Leeds United are coming under growing pressure to convert their eye-catching displays into actual points on the board in the Premier League. Daniel Farke’s side has already flashed their potential through data, forecasting an impending run up the table. Yet their inability to translate excellent showings into victories has continued to snuff them out. Consequently, they’ve had to settle for life in the bottom tier of the league standings.
Despite taking the seventh-most shots in the division with 104 attempts, Leeds has managed to score only eight goals this season. Their conversion rate is frankly abysmal at 6.7 percent. This leaves them 3rd to last, above only Wolves and Nottingham Forest. No one is questioning the fact that this team has tremendously looked lost in their last 3 games. Even while outpossessing and outchancing opponents, they haven’t been able to find a goal.
Leeds’ Striking Woes
Noah Okafor serves as Leeds’ leading scorer, with two goals in five matches. He is the only winger on the entire squad to have notched a goal contribution in the league thus far. Brenden Aaronson and Jack Harrison are the only healthy wingers available as Leeds head into the game against Burnley this Sunday. The lack of contributions from other wingers has become pretty glaring. Yet, they’re both goalless in goal involvements over their past 14 combined Premier League appearances.
Lukas Nmecha & Joel Piroe, the team’s other primary strikers, have both only made one league start apiece this season. Consider that they’re still looking for their first non-penalty kick goal. That’s put huge pressure on Okafor’s shoulders to be an elite finisher. This circumstance highlights a larger problem for this team: their lack of scoring offense.
In his post-match assessment of the game, Farke was rightfully angry with their failure to take their chances.
“We dominated each and every aspect, possession, shots, shots on target, big chances, expected goals, corners, everything.” – Daniel Farke
Defensive Strengths and Missed Opportunities
If Leeds have faltered on the attacking front, some of their defensive numbers offer a glimmer of optimism. Additionally, they have the best expected goals against (xG) total of 8.6 by a significant margin in the league. This run is only the fourth longest active run in the Premier League. This statistic suggests that Leeds has been solid defensively, allowing them to stay competitive in matches even when they fail to score.
This defensive dominance has not equated to points on the scoreboard. Daniel Farke’s side dazzled in attacking display on the opening weekend against Fulham and then again midweek against Spurs. They dominated the games but walked away from the pitch with no points to show for it.
“In an away game on Premier League level, you can’t have better statistics than we did today,” – Daniel Farke
Leeds can’t convert superlative performances into results. This has led to fears that the squad may end up being tagged as the Premier League’s reincarnation of the ‘almost team.’ They have fumbled a ton of golden opportunities and lost precious points. Due to this, the chasm between their true metrics and on-field performance keeps getting bigger.
The Path Forward
Leeds will need to work out how to turn the promising signs they’ve shown into results. This has been most important for them to stay above the relegation zone on the table. Opta’s Expected Table has Leeds as seventh placed, putting them in European qualification places. Yet, without some tangible wins to point to this projection will be nothing more than hopeful thinking.
The team’s leading scorer Okafor will have to count on his teammates attacking prowess to help boost their total goals scored this season. Conversely, some players such as Dominic Calvert-Lewin have disappointed to make a lasting impression. He’s only found the net once and fluffed five big opportunities this season. Joint-fourth in the Premier League for aerial duels won, Calvert-Lewin is strong at winning back possession in the final third. The 28-year-old hasn’t been able to convert those contributions into goals.
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