"More" - Dominic Calvert-Lewin makes Leeds United change declaration with personal admission
Dominic Calvert-Lewin has made a Leeds United change declaration.
Whites striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin has saluted the impact of a big Leeds United change with a declaration about his own game.
England-capped striker Calvert-Lewin joined Leeds as a free agent signing in the summer after leaving Everton and soon became first choice striker in boss Daniel Farke’s 4-3-3- system.
Calvert-Lewin regularly ploughed a lone furrow as the sole striker upfront, flanked by two wingers in a team that had been among the lowest scorers in the division.
Farke, though, changed his formation to a 3-5-2 with Leeds 2-0 down in last month’s clash at Manchester City which Calvert-Lewin began from the bench as the increasingly involved Lukas Nmecha again started up tops.
Farke’s changes led to Calvert-Lewin being introduced from the bench and partnering Nmecha in a new-look front two, a move which helped trigger a stirring second half fightback -albeit one ending in a 3-2 defeat,
Farke, though, kept the 3-5-2 system for Wednesday night’s hosting of Chelsea in which Calvert-Lewin and Nmecha again thrived together en route to a brilliant 3-1 win against the Blues.
With Nmecha out injured, Noah Okafor then partnered Calvert-Lewin upfront in Saturday evening’s hosting of Liverpool in which Farke switched to a 4-3-3 midway through the second half en route to another brilliant comeback and 3-3 draw.
“I've definitely had more joy”
United’s formations are suddenly much more fluid and Calvert-Lewin has declared the switch to a 3-5-2 as beneficial to his own game despite admitting that Liverpool’s overloads made matters difficult in the first half at Elland Road.
Speaking to BBC Radio Leeds, Calvert-Lewin was asked about the differences of a 3-5-2 and how effective that was for him personally.
The striker reasoned: “I didn't feel as effective in the first half as I did against Chelsea.
"I feel like the dynamic was slightly different, the way that Liverpool set up was different and it nullified us, the way that they were dropping their centre midfielders out like into the full back positions and overloading us, it was difficult.
"So there was a lot of defending, a lot of shuffling, isolated at times, but that's the role of a centre forward and I've definitely had more joy with two upfront, someone closer to me.
"When I'm holding the ball up, I like to have bodies around me so it's been good."