Leeds United striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Manchester United summer signing Benjamin Sesko had two very different experiences in the Premier League clash on Sunday afternoon.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin was linked with Manchester United last summer after the 28-year-old English forward’s contract with Premier League club Everton expired.
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The former Everton striker’s spell at Goodison Park had been curtailed due to injuries and United ultimately opted not to roll the dice by signing Calvert-Lewin in 2024.
Calvert-Lewin’s free agent status was short-lived in the 2024 summer transfer window, with the ex-England international signing for Leeds United back in August.
The ex-Three Lions star has impressed during his spell at Elland Road in the 2025-26 season and United crossed paths with Calvert-Lewin again at the weekend.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Benjamin Sesko both started for Leeds United and Man Utd respectively for the Elland Road clash
Dominic Calvert-Lewin was in the Leeds United starting XI for the huge Premier League showdown against Manchester United on Sunday evening.
The former Toffees ace was on the bench for Leeds’ last Premier League match against Liverpool and was subbed on in the second half of the 0-0 draw.
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Calvert-Lewin was lively in the first half of Leeds’ encounter with United and the former Sheffield United player came close to scoring in the first half of the match.
The Leeds signing was inches away from breaking the deadlock, with Calvert-Lewin latching onto Anton Stach’s cross and firing a header at the United net.
But ex-United target Calvert-Lewin saw his effort hit the far post of Senne Lammens’ net and the Red Devils No 1 was left rooted to the spot during the header.
What Leeds United striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin benefited from compared with Man Utd star Benjamin Sesko
Leeds’ display showed that it was clear-cut how much Daniel Farke’s men relied on Calvert-Lewin as their target man compared with United striker Benjamin Sesko.
Even in the second half, Calvert-Lewin’s presence was still visible and United had to ensure that the former Everton star could not have a major impact on the tie.
Sesko, on the other hand, did not receive the same level of service as Calvert-Lewin did and the 22-year-old United striker was left frustrated again on Sunday.
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“The offside flag was raised to disallow the goal as Sesko was in an offside position.
“If Sesko had not gone to challenge his opponent for the ball even though he did not touch it, he clearly affected the defender’s ability to play the ball with contact being made, then a goal may have been awarded.”
Sure, the Slovenian forward should have capitalised on the chances that he received, but Sesko’s goalscoring drought carried on and it is not entirely his own fault.
Sesko’s impressive stature is not tapped into enough by the United first-team players, with the Slovenia international deeply deprived of aerial balls to head home.
Calvert-Lewin’s instinct in the final third was much cleaner than Sesko’s and his first-half header showed that the Leeds striker has a much deeper sense of confidence.
Sesko looked a shadow of his former RB Leipzig self during the Leeds match and the United summer signing must pounce on the chances that he does ultimately receive.
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