Before a ball was kicked in the 2025/26 campaign, many Leeds United fans would have been fearing relegation from the Premier League, given the gap between the two divisions.
Daniel Farke had never been able to fend off relegation before this season, but the German may be able to add such an achievement to his ever-growing CV this summer.
His switch to a back three at Elland Road has no doubt aided the club’s survival attempts, with his side now losing only two of their last 13 matches in England’s top-flight.
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The Whites currently sit six points clear of the drop with just 12 games remaining this season, with their ability to secure another season in the Premier League firmly in their own hands.
Numerous players have starred under the guidance of the German in recent months, with his trust in them to thrive massively evident on the pitch in Yorkshire.
How Calvert-Lewin compares to other PL strikers in 2025/26
During the summer window, Leeds completed the free transfer signing of Dominic Calvert-Lewin, in an attempt to bolster the club’s firepower ahead of their top-flight return.
The 28-year-old arrived at Elland Road with a history of injury issues, which obviously generated concern within the fanbase that he wouldn’t be able to maintain his fitness for the whole campaign.
Dominic-Calvert-Lewin-1
However, those concerns have certainly been eased over recent months, with the Englishman already finding the back of the net on 10 occasions in the Premier League.
As a result, Calvert-Lewin is now the joint-fourth highest scorer in the division to date, with only Erling Haaland, Igor Thiago and Antoine Semenyo scoring more in 2025/26.
His tally of 1.2 shots on target per 90 also ranks him in the top 25% of all centre forwards in the division, with such a tally the highest in the Whites’ first-team squad.
He’s also won 4.1 aerial duels per 90 this campaign, which places him in the top 10% of attackers in the league, with such a quality a huge asset to Farke’s counter-attacking system.
The former Leeds star who’s now outscoring Calvert-Lewin
Over recent seasons, Leeds have had numerous talismen who have captured the hearts of the fanbase, with striker Joel Piroe catching the eye with his goalscoring record last season.
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The Dutchman was the club’s starting striker in the Championship last season, subsequently registering 19 goals and ending the season as the division’s top scorer.
However, he’s found minutes extremely hard to come by this campaign, only starting once and featuring for a total of 208 minutes in the Premier League.
Calvert-Lewin’s form has no doubt contributed to his lack of first-team action, which led to rumours over a possible return to the Championship in January.
He wouldn’t have been the only player who’s had to drop into the second tier to resurrect his career, with former Leeds star Jack Clarke having to do the same in recent years.
Jack-Clarke
The 25-year-old came through the ranks at Elland Road, subsequently making 25 senior appearances, before agreeing to join Tottenham Hotspur back in the summer of 2019 for a fee of around £10m.
However, such a move would fail to ignite, subsequently leaving on a permanent basis in the summer of 2022 after being unable to make a single senior appearance.
Clarke reignited his career at Sunderland over a two-year period, in which he scored 27 times - leading to a move to join Ipswich Town in the summer of 2024.
Their relegation back to the second tier last season has handed the winger a regular starting role, something which he’s taken with both hands under Kieran McKenna.
Jack-Clarke-Ipswich
The winger has already netted 12 goals in his first 30 league appearances this season, which ranks him third in the division’s goalscoring charts this campaign.
Such a tally has seen the Englishman net more than Calvert-Lewin during the 2025/26, albeit doing so in a somewhat lesser division - but such a feat shouldn’t be sniffed at.
Jack Clarke - Championship stats (2025/26)
Statistics (per 90)
Games played
Goals & assists
Shot on target accuracy
Pass accuracy
Successful dribbles
Dribbles completed
Touches in 18-yard box
Duels won
Clarke, who’s been dubbed “unplayable” by Arsenal legend Adrian Clarke, has also completed the most dribbles of any player in the league, further showcasing the attacking quality he possesses.
Given the Whites’ Championship status at the time of his sale, there’s no doubt the club were forced to sell the winger, with his career potentially being very different had he remained at Elland Road.
However, one thing is for sure, he’s still a player who possesses quality and one that would have aided the club’s attempts to beat the drop under Farke this season.
His goalscoring form has been nothing short of remarkable, with Calvert-Lewin the player who has been tasked to provide a similar level of quality in 2025/26.
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