Raphinha in absolute stinker as Adam Forshaw shines – Leeds United player ratings v Liverpool
Leeds United are now just three points clear of the Premier League’s relegation zone after losing 6-0 to Liverpool at Anfield on Wednesday night.
Mohamed Salah scored two first-half penalties on either side of a Joel Matip strike. Sadio Mane then scored twice before Virgil van Dijk got in on the act in stoppage time.
Burnley’s 1-0 win over Tottenham means Leeds are now in major trouble at the wrong end of the Premier League table and here, MOT Leeds News has rated the players out of 10 for their displays:
Illan Meslier – 5
We cannot shy away from giving Meslier some credit for his performance. He had a thankless task in the Leeds United goal due to two penalties being conceded. Meslier made a few decent saves too in that match so we’re not going to rip into the young Frenchman.
Stuart Dallas – 6
As soon as Dallas was moved into the midfield, we saw a difference. Who’d have thought it? Who’d have thought that one of our best midfielders was best off being played in the midfield? Dallas couldn’t do much about Liverpool’s first penalty after Andrew Robertson’s cross hit his arm.
Luke Ayling – 4
We really struggle to find much good to say about Ayling when he plays at centre-back because it just isn’t his position. Charlie Cresswell was on the bench and has done well in the Premier League for us previously so why not start putting faith in younger players rather than playing underperforming seniors out of position? Ayling was clumsy to concede the second penalty.
Pascal Struijk – 4
We’ve been rather impressed by Struijk this season but in the last couple of games, he’s had a torrid time against some of the Premier League’s better attackers. Lost van Dijk for his goal at the corner.
Junior Firpo – 5
Firpo looked like he was waiting to get sent off after getting a booking early on. He wasn’t great throughout the game but did make a superb goal-line clearance in the first half to deny Salah another goal.
Adam Forshaw – 8 (Man of the match)
He’s always our best player, isn’t he? Everyone else struggled but Forshaw stood head and shoulders above his teammates in an accomplished midfield performance.
Mateusz Klich – 5
Klich was all over the place and was rightly replaced at half-time by Bielsa. Although he’s played a bit better as of late, the 31-year-old is someone who’s past his best for Leeds and should’ve been upgraded upon last summer. He was non-existent and a waste of a shirt at Anfield.
Raphinha – 3
Wow. Did Raphinha’s twin brother return from Brazil after his international duty in January? This cannot be the same player who we had in the first half of the season, surely? Raphinha was woeful, he was possibly the worst he’s ever been for Leeds. Whether it’s fatigue, Bielsa’s decision to drop him against Manchester United or the speculation is getting to him, this isn’t on. He was an absolute liability at Anfield.
Rodrigo – 4
We just need to remind everyone that Rodrigo cost Leeds £27million yet he found himself being replaced by Tyler Roberts at half-time at Liverpool. Rodrigo hasn’t done anywhere enough to justify the money paid for him and trying to make him work in Bielsa’s system is like repeatedly putting diesel in your petrol car. Your car may work fine for a bit but ultimately, it doesn’t work.
Jack Harrison – 4
Was he playing? Harrison hasn’t played well for weeks and it’s about time Bielsa starts substituting him off and not Daniel James. He looked as though he tweaked a muscle in the closing stages, meaning he couldn’t track Jordan Henderson back for Liverpool’s fourth goal.
Daniel James – 5
Although we’re saying Harrison should’ve gone off over James, it doesn’t mean the Wales international did anything special. He’s been better lately than Harrison so it’s yet another head-scratching call by Bielsa, who cannot get anything right lately.
Substitutes:
Tyler Roberts (on for Rodrigo, 46′) – 4
Jamie Shackleton (on for Klich, 46′) – 5
Joe Gelhardt (on for James, 61) – 5
In other Leeds United news, Jamie Carragher has told this Elland Road-linked manager he’ll see him next season.