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Dominic Calvert-Lewin became the first Leeds striker to score in five successive Premier League games in 22 years, snapping a lethargic spell. Crystal Palaceand opens a six-point gap in the relegation zone. Mark Viduka achieved the same feat in 2003, helping to secure his side’s top-flight status with his instinctive finish, another feat the Elland Road No 9 is aiming to repeat.
The former Everton striker couldn’t imagine nearly 40,000 singing his name at Christmas when he was unemployed for most of the summer, reminding everyone that sometimes the best gifts are free. It took until mid-August for newly-promoted Leeds to convince Calvert-Lewin that this was the right place to rebuild his career and they are proving each other right, helped by the long shots of third goalscorer Ethan Ampadu.
“The numbers don’t lie, he’s in hot form at the moment,” Daniel Farke said of Calvert-Lewin. “(He’s) one of the best English strikers in this league. He’s proven that before, whenever he’s fit, he’s shown his quality. Right now he’s on a path to being a top, top-class player for Leeds United. I don’t like talking about quality and top-class player after only a few weeks. You have to show that consistently throughout the season.”
Palace spent the opening stages trying to dictate the pace, helping them manage the workload of nine games in 26 days, partly explaining why they failed to make this run as they were unable to match Leeds physically and face certain tackles. There were 11 changes from Thursday’s draw against KuPS, and Oliver Glasner may have feared another was called for when Marc Guéhi and Calvert-Lewin collided heads, but both were able to carry on, ensuring the game went in Leeds’ favour.
The plan to bombard the Palace box with groups was apparent from the start; a long throw-in fell late to Joe Rodon on the edge of the area but his shot was deflected wide and from the resulting corner the Welsh centre-back headed wide. Palace couldn’t cope and didn’t learn from their mistakes as they were penalized with four.
A sloppy challenge by Tyrick Mitchell on Brenden Aaronson sparked further outrage from the home fans. Even more so when the referee, Thomas Bramall, and VAR felt that the left-back had touched the ball less before sending the American off.
Anger was replaced by euphoria soon after, when an Ampadu rocket headed Calvert-Lewin into space at the back post. The striker was thwarted by Henderson the first time but not the second as a tired Palace went to sleep. The keeper’s complaints about the poor scoring made the moment all the sweeter in Yorkshire.
Chants of “England’s number nine” echoed around the stadium for a striker whose previous five goals had taken 40 appearances to rack up. It was a noisy atmosphere; if Palace fans were upset by a difficult trip after an 8pm kick-off on Saturday, five days before Christmas, the Leeds brothers had embraced the opportunity.
Another shot, another Calvert-Lewin goal thanks to him once again reacting first at the back post from a tackle. This time it was a first-time header before going off, but the feeling was the same for the striker and most inside Elland Road.
Calvert-Lewin started his Leeds career with one goal in 13 before this run of six in five. Few had faith in a 28-year-old who had suffered numerous injuries in recent seasons, but Leeds are reaping the rewards. He is looking sharper and more confident as each game goes by, and with the English number 9 out, perhaps Thomas Tuchel will hear the chorus. “In the six-yard box is where I need to be,” Calvert-Lewin said. “When you’re in a good moment, the ball starts falling for you and that’s where I am.”
Ampadu got his reward as Palace once again tried to clear their lines from a set piece. This time it was a corner that Aaronson turned back into the danger area, which was made even more uncertain by no one tracking the Leeds captain, who headed home. “We were bullied every game in the set, we could have conceded two or three more games in the set.” Glasner said. “Conceding four goals from set-play is also a bit embarrassing.”
Calvert-Lewin and Ampadu were given a standing ovation when they went off late on, before Justin Devenny pulled one back from the spot, only for Anton Stach to restore the three-goal advantage in the 101st minute from a free-kick.
Leeds can enjoy Christmas relieved to be two wins clear of 18th-placed West Ham. There’s no rest for the underdogs as Palace take on Arsenal in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday, where they’ll be desperate to rediscover the energy they forgot to bring to Yorkshire.
