Daniel Farke warned that Leeds United’s survival hopes rest on the shoulders of one player

Daniel Farke warned that Leeds United’s survival hopes rest on the shoulders of one player

Leeds United manager Daniel Farke has been told that his side’s chances of avoiding relegation from the Premier League could hinge on one player.

With just three points separating Leeds and the relegation zone, Daniel Farke knows there is no margin for error despite his side’s recent upturn in form.

Leeds have suffered a run of injuries in recent weeks, which have prevented Farke from naming his strongest side, with Lukas Nmecha missing the game against Brentford, and the likes of Sean Longstaff and Dan James out for the medium to long term.

However, Farke has now been warned that none of those players are as important to his side’s survival hopes as centre-forward Dominic Calvert-Lewin, whose goals will be crucial to the Whites.

Leeds United’s survival hopes rest on Dominic Calvert-Lewin

Speaking to the Two Robbies podcast, former Middlesbrough midfielder Robbie Mustoe warned Farke that Leeds’ survival hopes still hang in the balance.

According to Mustoe, he predicted that Leeds would be relegated because he believed that Calvert-Lewin could not stay fit for the entire season, and he is still concerned that this could still be the case.

Mustoe said: “I’ve liked Leeds. I mean, we all know winning games in the Premier League is very difficult, but I’ve liked Leeds generally.”

Before adding: “Dominic Calvert-Lewin, he’s the guy. He’s got to work for you. If Dominic Calvert-Lewin can have a season with a good goal tally, they can stay in the league.

It’s just history, and that’s why I predict them to go down, that he can’t maintain fitness or that level to get those 12 to 15. I kind of like the system they’re playing right now. I think the wingbacks suit them more.

“They haven’t got great wingers, so having wingbacks provides the width. They’ve got plenty of good, I think Anton Stach is a good midfield player and other options in there as well, and play two up front. So I kind of like them, but it’s going to be a slog. They’re going to be right in the mix.”

Stats show the value of Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s goals

Leeds have collected 16 points from their opening 16 games this season, as they look to keep pace with Farke’s target of one point per game to secure their survival.

Calvert-Lewin has scored in five of those games, and the value of those goals is proven by the average points per game when he has scored.

Leeds have lost just once when Calvert-Lewin has found the net, claiming eight points from those five games, at an average of 1.6 points per game.

By contrast, Leeds have taken eight points from their other 11 games, with just two wins and an average points per game total of 0.72, highlighting the importance of the England international to Farke’s side.

Leeds United’s survival chances jump as latest Opta SuperComputer verdict delivered

Leeds United’s hopes of retaining their Premier League status have jumped after their draw against Brentford, as the Opta SuperComputer delivered its latest verdict.

Daniel Farke has successfully fended off speculation over his future at Leeds in recent weeks, after he appeared destined to lose his job.

With the Leeds manager given a reported three games to save his job at Elland Road, Farke delivered five points from four games to breathe life into Leeds’ survival hopes.

The Whites currently sit three points outside of the relegation zone in the Premier League, as they prepare to welcome Crystal Palace to Elland Road.

And that is exactly where they will stay at the end of the season, as the latest SuperComputer verdict backed Leeds to finish 17th.

Opta SuperComputer backs Leeds United for Premier League safety

Heading into the game against Brentford, Leeds were still the third-most likely team to be relegated, despite picking up positive results against Chelsea and Liverpool.

However, following Leeds’ battling point against Brentford, Opta have now handed the Whites a significant boost to their survival hopes.

According to their latest predicted table, Leeds will go on to finish in 17th position, with 38.24 points, marginally ahead of West Ham, whose predicted points tally is 37.22.

The significant change is in West Ham’s percentage chance of relegation. While Leeds’ relegation chances dropped from 41.67% ahead of the game against Brentford to 40.72% after the game, West Ham’s leapt from just below 39% to 46.63% after the weekend’s games.

With three points between them and the bottom three, and West Ham facing a difficult game against Man City this weekend, Leeds have a golden chance to open up an even bigger gap against Palace.