Leeds star Sean Longstaff tops key Premier League stat, Daniel Farke will be ecstatic
Leeds have enjoyed a mixed start to the Premier League season under Daniel Farke.
Despite Leeds’ 1-0 opening day win over Everton, they have since won just one of their following six top-flight matches.
Leeds’ 5-0 demolition at the hands of Arsenal brought fans back down to earth, whilst late goals conceded against Bournemouth and Fulham have left the Whites sat in 15th place.
Daniel Farke will be delighted with the win over relegation rivals Wolves, and Sean Longstaff is performing better than any player in the Premier League when it comes to one key stat.
Sean Longstaff tops key defensive stat for Leeds
Longstaff joined Leeds for £12million plus add-ons from Newcastle in the summer transfer window and has excelled when called upon.
Ao Tanaka’s injury early on in the season paved the way for Longstaff to transition into the starting line-up, alongside Anton Stach and Ethan Ampadu.
Since he made his first start for Leeds on August 30, no Premier League player has made more tackles than Longstaff (23).
The 27-year-old found himself without regular game time at Newcastle, yet with plenty of Premier League experience under his belt, he was always going to be a valuable addition to the Leeds squad.
In Farke’s system, Stach and Longstaff play as narrow central midfielders, making it hard for the opposition to create chances through the middle of the pitch.
This is completely different to when Leeds were last in the Premier League under Marcelo Bielsa, whose man-to-man system left the defence exposed on numerous occasions.
Leeds are unfortunate to not have more points on the board so far, yet Frake will be delighted with how his squad have performed in certain matches.
Sean Longstaff has been a brilliant signing for Leeds
Longstaff registered his first Premier League goal contributions in over a year versus Bournemouth, assisting Joe Rodon’s equaliser, before scoring a fabulous goal himself.
Longstaff isn’t just a midfielder who breaks up the ball, with his versatility coming into huge effect for Leeds.
- 86.6 per cent pass accuracy
- 23 successful tackles
- 13 chances created
- 71.4 per cent of aerial duels won
Leeds’ recruitment strategy has seen them pick up big, imposing players who can physically dominate teams, particularly at Elland Road.
Longstaff has seamlessly slotted into the sturdy spine of the Leeds team, and his contributions are being noticed by fans who have been impressed by his performances.
Whilst there are still 31 Premier League games to go, Farke will be pleased with how his side has adapted to the Premier League, with Longstaff’s performances leading by example.
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