Leeds United: Sky Sports pundit drools over Illan Meslier as ‘fantastic’ footage shown on air
Illan Meslier is “reborn” at Leeds United this season after being on the receiving end of a lot of criticism in the Premier League, according to Jobi McAnuff.
Meslier, 23, has been more composed and has, understandably, conceded fewer goals since Leeds’ relegation from the Premier League last season.
He was in good form again on Tuesday night in Leeds’ 1-0 loss to Sunderland at the Stadium of Light and in the first half, he did incredibly well to keep out a headed effort by defender Jenson Seelt.
Ex-Reading midfielder McAnuff was wowed by Meslier’s full-stretch save to deny the Sunderland defender.
Speaking live on Sky Sports News on Tuesday night (12 December, 08:34pm), McAnuff said: “It was a brilliant delivery into the box from Alex Pritchard.
“Jenson Seelt gets a header but what a save this is from Meslier. Full-stretch.
“You can see it here, there’s good contact and he gets right across the goal there and claws it out.
“Fantastic bit of goalkeeping from him, he has really been reborn this season.
“There’s been a lot of criticism at times, certainly during their struggles, but it was a fantastic save at 0-0.”
Amazing save
Meslier’s save from Seelt is one of the best we’ve seen in the Championship this season and it’s also probably one of the best he’s made as a Leeds goalkeeper.
Meslier has historically been very poor at corner kicks and other set-pieces. He’s been generally poor at times, too.
Has his form improved this season or has the reduced number of shots being aimed at him improved his confidence and made him seem a lot better?
Meslier isn’t perfect but he’s arguably one of the best in the Championship at what he does and that save from Seelt does prove it.
Leeds’ defensive performance wasn’t the most encouraging.
Marking seems to be an issue with Pritchard’s set-pieces regularly causing issues.
It’s something for Daniel Farke to look into but for now, he should be thanking Meslier for putting in such a good save to spare the blushes of the outfielders for that opportunity.
In other Leeds United news, two first-team forwards could exit Elland Road in the January window.