Welcome to The Radar, a Your Site column in which uses a blend of data and opinion to shed light on need-to-know Premier League stories. This week:
🔺Calvert-Lewin's all-round threat
🔺Brobbey the hold-up master
🔺Anderson filling Rodri's shoes
🔺A player to watch this weekend
It took an assist from the goal accreditation appeals panel but Dominic Calvert-Lewin is up to three goals for the season in the Premier League. His revised total puts him behind only Manchester City's Erling Haaland. He is in the frame for an England recall.
Factor all competitions and it is nine goals in 15 appearances for Calvert-Lewin since April. "He is in outstanding shape and playing with lots of confidence," said Leeds boss Daniel Farke after the striker's starring display in Monday's 4-1 win over Newcastle.
Calvert-Lewin has always had a knack for getting into the right positions. His shot maps, both at Leeds and for his final two seasons at Everton, show a concentration of efforts from the centre of the box. The difference is that he is now converting more of them.
Calvert-Lewin's wastefulness came to define him at Everton. But he has already scored as many Premier League goals for Leeds as he managed in his final four seasons there. "Sometimes a move rejuvenates a player," said Your Site pundit Jamie Carragher.
The underlying data illustrates how the gap between his expected goals and actual goals scored has narrowed as he has gradually emerged from his finishing funk. "Maybe sometimes composure has let him down in his career, but not here," added Carragher.
His goals against Newcastle showed the breadth of his attacking threat. First, a characteristic leap and header to dispatch James Justin's cross. Then, a darting run in behind to reach Tarik Muharemovic's first-time pass and finish beyond the goalkeeper.
Farke described him as "one of the standout strikers in the league" after the game. Now that he has rediscovered his cutting edge in front of goal, it is difficult to argue otherwise.
The 29-year-old offers that coveted blend of speed and aerial strength. Monday's game was another reminder of how he can dominate centre-backs from long passes and crosses, while also making runs to stretch opponents and threaten in behind.
His completeness as a No 9 can also be seen in the numbers.
Calvert-Lewin is joint-top with Sunderland defender Dan Ballard for aerials won in the Premier League this season and stands out as the only player near the top of that list who also ranks among the top 10 players in the division for runs in behind.
Tracking data shows he has clocked one of the highest top speeds in the Premier League this season. His off-the-ball intensity is invaluable to Leeds defensively as well as offensively. "It's not just scoring goals," added Farke on Monday. "His work-rate is top."
Calvert-Lewin continues to lead the press for Leeds, shutting down opposition defenders, blocking passing lanes, and helping his side steal possession in dangerous areas. Only six sides have forced more high turnovers than Leeds since the start of last term.
Availability is of course another huge factor in Calvert-Lewin's resurgence. His injury record made his signing a gamble for Leeds, even on a free transfer. But he has so far avoided any recurrence of the issues that plagued him at Everton.
Leeds have managed his minutes where possible. Farke has substituted him in 15 of his 34 Premier League starts. But he played nearly 80 per cent of Premier League minutes last season, his highest ratio since 2020/21, and has played 92 per cent this term.
The consistency of selection has benefitted all parties and Leeds will hope for more of the same when Crystal Palace visit Elland Road, live on Your Site on Sunday, with Calvert-Lewin aiming to score for a sixth consecutive Premier League home game.
On current form it would be foolish to bet against him.
From one striker capable of throwing his weight around to another in Brian Brobbey. The Netherlands international, scorer of three goals at the World Cup, is yet to find the net for Sunderland this term but faces Manchester City, live on Your Site on Sunday, having served up a masterclass in hold-up play against Arsenal.
His running battle with Ezri Konsa was a sight to behold. Brobbey repeatedly pinned the Arsenal centre-back, showing incredible strength to retain possession from long passes and giving Sunderland an invaluable means of getting up the pitch.
It is an area in which Brobbey is uniquely gifted. According to GeniusIQ, he has recorded more hold-ups, defined as instances of a player using their body to shield a defender from the ball to retain possession, than anyone else this season. He topped the rankings last term too, despite only starting 22 games.
The goals are yet to flow for him but Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris is delighted with his striker. "The game against Arsenal shows that even against the strongest teams in the league or in Europe, he is really competitive," he said this week.
Sunderland will need a repeat performance at the Etihad Stadium.
Elliot Anderson will be one of the players tasked with cutting off the supply line to Brobbey on Sunday. The early evidence suggests the £116m signing from Nottingham Forest is up to the task of filling the void left by Rodri in Manchester City's midfield.
In fact, the 23-year-old, outstanding in last weekend's Manchester derby win at Old Trafford, is making an almost identical number of passes and passes in the final third as Rodri last season, while also winning an almost identical number of duels. The likenesses have so far made for a smooth transition under Enzo Maresca.
Could Fulham inflict more misery on Manchester United on Sunday? They are yet to win a Premier League game under Alvaro Arbeloa but in Josh King they have a fantastic young player in fine form.
Five Premier League games will be shown live on Your Site this weekend, starting with Brentford vs Chelsea on Friday night.
Nottingham Forest vs Coventry is live on Saturday, before four more games are shown on Sunday, with Bournemouth vs Liverpool, Leeds vs Crystal Palace and Man City vs Sunderland taking place at 2pm before Fulham vs Man Utd at 4.30pm.
Last week's column revealed the numbers behind the on-pitch understanding between Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer. Bournemouth's Alex Scott also featured, as did Crystal Palace's Anan Khalaili before his goal against Ipswich.
