Ao Tanaka and Leeds United trio show scale of Daniel Farke’s Elland Road transformation

Leeds United’s emphatic 4-1 victory over Newcastle United offered perhaps the clearest indication yet of how far Daniel Farke’s side have progressed.

The opening 45 minutes at Elland Road contained virtually everything Farke wants from his team. Leeds pressed aggressively, controlled midfield and attacked Newcastle with purpose, taking full advantage of another intense atmosphere under the lights.

Only three players who started the corresponding 0-0 draw last season were in Monday’s starting XI, highlighting the scale of the changes Farke has overseen.

Yet it was not simply the new arrivals making the difference. Ao Tanaka and Jayden Bogle were among those who demonstrated their development, while Dominic Calvert-Lewin provided the cutting edge up front.

Leeds have now lost only five of their last 29 matches and increasingly look like a team capable of looking upwards rather than worrying about what is happening behind them.

Tanaka’s inclusion was significant after a difficult period last season.

The Japan international had previously been criticised for lapses which proved costly, and he went seven Premier League matches without coming off the bench between January and March.

Farke has nevertheless praised Tanaka’s response, particularly following the disappointment of his mistake in Japan’s World Cup defeat to Brazil.

Against Newcastle, his ability to control possession was evident.

Tanaka completed 40 of his 42 attempted passes, giving him a 95.2 per cent completion rate – the highest of any Leeds starter.

He also completed 11 passes into the final third. Only Anton Stach attempted more, while Tanaka’s 81.8 per cent completion rate for those passes ranked third in the Leeds team.

There were still imperfections. Farke was unhappy when Tanaka surrendered possession with Leeds 2-0 ahead and allowed Newcastle an opportunity, with the manager wanting the midfielder to become more balanced in his decision-making.

But the overall trajectory is positive.

Tanaka has now remarkably started 26 matches at Elland Road without experiencing defeat.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin continued his impressive personal record against Newcastle.

The striker thought he had scored with a trademark header, only for the goal to eventually be credited to Bogle after the ball took a touch off his teammate.

Calvert-Lewin would eventually get his goal, though, displaying the aggression and determination Farke wants from his centre-forward.

After reacting to a forward pass from Tarik Muharemovic, he beat his opponent before finding the corner.

Calvert-Lewin had only 26 touches, the fewest of any Leeds player, but his effectiveness where it mattered was obvious.

Both of his efforts on target resulted in goals for Leeds, while he now has three goals from six appearances across all competitions.

His record against Newcastle is particularly impressive, with eight career goals and 11 goal involvements against them – more than against any other opponent.

Farke even believes an England return is a realistic objective if Calvert-Lewin maintains his form.

Bogle was another major beneficiary of Leeds’ aggressive approach.

The wing-back registered three shots on target, more than any other Leeds player, and was repeatedly involved in attacking areas.

His positioning was particularly notable.

Rather than simply remaining wide, Bogle regularly moved inside and could occasionally be found operating in areas normally occupied by a No.10.

That freedom helped him become heavily involved in Leeds’ attacking play and he was eventually credited with the opening goal.

His contribution was not limited to possession. Bogle won both of his tackles and drew two fouls, producing an energetic performance in both directions.

Perhaps the biggest takeaway was not any individual statistic but how effectively the pieces fitted together.

Tanaka provided control, Calvert-Lewin supplied a focal point and Bogle offered dynamism from wing-back.

Combined with Leeds’ pressing and the intensity generated by Elland Road, Newcastle struggled to cope.

Farke has significantly reshaped his team since the clubs played out a goalless draw in the corresponding fixture last season.

Monday night suggested those changes are beginning to produce something much more ambitious.

Leeds will look to turn an impressive run of performances into sustained Premier League progress. Tanaka’s growing influence, Calvert-Lewin’s efficiency and Bogle’s attacking threat give Farke several reasons to believe his evolving side can continue looking up the table.