Leeds United currently don’t know when they will lose in the Premier League.
The worry for Whites supporters heading to Anfield to start the new year will be that Liverpool, led by Arne Slott, will be hoping to finish 2025 with four wins and start 2026 in style.
But Daniel Farke’s side put in a brave performance in the 0-0 draw to move within seven points of the top-flight drop zone, with the German praising his team’s “resilience” at the full-time whistle.
Still, there is still plenty of football to be played, but Leeds are in a very healthy position at the moment in the ever-changing table, and with the January transfer window now open, it gives them a further boost as they look to improve here and there.
Leeds interested in surprise move for Premier League star
His defensive tenacity was even more impressive considering Joe Rodon was absent for the game at Anfield.
Los Blancos are reportedly keen to add to their squad in the Welshman’s absence by adding Axel Disasi, who was exiled from Chelsea, alongside Union Berlin’s Danilo Doyek, who has attracted further attention in this regard.
But returning to talk within the Premier League, Leeds have been linked with a surprise move for Newcastle United reserve midfielder Joe Willock, who signed Sean Longstaff from the Magpies this summer, with mixed results.
In fact, the i Paper speculates that Leeds are keen on a mid-season move for the former Arsenal player, pointing out that Newcastle would be happy to allow Willock to leave if the fee is right.
Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace have also been linked with the 26-year-old’s situation on Tyneside as potential Premier League candidates, with the possibility of a transfer dispute looming in January.
Leeds are hoping to top the list with the London-born midfielder’s services, with an eye on Dominic Calvert-Lewin to continue if Willock chooses Elland Road as his next destination.
Why Willock could become a repeat of Calvert and Lewin
In the early stages of his Leeds career, there would have been concerns that Calvert-Lewin would not be able to adapt to his new surroundings.
Indeed, Sky Sports pundit Michael Dawson criticized the former Everton forward for looking “average” during his difficult introduction to life in West Yorkshire.
But he is now hailed by his manager as one of the “best” strikers in the entire division, with an impressive eight league goals in just 17 appearances.
It was an encouraging turn of fortune for a striker who was often dismissed as injury-prone and goal-scoring towards the end of his long Toffees journey, and remains crucial to Leeds’ chances of continued survival.
Willock will be hoping for a similar rejuvenation under Farke if he moves from St James’ Park to Elland Road in the near future. Thune has posted some impressive hits during his time in the starting lineup, including this rocket that beat Andre Onana in 2023.
In total, he can boast 18 goals and nine assists in 156 games in Newcastle’s black and white shirt, with an impressive goalscoring tally of eight goals in just 14 games in 2020/21, rivaling even the brand new Leeds No. 9’s bright red form.
Once hailed as having achieved ‘legendary status’ on Tyneside by former Arsenal striker Kevin Campbell, he has fallen into disrepair under Howe in recent years, but he still managed to contribute five goals in limited minutes last season and could very well be a valuable player for Farke to add to his squad.
Willock’s time spent at Newcastle | ||
|---|---|---|
season | Play time (minutes) | Goal + Assist |
25/26 | 463 minutes | 0 + 1 |
24/25 | 1524 minutes | 3+2 |
23/24 | 707 minutes | 2+0 |
22/23 | 2968 minutes | 3+6 |
21/22 | 2089 minutes | 2+0 |
20/21 | 979 minutes | 8+0 |
Source: Transfermarkt | ||
Calvert-Lewin also played just 2,186 minutes in the Premier League, scoring just three goals, before his minutes dried up at Goodison Park last season and he looked like a man born again in West Yorkshire.
This season, he has already reached 1613 minutes and has an incredible eight strikes to his name.
Willock, who has been hailed as Newcastle’s “outstanding player” by Howe this season, will be hoping for a similar boost to his direct promotion to Leeds XI if his move goes through in January, as Farke looks for a suitable mid-season addition who can push his team further up the league.
As important as Calvert-Lewin: Leeds land £10m star with gold
Despite Dominic Calvert-Lewin being left out of the starting XI, Leeds United managed to secure a comfortable draw away at Liverpool.
