Dominic Calvert-Lewin has turned the Premier League spotlight back onto himself with a remarkable scoring streak that has not only revived his career but also lifted Leeds United’s fortunes. On December 28, 2025, Calvert-Lewin netted for the sixth consecutive game, earning Leeds a gritty 1-1 draw away at Sunderland—a result that extended the club’s unbeaten run to five matches and put them seven points clear of the relegation zone.
For Calvert-Lewin, this run of form is more than a hot streak; it’s a redemption arc after years of injury setbacks and doubts about his future at the top level. The striker’s equalizer at the Stadium of Light came in the 47th minute, a classic close-range, one-touch finish from a sharp cross by U.S. forward Brenden Aaronson. That goal was not just crucial for Leeds, but historic as well—Calvert-Lewin became the first Leeds player since John McCole in the 1959-60 season to score in six consecutive top-flight games.
“I am feeling good, feeling fit, strong and enjoying playing with the lads,” Calvert-Lewin told BBC Match of the Day after the match. He reflected on his journey: “Lots of ups, lots of downs, you know, tests of character and I have hung in there and kept going and kept pushing back myself, and here I am now.”
His resurgence has not gone unnoticed. Calvert-Lewin’s eight league goals this season are more than any other English player as of late December, and his purple patch has drawn attention from England’s national team selectors, especially with the World Cup looming in the United States, Canada, and Mexico next summer. Having last featured for England as a substitute at the European Championship in 2021, the 28-year-old is making a strong case to be Harry Kane’s understudy once more.
Leeds manager Daniel Farke, who has overseen the club’s recent revival, was quick to praise both his striker and the team’s resilience. “Wins are always good—not just for the table, but also for the confidence of the dressing room. We are in really good form and we never know when we are beaten. Even when we are in a losing position, we know that we can always come back and we can score,” Farke told the BBC. Yet, he remained grounded: “Twenty points is good at the stage of the season—but it’s not enough to stay in this league. We will need to win many more games, and for that we will need to keep going.”
Calvert-Lewin’s journey to this point has been anything but straightforward. After a prolific spell at Everton, where he once scored 21 goals in a season and was hailed as the ideal England backup to Kane, injuries derailed his momentum. Last season, he managed just three goals for Everton before leaving the Merseyside club on a free transfer in June—a move he described as an “incredibly difficult decision.” Leeds, however, saw untapped potential and signed him on a three-year deal.
Initially, it looked like Leeds had perhaps taken a gamble. Calvert-Lewin scored only once in his first 11 appearances for the club. But since the end of November, the striker has exploded into form, bagging seven goals in his last six matches—against top-tier opponents like Manchester City, Chelsea, and Liverpool. His current run is the longest by any English striker in the Premier League since Jamie Vardy’s eight-game streak for Leicester City in 2019. It even surpasses anything England captain Harry Kane has managed in the competition, with Kane’s best being two separate five-game streaks.
“It’s about the resilience again that we’ve shown. Good character. The team spirit at the moment is good, it’s high. We recognised in the first half we weren’t at it. Second half we knew we had to be better, we responded well,” Calvert-Lewin said, reflecting on the draw with Sunderland. “I think we’ve shown we can mix our game up. We can be direct, we can play football. It’s good versatility within the team. A good goal scored.”
When asked if this was his best form since playing under Carlo Ancelotti at Everton, Calvert-Lewin chuckled, “People love to hang onto that don’t they? That was a long time ago. I’ve been through a lot since then. Lots of ups and lots of downs. A test of character and I’ve hung in there and kept going and kept pushing. I’ve backed myself and here I am now.”
Leeds’ revival has been dramatic. Since a 3-2 defeat by Manchester City on November 29, Farke’s side has collected nine points from a possible 15. The five-game unbeaten run has not only boosted the squad’s confidence but also provided a crucial buffer in the relegation battle. Leeds now sits seven points clear of 18th-placed West Ham, with their sights set on Premier League survival.
Meanwhile, Sunderland—who took the lead in the 28th minute through Simon Adingra’s well-placed right-foot shot after a clever pass from Granit Xhaka—missed a golden opportunity to climb to fifth in the table. The match, a clash between two promoted teams, showcased Sunderland’s strong season so far, but Leeds’ resilience ultimately denied them all three points.
The broader Premier League picture saw Tottenham claim a 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace the same day, with Archie Gray’s first-half header proving decisive. That win eased some pressure on Spurs boss Thomas Frank and nudged the club up to 11th place, just four points behind fifth-place Chelsea. Palace, on the other hand, suffered their third straight league defeat, possibly feeling the strain of their UEFA Conference League commitments.
For Leeds, the focus remains on building momentum and ensuring top-flight safety. As Calvert-Lewin puts it, “You’re in flow. You can make those runs as a centre-forward and sometimes the ball doesn’t find you when you’re in a dry spell. But you’ve just got to keep doing it and hope that the tide will turn and that’s what has happened for me at the moment. I’m feeling good, feeling strong and I’m enjoying playing with the lads.”
As the Premier League season grinds on, all eyes will remain on Calvert-Lewin and Leeds United. Their resurgence is one of the feel-good stories of the campaign—proof that persistence, belief, and a little bit of luck can turn fortunes around in football. With the World Cup on the horizon and a place in Gareth Southgate’s squad up for grabs, Calvert-Lewin’s remarkable run could not have come at a better time.
With Leeds now firmly out of the relegation zone and Calvert-Lewin rewriting club and league records, fans are daring to dream once more. The journey’s far from over, but right now, Elland Road has every reason to celebrate their number nine’s incredible comeback.
