Leeds United will not head into the international break on the back of a positive result, but they will head into it off the back of a positive performance against Tottenham Hotspur.
The result did not fall their way, because of deflected goals from Mathys Tel and Mohammed Kudus, but it was a performance that should have left supporters feeling positive heading into the rest of October.
The Whites were incredibly unfortunate to come away from the clash at Elland Road with nothing because they created enough chances to potentially win the game, let alone to get a point.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin was guilty of missing a huge opportunity to score in the first-half when he fired high and wide after Noah Okafor won the ball back in the Spurs box.
Possession
57%
43%
Shots
16
9
Shots on target
4
3
Big chances
4
1
xG
1.68
0.43
Passes
478
374
As you can see in the table above, that was one of four ‘big chances’ created by the hosts, and Okafor was the only player who managed to convert one.
That goal from the Switzerland international was ‘created’ by Brenden Aaronson’s shot that was spilled by Guglielmo Vicario, in what was another promising display from the USA international.
How Brenden Aaronson has revived his Leeds career
It is fair to say that there were doubts over whether or not the American attacking midfielder would be a useful player for Daniel Farke in the Premier League heading into the 2025/26 campaign.
As you can see in the graphic above, Aaronson failed to deliver a single goal or assist in ten appearances against the other five teams in the top six in the Championship last season, which shows that he struggled against high-quality opponents.
The 24-year-old lightweight also managed just one goal and three assists in 36 appearances in the Premier League for the Whites in the 2022/23 campaign under Jesse Marsch, Javi Gracia, and Sam Allardyce, per Sofascore.
Farke changing the system from a 4-2-3-1 to a 4-3-3 cast further doubt over Aaronson’s potential involvement this season, as he played as a number ten in last term’s promotion-winning side.
However, the former RB Salzburg star has found a home for himself on the right wing in the 4-3-3 system, starting four Premier League matches so far, and has shown signs of promise on the pitch.
Appearances
7
Starts
4
Big chances created
3
xA
0.81
Assists
0
Tackles + interceptions per game
2.2
Ground duel success rate
53%
As you can see in the table above, Aaronson is unfortunate not to have an assist to his name in the division, as he has created three ‘big chances’ in four starts so far.
The Leeds winger has also provided quality out of possession with his impressive work rate on the flank, winning 2.2 tackles and interceptions per game and the majority of his physical battles on the deck.
His work rate off the ball and the creativity that he has shown with the ball at his feet has helped him to revive his Premier League career with the Whites this season.
Aaronson is not the only player who appears to have revived his career at Elland Road, though, as another star has emerged as a surprise key player for Farke.
Chalkboard
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An injury to summer signing Lucas Perri has provided Karl Darlow with a run of matches to prove himself in the Premier League, and he has shown that he can be relied upon to be the team’s number one.
How Karl Darlow has revived his Leeds career
The Wales international joined the Whites from Newcastle United on a permanent deal in the summer of 2023 to be the back-up to Illan Meslier in the Championship.
Darlow started one match in the Championship in the 2023/24 campaign, because Meslier was suspended, and started the 2024/25 campaign as the second-choice once again.
However, the Frenchman’s poor form between the sticks meant that the Welshman was eventually given an opportunity to shine. He kept four clean sheets and prevented 0.74 goals, per Sofascore, in seven outings in the second tier as Leeds earned promotion to the Premier League.
The Whites then swooped to sign Perri from Lyon for £15.6m in the summer transfer window to be their new number one, which suggested that they did not believe that Darlow could make the step up. Unfortunately, Leeds United’s new signing endured a difficult start to life at Elland Road, conceding 1.99 more goals than expected in his first three appearances, per Sofascore, before picking up an injury.
That injury has provided the Wales international with a chance to prove himself and he has grasped it with both gloves, impressing in several matches in the Premier League.
Darlow, who was hailed as “superb” by reporter Graham Smyth, was even nominated for save of the month for September with his terrific acrobatic stop to prevent Kevin from opening the scoring for Fulham.
During the 3-1 win over Wolves, Smyth claimed that the goalkeeper was doing his best Superman impression, as he “brilliantly” tipped a shot over the bar.
Appearances
3
4
Sofascore rating
6.07
6.90
Save success rate
38%
67%
Saves made
3
12
Goals prevented
-2.0
-1.9
Long pass accuracy
33%
40%
As you can see in the table above, Darlow has outperformed Perri in his outings in the Premier League this season, both as an out-and-out shot-stopper as well as with his distribution out from the back.
-1.9 goals prevented may not jump out as an impressive statistic for the Welshman, but it is worth noting that he ended the Spurs game with -1.40 goals prevented, which was harsh given that Pascal Struijk deflected both goals past the goalkeeper.
His overall statistics, though, show that he has been more effective than Perri between the sticks for Leeds, which is why Farke should keep him in the XI even when the Frenchman is back and available for selection.
Therefore, Darlow has revived his career at Elland Road by stepping up and taking his chance when it came his way, delivering quality performances in the Premier League, and, hopefully, there is more to come from the 34-year-old.
