Photo via BBC Sport

A team in form - how Farke has turned Leeds around

After edging Burnley to claim the Championship crown the prior campaign, Leeds United endured a dreadful start to their 2025-26 Premier League season, suffering eight defeats across their opening 13 fixtures to sit 18th in the table. Manager Daniel Farke, whose position was reportedly under immediate threat, had collaborated with sporting director Adam Underwood during the 2025 summer window to prioritize height for top-tier combat, securing eight players above six feet among ten permanent recruits: Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Lucas Perri, Anton Stach, Sebastiaan Bornauw, Jaka Bijol, James Justin, Lukas Nmecha, and Noah Okafor.

Following the departure of Pascal Struijk to Brighton, the squad brought in World Cup defenders Nico Elvedi and Tarik Muharemovic, alongside free signing Harry Wilson and 6ft 5in stopper James Trafford, who set a record as the most expensive British goalkeeper ever for a second time via his initial £40m transfer from Manchester City. Despite a slip that allowed Newcastle's Bazoumana Toure a late consolation strike, Muharemovic has not missed a single top-flight minute in front of Trafford, contributing to a backline that has trailed only Arsenal, City, and Nottingham Forest for fewest goals conceded among uninterrupted top-flight teams since their tactical adjustment.

The strategic shift has especially revitalized Calvert-Lewin, who struggled isolated in a 4-3-3 setup but has excelled within Farke's rotating 3-4-3 and 3-5-2 schemes alongside partners like Nmecha or Okafor, the latter recording seven goals and an assist across his last 11 league outings. Since December, only Erling Haaland, Ollie Watkins, and Joao Pedro have surpassed Calvert-Lewin's haul of 14 Premier League goals.

Though overlooked for England's World Cup roster, the striker has netted three times across all tournaments this term, and an upcoming home clash with Crystal Palace offers him the opportunity to match Arthur Hydes's 1932 milestone of scoring in six straight league fixtures at Elland Road.

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