Craig Scott

Sun 20 February 2022 15:57, UK

Leeds United slumped to a 4-2 defeat in a pulsating Premier League clash with Manchester United at Elland Road on Sunday.

Harry Maguire and Bruno Fernandes put Man United 2-0 up at half-time but goals by Rodrigo and Raphinha, seconds apart from one another, levelled the game at 2-2 not long after the break.

However, goals by substitute Fred and Anthony Elanga went on to wrap up the frenetic derby showdown at a wet and soggy Elland Road.

Here, MOT Leeds News rates the players out of 10 for their performances:

Illan Meslier – 5

Meslier may have been able to do better for the goals we conceded but that would be harsh.

Luke Ayling – 5

Ayling wasn’t the strongest in possession but he stood up quite well against Cristiano Ronaldo in testing conditions at Elland Road. Still, he could have done better We’re not totally on board with Bielsa playing Ayling at centre-back, especially when Pascal Struijk was in the defensive midfield role after Robin Koch’s injury.

Diego Llorente – 4

Llorente was so poor for both of Man United’s goals in the first half. He was easily beaten by Maguire for the first and was nowhere near the action when Fernandes doubled.

Pascal Struijk – 5

Awful defending to lose the ball to Fernandes when Anthony Elanga scored in the late stages of the game. It was a day to really forget for Leeds’ defenders.

Stuart Dallas – 7

We’re not saying that Ayling should be dropped or anything but Dallas always does so well when he’s at right-back. Of all the positions he plays in, left-back might be his weakest yet he plays there most. It’s something for Bielsa to maybe think about going forward.

Adam Forshaw – 8

Forshaw was back with a bang on his first start in a few weeks after an injury. We cannot rave enough about the midfielder’s challenge on Fernandes in the build-up to Raphinha’s goal. He embodies Leeds United.

Robin Koch – 5

Koch did what he could before he was forced off with a head injury. Let’s hope he’s not out for any length of time and can play in our next game against Liverpool.

Matuesz Klich – 8 (Man of the match)

One of the stars of the show for Leeds on Sunday. Klich’s never-say-die attitude was there for all to see as he constantly pressed and failed to allow Man United player’s an inch of space.

Daniel James – 6

Full of energy and passion. James had a quiet first half but improved a lot after the break. He got the assist for Raphinha’s goal with a great bit of skill and an accurate ball into the box.

Jack Harrison – 4

Ineffective and was rightly hooked by Bielsa at half-time to be replaced by Raphinha.

Rodrigo – 6

Well, you cannot say that he meant his goal as there was a massive slice of fortune about it. He was very clearly look at Raphinha but the left-footed cross found it’s way past David De Gea.

Substitutions:

Junior Firpo (on for Koch, 31) – 3

Absolutely rotten. Lacked any kind of work rate after he came on, losing the ball and jogging about when Man United scored two of their goal. Woeful.

Raphinha (on for Harrison, 46′) – 6

Joe Gelhardt (on for Llorente, 46) – 5

In other Leeds United news, Phil Hay says this low-earning Leeds player cannot force his way out of the club in the summer.