Leeds United dominated once again in the Championship last night, beating Watford 4-0 at Vicarage Road – subsequently moving five points clear at the top of the table.
The result extended Daniel Farke’s 14-game unbeaten run in the league, with their last defeat coming against Blackburn Rovers way back on the 30th of November last year.
Should the German and his players sustain such an impressive run of form, there’s no denying that a return to the Premier League is on the cards, ending their two-year stint in the second tier.
The Whites’ outing in the capital was a professional display, restricting the Hornets to just two shots on target, whilst taking full advantage of the opportunities that fell their way in the final third.
Numerous players starred once again during the mammoth victory, playing a huge role in their success and undoubtedly nailing down their role as a regular starter.
Leeds’ star performers against Watford
Junior Firpo has slotted straight back into the starting eleven after his recent injury troubles, returning to the side as if he had never been away given his form over the last couple of matches.
The left-back has started each of the last three Championship outings, having an immediate impact at both ends of the pitch – highlighting his quality as a result.
The 28-year-old has registered four assists and contributed to three consecutive clean sheets, with the club desperately needing to tie him to a new contract with his deal set to expire in just a few months.
Fellow full-back Jayden Bogle has been a superb addition to the side after his £5m transfer from Sheffield United during the summer transfer window.
He’s already registered four goals and two assists despite his defensive role, but whilst he failed to add any contributions last night, he starred at the back, winning two tackles and eight duels – the most of any player on the pitch.
However, the same can’t be said for one player who was disappointed once more despite boss Farke demonstrating continued faith in the first team member after his recent lack of impact.
The Leeds player who lost possession 14x against Watford
After walking away 4-0 victors in the capital last night, it may seem harsh to single out any player for their lack of impact, but ultimately, one first-team player failed to have a huge impact on the full-time scoreline.
Daniel James, Joel Piroe and Manor Solomon all registered two goal contributions each against the Hornets, highlighting their attacking threat and undoubtedly having a huge say in the club’s promotion push.
However, the same can’t be said for attacking midfielder Brenden Aaronson, who failed to register a goal and assist – the only attacker not to do so in the convincing triumph.
He’s now only registered one goal contribution in 2025, with the aforementioned trio all doubling his tally in the clash against Tom Cleverley’s men on Tuesday night.
There’s no denying that the American international works hard, but it’s evident that he lacks the quality needed within the final third to match the numbers produced by those around him.
The 24-year-old only won four of the 12 duels he entered, and only managed to register one shot during the entirety of the contest, with Aaronson the only attacker to feature for 90 minutes.
He also lost possession 15 times, showcasing his wasteful nature, getting dribbled past four times and looking ineffective throughout, with Farke desperately needing to take action.
Minutes played
90
Touches
50
Passes completed
25/31 (81%)
Duels won
4/12 (33%)
Shots taken
1
Possession lost
15x
Dribbled past
4x
His run of form in recent weeks has been disappointing to say the least, failing to meet the expectations many would expect him to provide being a £25m player in the Championship.
If he is to recapture the form that can help the club in their battle to return to the Premier League, the German needs to take him out of the firing line, potentially handing an opportunity to another player to stake their claim for a starting role.
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ByEthan LambFeb 12, 2025