Noah Okafor has not scored or assisted for Leeds United since October 4
Isaac Johnson Leeds United reporter
06:00, 23 Jan 2026
Noah Okafor(Image: Molly Darlington/Getty Images)
Perhaps the biggest debate point heading into Leeds United’s clash with Everton on Monday is who starts alongside Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Noah Okafor has not registered a goal contribution since October yet has started 10 of the 14 Premier League games since his close-range strike against Tottenham Hotspur. The winger has shown his ability to take on a man but has lacked end product.
He has often partnered Calvert-Lewin due to Leeds’ tactics, morphing from the 3-5-2 into a 3-4-3 with wingers when in possession; Okafor goes out to the left with Brenden Aaronson taking up the right side.
Yet some are wishing for last weekend’s match-winner Lukas Nmecha to come in, having seen what he and Calvert-Lewin can do against Chelsea. The pair have not started a game together since then.
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However, given his distasterous cameo before his goal and his lack of vigour when brought off the bench in a hybrid left-wing role in other matches, Farke could stick with Okafor alongside former Toffees man Calvert-Lewin.
Anton Stach missed the match against Fulham through an adductor injury but he is expected to be back for Monday.
However, given Farke namechecked Ilia Gruev for his performance after a clean sheet against Fulham, and the match being away from home, Ilia Gruev could get the nod with Stach coming off the bench later.
Aaronson will surely retain his spot alongside anchor Ethan Ampadu in midfield. Behind them, there seems little reason to take James Justin out of his right centre-back slot amid Jaka Bijol’s setback. The defence did brilliantly to snuff out Fulham’s threat last weekend, with the Cottagers limited to just 0.39 xG.
That set-up means Joe Rodon stays central with Pascal Struijk on the left of the three and Jayden Bogle and Gabriel Gudmundsson – if recovered in time from his adductor issue – on the flanks.
If Gudmundsson does not make the cut then Justin could move over on the left while Sebastiaan Bornauw comes into the right centre-half slot. The hope is that the Swede will be fine to play.
Karl Darlow will start in goal given there is no reason to drop him, though he is expected to be tested more against Everton than he was at Fulham.
Predicted XI [3-5-2]: Darlow; Justin, Rodon, Struijk; Bogle, Aaronson, Ampadu, Gruev, Gudmundsson; Okafor, Calvert-Lewin.