Fewer touches than Perri & 7 duels lost: Farke must finally bin Leeds flop

Leeds United showed no signs of a post-Christmas slump as they battled to a hard-earned 1–1 draw against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on Sunday afternoon.

Daniel Farke’s side matched the Black Cats stride for stride, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin once again stepping up to deliver a crucial Premier League goal.

The striker’s equaliser ensured Leeds left Wearside with a deserved point — and on another day, they may well have taken all three.

Sunderland had gone ahead through Simon Adingra, but Leeds responded impressively. Calvert-Lewin was perfectly positioned to convert Brenden Aaronson’s clever pass, salvaging a result that reflected the visitors’ resilience and attacking intent.

While the goalscorer and his creator caught the eye, not every Leeds player emerged with credit. A handful of underwhelming performances will give Farke food for thought as a demanding winter schedule continues.

Leeds Players Who Struggled Against Sunderland

Beyond Calvert-Lewin’s red-hot scoring form — now seven goals in six league matches — some Leeds players failed to reach the same standard.

Jayden Bogle endured a difficult afternoon, particularly during Sunderland’s opener. He was caught out as Granit Xhaka split the defence with a precise through ball, allowing Adingra to curl home past Lucas Perri.

Bogle also struggled offensively, failing to register a single accurate cross or key pass, according to Sofascore.

Perri himself will feel disappointed not to have kept a clean sheet. He was almost beaten again late in the first half when Brian Brobbey raced through on goal, but the Dutch forward failed to apply the finish, much to the goalkeeper’s relief.

One Leeds Star Facing the Chop

There is growing concern over Noah Okafor, who may now be under real threat of losing his starting spot.

The former AC Milan forward once again failed to register a goal or assist, extending his barren Premier League run back to early October against Tottenham.

His performance at the Stadium of Light did little to ease those concerns. Okafor failed to hit the target with any of his three attempts and completed just one of four dribbles.

He also struggled physically, losing seven of his 12 duels, and managed only 38 touches — fewer than goalkeeper Lucas Perri.

With Wilfried Gnonto making an impact off the bench in recent weeks and Lucas Nmecha also pushing for a start, competition for places is intensifying. Okafor’s hold on the starting XI appears increasingly fragile.

Positives Remain for Leeds

Despite some individual struggles, Leeds can take plenty of encouragement from their performance.

They have navigated a difficult festive period well and continue to build momentum heading into 2026.

However, with a trip to Liverpool looming and squad depth being tested, Farke may soon be forced into making bold selection decisions — particularly if certain players fail to rediscover their confidence and form.