Tuesday night saw Dominic Calvert-Lewin prove he is unplayable, having been described as such. He scored twice and supplied an assist for Leeds United as they routed Newcastle 4-1 at Elland Road. The striker earned a standing ovation when he was taken off late in the match.
The win leaves Leeds with 35 points from 13 league matches this season, trailing only Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United and Bournemouth in the Premier League standings. They have suffered just one defeat in their last 13 league games.
Calvert-Lewin’s Night at Elland Road
Over the years, Calvert-Lewin has found the net eight times against Newcastle, with three of those goals coming in his last four outings. This tally makes him the top English marksman in the Premier League right now.
He became the second Leeds player to find the net in five straight Premier League outings at Elland Road since Mark Viduka’s run between March and August 2003. The appetite was so relentless that he appeared lost when his header for Leeds’ second goal was given to team-mate Jayden Bogle because it had taken a final touch off him.
“He’s a handful and tough for each and every defender.”
Daniel Farke, the Leeds manager, spoke warmly about Calvert-Lewin, describing him as “difficult to play against,” “at a top fitness level,” and “definitely one of the best strikers in this league.”.
“He’s a crucial player and if he shows this type of form, he’s definitely one of the best strikers in this league. It’s the best league in the world and that more or less sums up what I think about him as a player,” Farke added.
Carragher’s Take
Among those watching on impressed was former England defender Jamie Carragher. He described Calvert-Lewin’s display as “almost perfect.”.
“Maybe sometimes composure has let him down in his career, but not here,” Carragher told Sky Sports. “He was unplayable.
It was the right move for him and for Everton to start anew. Anyone who supports the club will likely wonder why they did not hold on to him.
“Sometimes a move rejuvenates a player. He is the type of player you think as an ex-centre-back, I am glad I am not playing now.”
The Case for an England Recall
England head coach Thomas Tuchel has had Calvert-Lewin on his mind over the past few months. The striker was previously summoned to the national team back in March, having impressed during his first season with Leeds.
Although he featured for England against Uruguay during that international window, he did not make the World Cup squad in the summer. Instead, Ivan Toney and Ollie Watkins went as captain Harry Kane’s deputies.
While the two players who are slightly older are currently in Saudi Arabia, Calvert-Lewin is making his case with his recent displays at home. In his last four matches, he has found the back of the net on three occasions.
On Friday, Tuchel will announce his team for the upcoming Nations League matches against Spain and the Czech Republic, with Calvert-Lewin’s current run of results putting him in contention for selection.
Newcastle’s Chastening Night
This Leeds team is an aggressive one, and they will not enjoy facing Calvert-Lewin at Elland Road this season. Newcastle had been doing well under head coach Matthias Jaissle, having undergone so much change in the summer, and they went unbeaten in their opening five games across all competitions before this setback.
They have faced more shots than any other team in the league. In the early weeks of the season, they were clinical, but against Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur and Bournemouth, they mustered just eight attempts on target before heading to Elland Road.
That was a dangerous cocktail going into this game. What was most galling, though, was the visitors’ failure to match Leeds’ bite at a raucous Elland Road.
In the opening half, Jaissle’s side collapsed and let in three goals during a punishing 14-minute spell. The German manager went on to describe the evening in his post-match press conference as proof of just how low he felt.
He said, “”I don’t want to point fingers and point any players out tonight,”. We were not matching as a team the level of intensity, the level of duel behaviours, the level of physicality.”
The core fundamentals of football should be present in every match, without exception, and treated as non-negotiable requirements.
“These are young lads. The learning curve needs to be fast.”
What Comes Next
Tuesday night at Elland Road produced a performance from Calvert-Lewin that will live in the memory of both he and Leeds. His display earned the respect of Elland Road, and his performances continue to build.
It is not yet settled whether he earns a return to the national team. The verdict will arrive when Tuchel announces his selection on Friday.
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