Liam Cooper left for dead in Leeds United draw v Newcastle
Jamie Carragher slammed Liam Cooper after he was “left for dead” by Allan Saint-Maximin as Leeds United drew with Newcastle on Friday night.
Leeds saw their winless start to the Premier League season extend to five games despite Raphinha’s opening goal.
However, Saint-Maximin was the thorn in Leeds’ side throughout the 90 minutes and he scored an equaliser not long after he outpaced Cooper, 30, in the first half.
After Saint-Maximin made Cooper look as though he was running through mud before creating a chance, Carragher said on Sky Sports Main Event: “That’s what you feel with Newcastle, [Miguel] Almiron or Saint-Maximin can do something with their pace and just run past someone.
“He leaves Cooper for dead and you see his attacking team-mates in the box there. He doesn’t quite get it over but that’s a really big chance for Joelinton.
“Blistering pace. It’s a huge chance, it really is.”
League One Liam
Cooper had a torrid time dealing with Saint-Maximin on Friday night.
The Newcastle forward won the man of the match award. It was a close contest between him and Rodrigo but fair enough, the Frenchman did do really well.
He made a mockery of our defence with his goal when he showcased his close control to bamboozle Kalvin Phillips, Junior Firpo and Cooper, who ran into another Newcastle player while trying to block the effort.
Cooper just had no answer to Saint-Maximin and that’s a massive worry because he’ll play against better attackers than him in a lot of other Premier League games this season.
With Diego Llorente and Robin Koch continuously injured, we need Cooper to step up.
Pascal Struijk is banned until the end of next week and Luke Ayling went off with an injury late on at St James’ Park.
We’re not afraid to admit the defensive crisis is worrying us a bit because Charlie Cresswell or Kalvin Phillips may have to partner Cooper next unless Llorente ot Ayling are fully fit.
In other Leeds United news, Gary Neville said this Leeds player is “perfect” in Sky’s coverage at St James’ Park.