Leeds United do not know when they’re beaten currently in the Premier League.
The worry for Whites supporters heading to Anfield to start the New Year would have been that Arne Slot’s Liverpool would want to see in 2026 in style, having won four on the trot to end 2025.
But, Daniel Farke‘s men put in a valiant display all across the 0-0 draw to move seven points clear of the top-flight drop-zone, with the German lauding his team’s “resilience” at the full-time whistle.
Still, there’s plenty of football that is yet to be played, but Leeds are in a very healthy position at the moment in the ever-changing standings, with the January transfer window also now being open, giving them an added boost as they look to improve here and there.
Leeds interested in surprise move for Premier League star
The doggedness on show defensively was even more impressive when you consider Joe Rodon was sidelined for the clash at Anfield.
It has been reported that the Whites are keen on adding Chelsea outcast Axel Disasi to their ranks to add more depth, with the Welshman out of action, alongside Danilho Doekhi from Union Berlin further catching their eye in this regard.
Going back to shopping within the Premier League, though, Leeds have now been tipped to make a surprise move for reserve Newcastle United midfielder Joe Willock, having also purchased Sean Longstaff from the Magpies in the summer, to mixed results.
Indeed, the i Paper has speculated that Leeds are keen on a mid-season move for the former Arsenal man, with Newcastle noted as being content about allowing Willock to move on if the fee is right.
Both Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace are also named as Premier League suitors keeping an eye on the 26-year-old’s situation on Tyneside, as a potential transfer tussle emerges in January.
Leeds will hope they can come out on top for the London-born midfielder’s services, with a possible Dominic Calvert-Lewin repeat on the cards, if Willock chooses Elland Road as his next onward destination.
Why Willock can be a Calvert-Lewin repeat
There would have been concerns during the early stages of his Leeds career that Calvert-Lewin would fail to adjust to his new surroundings.
Indeed, Sky Sports pundit Michael Dawson criticised the ex-Everton forward as looking “bang average” during a difficult introduction to life in West Yorkshire.
Now, however, he is being hailed as “one of the best” strikers in the entire division by his manager, with a stunning eight league goals coming his way from only 17 appearances.
It’s been a heartening turnaround of fortunes for a striker who was often dismissed as injury-prone and goal-shy towards the end of his long-standing Toffees journey, as he continues to be crucial to Leeds’ ongoing chances of survival.
Willock will be hopeful he can have a similar rejuvenation under Farke if he swaps St James’ Park for Elland Road shortly, having bagged some impressive strikes for the Toon when moved into the starting XI, which included this rocket beating Andre Onana way back in 2023.
In total, he can boast 18 goals and nine assists from 156 games donning Newcastle black and white, with a crazy goalscoring run of eight goals from just 14 games during the 2020/21 season, even rivalling the red-hot form of the brand-new Leeds number nine.
At one point, he was dubbed as obtaining “legendary status” on Tyneside by former Arsenal striker Kevin Campbell, and while he has faded into the background under Howe as of late, he did still manage to chip in with five goal contributions from limited minutes last season, meaning he might well be a valuable squad player for Farke to harness.
Willock’s depleting minutes at Newcastle
Season
Minutes played
Goals + Assists
25/26
463 mins
0 + 1
24/25
1524 mins
3 + 2
23/24
707 mins
2 + 0
22/23
2968 mins
3 + 6
21/22
2089 mins
2 + 0
20/21
979 mins
8 + 0
Sourced by Transfermarkt
Calvert-Lewin would also see his minutes dry up at Goodison Park last campaign, before looking like a man reborn in West Yorkshire, with only 2186 minutes of Premier League action heading his way, as he bagged a mere three goals.
This season, he’s already up to 1613 minutes, with a blistering eight strikes next to his name.
Lauded as an “outstanding player” for Newcastle by Howe this season, Willock will hope he can make a similar push straight into the Leeds XI if a January move comes to fruition, as Farke hunts down the right mid-season additions that can propel his team up the league even more.
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