Leeds United Player Ratings: Aaronson Cooks West Ham Alive While One Star Flops Hard in Fiery Elland Road Clash!

Leeds United got back to winning ways with a strong 2-1 victory over West Ham United at Elland Road.

After a tough loss to Burnley last week, Daniel Farke’s side showed real fight and quality to grab all three points in front of their home fans.

The game started with a bang, and Leeds looked hungry from the first whistle. Brenden Aaronson opened the scoring inside just three minutes, and Joe Rodon made it 2-0 soon after with a powerful header.

West Ham tried to fight back in the second half, pulling one back through Matues Fernandes, but Leeds stood firm to seal a much-needed win.

Here’s how each player performed on a cold night in Yorkshire.

Lucas Perri: 7/10

The Brazilian keeper returned to the starting XI and looked calm between the sticks. He didn’t have too much to do, but made one brilliant double save when West Ham looked like scoring. Perri also commanded his box well, giving confidence to the defenders in front of him. No chance with the goal conceded.

Jayden Bogle: 8/10

Bogle was a different player compared to last week’s poor outing. He ran down the right side with real energy, giving West Ham’s defenders all sorts of problems. His early cross led to Leeds’ first goal, and he never stopped running. A proper full-back display.

Joe Rodon: 8/10

The Welsh defender was everywhere tonight. He scored with a smart header to make it 2-0 and celebrated like a man who loves the badge. Rodon was rock solid at the back too, throwing himself into tackles and blocking everything. A real leader’s performance.

Jaka Bijol: 6/10

Not the debut he’d dreamed of. The young defender looked a bit nervous and gave the ball away a few times. He also lost his man for West Ham’s goal. Needs more confidence and match time to show what he can really do.

Gabriel Gudmundsson: 7/10

Gudmundsson looked lively down the left side and worked hard to win the corner that led to Rodon’s goal. Sadly, his night was cut short before half-time after picking up an injury. Leeds fans will hope it’s nothing serious.

Sean Longstaff: 8/10

Longstaff was brilliant again in the middle of the park. He worked hard in defence and attack and played a key part in the second goal with a great corner delivery. He’s becoming one of Farke’s most important players.

Ethan Ampadu: 8/10

Ampadu bossed the midfield. He won tackles, pushed forward, and controlled the game with ease. His passing was tidy, and he gave Leeds a solid base to build from. Only his finishing let him down a bit.

Ao Tanaka: 7/10

Back in the side and looked sharp. Tanaka was quick with his passing and helped the attack move faster. He linked up well with the left side and looked full of energy. A solid return to the team.

Brenden Aaronson: 8/10

The American winger answered his critics in style. After missing a sitter last week, he scored early and looked full of confidence. Aaronson ran at defenders, played direct football, and brought real excitement every time he got the ball. Easily his best game in a long time.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin: 5/10

It was a quiet night for the striker. He struggled to get involved and didn’t look dangerous enough against a shaky West Ham defence. Needs to step up and find his scoring touch soon.

Noah Okafor: 7/10

Okafor made a quick impact, with his header creating the opening goal. His pace and skill were a big problem for West Ham’s back line, but he had to come off at half-time. Leeds will hope it’s not a new injury setback.

Substitutes

James Justin 6/10: Came on for Gudmundsson and did fine defensively, but lacked attacking threat.
Jack Harrison 6/10: Found some good spaces but couldn’t make much happen.
Ilia Gruev 5/10: Picked up an early yellow and struggled to get into the game.
Dan James & Lukas Nmecha N/A: Came on late with little time to make an impact.

For more Leeds United news, gear, and match updates, follow us on Facebook or join our brand new WhatsApp Channel for instant updates directly to your phone.