With Leeds United enduring what was a difficult November that saw the team slip to four consecutive defeats, the start of December looked a daunting prospect. The first two encounters of a five-match month saw two reigning champions visit Elland Road. First up it was Club World Cup winners Chelsea before the previous season’s Premier League victors Liverpool rolled into town the following weekend.
Despite the Whites’ recent run of form, Daniel Farke’s men were up for the clash with the Blues and raced into an early lead through Slovenian international Jaka Bijol. Then, before the break, Japan’s Ao Tanaka got in on the act and lashed a thunderous strike beyond Robert Sánchez. Pedro Neto halved the deficit after the interval but Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s predatory finish restored the two-goal advantage and saw United to victory.
“I just have goosebumps,” Bijol told LUTV afterwards. “It is my dream, honestly, to score a Premier League goal. It has always been something that I was working towards my whole career. But it was the start so you have to keep your head cool. It was 80 minutes left when I scored and then you have to focus on the game. The three points were the most important thing today.”
Scoring his third in as many matches next time out would be Calvert-Lewin, helping his side fight from behind to level with Liverpool. The Reds then looked to have snatched all three points late on yet there was Tanaka, himself continuing his fine form, to smash home an injury time equaliser. Elland Road erupted once more!
The Whites made it three unbeaten with a commendable draw in the capital at Brentford and, unsurprisingly, our number 9 was the hero once more with a pinpoint header into the far corner. The fourth match of December’s incredible unbeaten spell brought an emphatic 4-1 victory over Crystal Palace under the Elland Road lights.
Calvert-Lewin’s goals either side of the break put the hosts into a commanding lead and when captain Ethan Ampadu fired beyond Dean Henderson to net his first ever league goal for the club, the three points were secure. Anton Stach even added gloss to the scoreline in added time, curling a sublime free-kick around the wall and into the back of the net.
“Great, great win and a great night for everyone who was involved with Leeds United,” the boss said after the full-time whistle. “We have played so far the best away team in the Premier League. They had eight away games, 16 points. They have just conceded five goals so far. And then to come away with this result is outstanding.
“I am pleased how the lads executed this plan because Crystal Palace is so, so difficult to play. We were a bit like a hybrid team today. We played five against the ball and more or less a four-man formation with the ball. Overall, you have to say in the last weeks, we have scored many, many goals. Pretty happy with this also.”
If supporters had wished for an early Christmas treat, Elland Road provided it. The festive period came and went before United rounded off what had been an incredible 2025 with a draw on Wearside. Sunderland had taken the lead but arriving into the middle to finish a sublime team move was Calvert-Lewin, netting a remarkable seventh goal in six matches.
Assisting the Premier League Player of the Month’s equaliser was Brenden Aaronson who gave his take on the leveller, saying: “It was it was an amazing team goal. I don’t even remember the start of it, to be honest with you, because I just remember peeling out wide. And then, you know, for me I have been trying to be more direct because I am playing the winger position a little bit more. I have been working on it and happy to see that it has paid off.”
The rich vein of form had seen Farke’s men climb seven clear of the bottom three with a haul of 20 points from the opening 18 Premier League fixtures.
