Leeds United head into the festive period buoyed by a stunning 4-1 victory over Crystal Palace, maintaining their unbeaten run in the Premier League throughout December. Daniel Farke's side, now four points clear of the relegation zone after 17 matches, face a pivotal trip to Sunderland's Stadium of Light before daunting fixtures against Liverpool and Manchester United.
Rooney and Lineker Clash Over Calvert-Lewin's England Hopes
A debate over the international future of in-form striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin has ignited between two England legends. The Leeds forward, who joined from Everton, has been in magnificent form, scoring six goals in his last five appearances and demonstrating his aerial prowess and ability to finish with both feet.
Manchester United icon Wayne Rooney has thrown his full support behind Calvert-Lewin for a recall to the England squad, a place he hasn't occupied for five years despite earning 11 caps and scoring four goals. Speaking on his BBC show, Rooney highlighted the 28-year-old's physical attributes and current form.
"If he's fit he's such a handful to play against," Rooney stated. "He occupies defenders, he competes, he's great in the air... He's put himself in a position where Thomas Tuchel will have to be looking at him."
However, former England striker Gary Lineker offered a more cautious assessment on The Rest Is Football podcast. While acknowledging Calvert-Lewin's quality, Lineker pointed to his recent injury history and suggested Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins remains ahead in the pecking order.
"It's his first good spell for quite some time after a lot of injuries," Lineker remarked. "I think at the moment, he should be focusing on carrying on doing what he's doing... Ollie Watkins is way ahead of him at present I would say."
Captain Ampadu Salutes Unwavering Fan Support
Meanwhile, Leeds United captain Ethan Ampadu has spoken out to praise the club's supporters following the emphatic win at Elland Road. The victory marked a fifth consecutive match without defeat, a run that has lifted the team clear of the immediate relegation danger.
Ampadu, who scored his first Premier League goal in the match, acknowledged the recent pressure from fans during a tougher spell but emphasised their unwavering backing was crucial to the turnaround.
"It's so special," Ampadu told LUTV, reflecting on the post-match celebrations. "There have been spells where we're going around after games where we're very disappointed with ourselves and rightly so the fans have been. But they've still shown us that support to encourage us and to keep pushing us on."
Critical Festive Fixtures Loom for Farke's Side
The positive mood at Elland Road will be tested by a challenging festive schedule. The immediate focus is the away clash with Sunderland on December 28th. Following that, Leeds face a formidable double-header against title-chasing Liverpool and a resurgent Manchester United.
These matches will be a true test of the team's resilience and their ambitions to solidify their Premier League status. The form of Calvert-Lewin and the leadership of Ampadu, buoyed by passionate home support, will be central to navigating this difficult period successfully.
