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Jesse Marsch needs to reignite Leeds United duo in top three deadliest partnerships
Leeds United enjoyed a stellar start to the Premier League season, and much of that was down to the form of Jack Harrison and Rodrigo.
Leeds United started this season with seven points from a possible nine, and that included a 3-0 drubbing of Chelsea at Elland Road.
The Whites have since failed to pick up three points in the league, and goals seemed to have dried up in Jesse Marsch’s side.
Rodrigo – who started the season by topping the goalscoring charts – suffered a shoulder injury that left him sidelined. But now the Spaniard is back, Marsch needs to reignite a partnership that reaped a lot of success.
The Yorkshire Post outlined the 13 most prolific partnerships in the Premier League this season (published 12 October), with the duo of Rodrigo and Harrison ranking in third.
Manchester City duos dominated the top two spots, but the bronze medal headed to Yorkshire, with Harrison and Rodrigo combining to score three goals this campaign. All three were scored by Rodrigo off Harrison’s passes.
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A deadly combination
Both Harrison and Rodrigo started the season in superb form, and the two left-footed forwards seemed to build up a connection early on.
Harrison has been fielded on the left wing by Marsch and his whipped crosses and clever through balls had been finding Rodrigo on frequent occasions.
It’s no coincidence that Leeds’ form dropped after Rodrigo’s injury, but with the 31-year-old now back fit, Marsch needs to find a way to get the duo ticking once more.
It could mean that Patrick Bamford has to miss out. The English striker has also only just returned from injury, and he looked wasteful and rusty against Crystal Palace on the weekend.
Rodrigo was forced to drop back into a playmaker role to make space for Bamford, but he looks much less of a threat when played in midfield.
Additionally, Rodrigo dropping back forces Brenden Aaronson – who was superb centrally at the start of the season – out wide. Marsch has ended up putting square pegs in round holes to work around Bamford, but perhaps he should instead be building around Harrison and Rodrigo.
In other Leeds United news, youth star Harvey Sutcliffe shares via Instagram that he has suffered a serious knee injury