Time to Swing the Axe: Piroe Should Lead the Line as Leeds Chase Safety

Leeds United have made a respectable fist of life back in the Premier League — eight points from seven, spirited in most outings, bar that grim afternoon at Arsenal. But let’s not kid ourselves: the margins are razor-thin, and with survival the only currency that matters, Daniel Farke has a decision to make. It’s time to prioritise end product. That means Joel Piroe in, Dominic Calvert-Lewin out — at least from the starting XI.

The promoted pack is punching back

Unlike the last couple of seasons when new boys were chewed up and spat out, the early signs say Sunderland and Burnley are here to compete, and Leeds are very much in the mix too. A narrow 2-1 defeat at Spurs rounded off the opening block before the international break, but the Whites have generally looked organised and awkward to play against. The problem? They don’t carry enough punch when it matters most.

The DCL dilemma

Dominic Calvert-Lewin arrived on a free after leaving Everton, reportedly on £125,000 a week, bringing experience and a proper focal point. He’s given Leeds a platform: win the first ball, bring others into play, stretch centre-halves. All good. But a striker’s first duty is goals, and he’s already passed up chances that change games — notably against Spurs and Bournemouth. Those are the moments that separate comfort from crisis in this league.

Why Piroe suits the next run

Joel Piroe is a different animal entirely. He’s not a classic battering ram; he prefers to drift into pockets, face the goal, and pick his spots. Above all, he’s a finisher — last season’s Championship top scorer for a reason — and that’s precisely what Leeds are short of. With upcoming fixtures against Burnley, West Ham, Brighton and Nottingham Forest, the expectation is Leeds will see more of the ball. In those matches, you want the clinical edge, not just a wall to bounce passes off.

Here’s the play: start Piroe, and keep Calvert-Lewin as the late-game sledgehammer. If you’re weighing up the form with a flutter in mind, have a look at our best betting sites guide — but the logic on the pitch is clear enough. Piroe’s movement and finishing give Leeds a sharper blade when they’re likely to dictate territory and possession.

Farke’s balancing act

None of this is to write off Calvert-Lewin. His injury record means careful management anyway, and his hold-up work will be invaluable in certain away days where Leeds are penned in. But for this next stretch — with the Whites set to play on the front foot — Piroe should get the nod. Rotate if you must, but pick the poacher when possession tilts your way.

Leeds have looked organised under Farke, aside from the Arsenal capitulation, and that solid platform deserves a ruthless edge. Enough is enough: if the Whites want to buck the trend of promoted sides tumbling straight back down, the shirt up top should belong to the most reliable finisher in the squad. Right now, that’s Joel Piroe.