Fewer touches than Perri & 7 duels lost: Farke must finally bin Leeds flop
Leeds United avoided any Christmas hangover on Sunday afternoon at Sunderland. Instead, Daniel Farke’s team fought effectively against the Black Cats, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin scoring another Premier League goal to secure a deserved 1-1 draw on the road.
On another occasion, Leeds might have claimed all three points and handed Regis Le Bris’ tough squad their first home loss of the season, with Calvert-Lewin fortunately positioned to convert Brenden Aaronson’s key pass, thus salvaging a point. While both the former Everton forward and Aaronson were impressive in their combination for the vital equaliser, some players in the Leeds lineup underperformed, which could be a concern for the German coach as more matches loom in the busy winter schedule.
Notable Leeds underperformers vs Sunderland
Apart from the Sheffield-born threat, who netted his impressive seventh league goal in six appearances, other contributors struggled to impact the match. Jayden Bogle, in particular, likely walked away disappointed with his performance, as he was caught out on Simon Adingra’s opener after Granit Xhaka split the Whites’ defense with a brilliant through ball.
The Ivorian then curled an excellent shot past Lucas Perri, while Bogle also failed to deliver any accurate crosses or key passes when pushing forward, according to Sofascore. Perri might feel similarly let down by his showing, as another clean sheet slipped away, with a second Sunderland goal nearly beating him when Brian Brobbey sped through at the end of a lively first half.
Fortunately, the powerful Dutchman missed the chance to put Sunderland ahead by two goals, allowing the Brazilian to breathe a huge sigh of relief. There’s another underperforming player for Leeds who should definitely be considered for a bench role in their upcoming league match on New Year’s Day at Liverpool.
The Leeds flop who must be dropped
Farke will likely need to substitute Joe Rodon for the upcoming match at Anfield to kick off 2026, as the Welshman was forced off in the first half due to a serious ankle injury. Alongside him could be Noah Okafor, as the former AC Milan attacker once again finished a league match without a goal or assist for Leeds at the Stadium of Light, with his last contribution in Premier League play dating back to early October against Tottenham Hotspur.
Things are not clicking for the number 19 right now, playing alongside Calvert-Lewin in attack, with his 77-minute stint against Crystal Palace—a match in which Leeds secured a solid 4-1 victory—yielding no shots on target against a shaky Eagles defense. He was similarly ineffective against Le Bris’ team, misfiring on all three shot attempts. Moreover, Okafor managed to complete just one of his four attempted dribbles during the match, which has likely weakened his hold on a starting position.
Okafor’s performance in numbers
Stat
Okafor
Minutes played
77
Goals scored
0
Assists
0
Touches
38
Shots
3
Accurate passes
16/18 (89%)
Key passes
2
Accurate crosses
2/4
Successful dribbles
1/4
Total duels won
5/12
Stats by Sofascore
The statistics above hardly showcase the struggling 25-year-old in a positive light, with Okafor failing to match up against a strong Sunderland squad, resulting in him losing seven of his 12 duels.
This lackluster approach also meant Okafor had only 38 touches during the game, with Perri in goal for the away side even finishing with a better tally of 54 touches. With Wilfried Gnonto providing an assist against Brentford after coming on for Okafor, it may be time for Farke to reintegrate the Italian into his starting lineup instead of primarily using him as a late substitute. Additionally, Lucas Nmecha is available to the German tactician, holding four Premier League goals to his name, making it clear to the number 19 that his spot may soon be in jeopardy if his performances do not improve.
Overall, Leeds have numerous positives to reflect on following this exciting draw on Wearside, but regarding Okafor, he might be on the chopping block from his manager as 2026 approaches.
Published: 2025-12-28 19:45:00
source: www.footballfancast.com
