafor has without doubt been the side’s greatest attacking threat, but more often than not he drifts inside rather than delivering an early ball. On the other wing, Brenden Aaronson is not a natural wide player and does not provide the byline crosses or early deliveries required. Only Jaden Bogle looks capable of providing the kind of service Calvert-Lewin needs, though his opportunities to get forward are more limited than they were in the Premier League.
When the early ball does come in, Calvert-Lewin regularly wins it, but with the midfield setup of three deeper players there is often no one running on to claim the second ball. Without regular late runs from midfielders to pull defenders out of position, Calvert-Lewin is frequently outnumbered by centre-backs waiting for predictable service. It’s a system that keeps the ball but rarely surprises the opposition, fatal for a striker who depends on instinct and chaos.
That doesn’t mean Leeds need a complete tactical overhaul. The three deeper, more destructive midfielders worked well following the Arsenal game when Leeds needed to be tighter and control the middle of the pitch. But against the likes of Burnley or Nottingham Forest, Leeds need to be bolder. Playing a more attack-minded midfielder in the middle, or even a false nine feeding off Calvert-Lewin, would bring him more into play and allow the team to profit from second balls.
Injuries have clearly taken a toll. Gnonto or James could add the attacking variety Leeds lack, not only delivering early balls into the box but also pushing centrally to thrive off knockdowns and rebounds. Encouraging the midfield to play earlier vertical passes into the channels or diagonals behind the defence would immediately give Calvert-Lewin more to chase. Allowing one wide player to stay higher and deliver from advanced wide zones would create the kind of service he feeds on.
Leeds could dominate possession in the Championship knowing their superior quality would eventually create chances, but in the Premier League that same control has too often translated into predictability. Calvert-Lewin is not a striker built for patient buildup. He’s a forward who thrives when the ball arrives early and fast, causing chaos in the box and bringing teammates into play before defenders can set themselves. Without that, his effectiveness dwindles, not because he isn’t working hard but because he’s playing the wrong kind of game.
Farke’s other option is to use a more mobile forward like Joel Piroe, who can drop deeper and combine in tight areas. But that hasn’t worked so far this season either. It feels as if Farke is persisting with a system that fails to get the best out of either of his top strikers. The evidence points to a setup that starves its striker of both early ball and support. Leeds have a centre-forward who excels in battles, thrives on direct passes, and feeds off chaos in the box. What he’s getting instead is control, structure, and patience. Until that balance shifts, Calvert-Lewin’s goal tally is unlikely to move much either.
The question now is whether Farke is willing to change his ways. He has never been a fan of the long ball, is not quick to alter his approach and rarely changes formation or tactics on a game-by-game basis, often picking a consistent starting eleven only when injuries or a run of poor results force his hand. The fix isn’t about replacing Calvert-Lewin. It’s about playing the kind of football that allows him to do what he was signed to do, score goals and bring his teammates into the game in advanced positions.