George Overhill

Mon 17 April 2023 21:49, UK

Leeds United suffered a second straight home thrashing as they starting well and quickly crumbled in a 6-1 loss to Liverpool.

Just when the Whites looked to have got the measure of the visitors Liverpool took the lead through Cody Gakpo after an apparent Trent Alexander-Arnold handball went unpunished as Junior Firpo lost possession, and the blow was quickly followed by a second through Mo Salah when Weston McKennie lost the ball in midfield.

Luis Sinisterra responded immediately after the break, robbing Ibrahima Konate and chipping past Alisson, but as fast as the lead was halved it was restored as Diogo Jota curled past Illan Meslier, and Salah added a fourth on a fast counter-attack before Jota fired one in off the post. Darwin Nunez added a late sixth.

Here, MOT Leeds News rates the Whites players out of 10 for their performances at Elland Road.

Illan Meslier – 5

Couldn’t do anything for the opener, but may have been disappointed to allow Salah to fire home at the near post for the second. Not a great deal he could do about the latter onslaught but no saves to speak of made it a night to forget.

Rasmus Kristensen – 3

Did very little to mark himself out as an improvement on Luke Ayling’s poor recent performances. Didn’t follow Gakpo in at the back post to allow the Dutchman a simple finish to break the deadlock. Very fortunate to be rescued by VAR after allowing Virgil van Dijk to get free behind him and assist Salah on the hour. Nowhere near anyone in a red shirt repeatedly as the visitors ran riot and played Nunez onside for the last goal.

Robin Koch – 6

The pick of the defenders, although no major achievement in itself. Was the only one of the backline to display any real sharpness on a night where plenty was required. Tidied up a couple of threatening situations. Good, or perhaps decent, but not great.

Pascal Struijk – 3

Leeds United can’t get Max Wober back fast enough at this rate. Gave Salah half a yard of space which was all he needed to double the lead, and his decision to step in without successfully applying any pressure on Curtis Jones was the catalyst for Liverpool’s third. Caught ball-watching far too often and wasn’t tight enough to opponents numerous times.

Junior Firpo – 3

Very poor night. Looks a far worse player without Wober next to him. Despite what looked like an obvious handball it was sloppy play to lose the ball high in his own half for the opener. Summed up his slack night with a lunging foul on Gakpo inside the hour. Almost chested in a late own-goal.

Marc Roca – 5

Better than some but still not great. A couple of slack early moments in midfield didn’t inspire confidence after the Crystal Palace debacle but seized on loose balls sharply more than once. Far more involved than his midfield partner but ultimately not effective enough.

Weston McKennie – 2

Absolute non-factor. Barely registered on the night aside from being robbed in midfield by Jota for the Liverpool second. Wasn’t really involved in disrupting any Liverpool attacks as the visitors threatened the back line in waves after the break. Showed his quality a couple of games ago but on this evidence a £30million transfer seems like madness.

Luis Sinisterra (off for Forshaw ’77) – 8 Man of the Match

The top attacking threat for Leeds United and provided the best piece of play all night. Surged through 20 minutes in but couldn’t get a shot on target. Fantastic work to get Leeds United back in the game after half-time, winning possession and applying a lovely finish. That he appeared to get injured before departing summed up a terrible night at Elland Road.

Brenden Aaronson (off for Rutter ’64) – 7

One of his better recent games, but it didn’t do the Whites much good. Fairly lively in the opening 45 minutes and went close to a wonder-goal in the second half when his long-range curler grazed the upright.

Jack Harrison (off for Gnonto ’77) – 6

Energetic offensively and defensively from the start which looked like it would be the source of something for the home side. But as the game moved out of sight he faded from prominence.

Rodrigo (off for Summerville ’64) – 5

Nothing night for the Leeds United leading scorer. Had a lovely early chance with his head from a free-kick he won but couldn’t get real contact on it and then hardly had a sniff thereafter.

SUBSTITUTES

Crysencio Summerville (on for Rodrigo ’64) – 7

Some tricky and direct play made him one of the better Whites players on the night but by the time he came on it was far too late.

Georginio Rutter (on for Aaronson ’64) – 5

Currently doesn’t look anywhere near the finished article. May well come good but begs the question of whether the record fee could have been better spent at a crucial time.

Adam Forshaw (on for Sinisterra ’77) – N/A

Willy Gnonto – (on for Harrison ’77) – N/A

In other Leeds United news, “genuine fears” have emerged of the 49ers takeover falling through entirely.