Meslier and Cooper come up big
One of the key narratives emerging from this season is the progress of Illan Meslier towards the kind of status many have expected since he arrived at Leeds United. Very few goalkeepers amass the kind of frontline, senior, professional experience Meslier has by the age of 22, let alone in an elite division like the Premier League.
The Frenchman has everything in place to become one of the very best stoppers in the game if he can just continue to hit the milestones he needs in training and matches. Meslier’s performance at Liverpool, where he made a Leeds-career-high nine saves, remains his zenith, but he was on it on Tyneside too.
As Newcastle United threw the kitchen sink at the Whites, Meslier stood up to be counted in one of those games this season will remember as a point the goalkeeper salvaged. There were saves, but he also did the basics effectively, which counts for a lot in reassuring his besieged backline.
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The stopper was not alone in the heroics department. While the likes of Luke Ayling, Pascal Struijk and the front four struggled to keep the hosts at bay, captain Liam Cooper was rising to the occasion.
If you could handpick a player from the Leeds squad to go away from home for a war of attrition in torrential rain against a strong favourite dominating the territory around your box, it would be Cooper. He thrived the messier the game got, throwing himself into clearances, blocks and interceptions around the penalty area.
It was a much-needed return to form for the skipper after his part in the 3-1 loss to Manchester City in midweek. With the growing noise around Max Wober’s possible arrival and Pascal Struijk’s new contract putting the spotlight on his centre-back succession, Cooper gave a little reminder he’s not done yet.
Adams and Roca rekindle their partnership
Tyler Adams was the headline return coming into Saturday’s clash with Newcastle. After suspension in the week, the USA captain’s resumption in the starting line-up was highly anticipated.
While he did not hit the highest notes we have seen in 2022/23, even a rusty Adams got through six tackles and showed that prowess in defensive positioning across the field. The one aspect missing from the start was the burgeoning partnership we have seen with Marc Roca this term.
The Spaniard was dropped by Marsch, presumably because of fatigue from Wednesday’s loss, but he trotted out for the second half in Adam Forshaw’s place. Roca would proceed to get through five tackles of his own in just 45 minutes.
While Adams’s six challenges were unbeaten, only Bruno Guimaraes could match Roca’s five and he had the full 90 minutes. It was a little reminder of how destructive this pair can be in the Leeds engine room and whets the appetite for what should be their full reunion on Wednesday night against West Ham United.
Isolation
Rodrigo has touched the ball 47 times in this week’s matches. Cooper did that alone in yesterday’s Newcastle draw. The Spain international has looked isolated since the return to action in a neat summation of how impotent Leeds have been in the opposition half.
It would be wrong to ignore the opponents in question. City are arguably the best club side in world football while Newcastle topped the Premier League form table going into yesterday’s match.
These were teams that needed to be respected and rather than send out his lambs in a cavalier formation for slaughter, Marsch evidently prioritised a solid base looking to put its own goal before the opponents’. It’s a trend worth watching in the coming weeks, however.
Leeds cannot seem to find the balance they need to prosper in this division. They are either sturdy at the back with a meek attack or sieve-like in defence and cutting opponents to pieces up top.
Eleven goals in the final four matches before the World Cup break were countered by 11 going in at the other end. Matches with Brighton & Hove Albion, Everton, Aston Villa, Crystal Palace and Arsenal saw only two scored and just five conceded.
The respective demolitions of Chelsea and by Brentford are the outliers at either end of the spectrum. Perfection and capitulation. Marsch has avoided more Brentfords, but he needs more Chelseas, or something much closer to it.
Let’s review it again on January 14, perhaps. Once Marsch’s plans for West Ham United and Aston Villa have been realised we can have a more measured understanding of whether the attack really has gone AWOL, or if it was just in hiding this week.
Rodrigo needs more touches, Leeds need more territory, more key passes, quicker link-ups, overlaps and shots on goal.
Something to build on
The thrilling ecstasy of the Liverpool and Bournemouth wins was quickly forgotten in the pain of Tottenham Hotspur and the six-week season pause. Leeds need something new to cling to.
A routine midweek loss was not what the doctor ordered, but a goalless draw might have the makings of something. The Whites faithful needs some token of progress, a reminder of why Marsch kept his job through an autumn slump and why this campaign can still lead somewhere exciting.
Chaotic as they were, the late Summerville winners provided that short-term relief. A clean sheet away at one of Europe’s hottest properties is definite progress for the rearguard, if not the frontline.
It’s a crumb of comfort for the work done by the team during the break. Meslier, Cooper, Robin Koch et al can grab onto that hard-earned clean sheet, just the third this season, and squeeze every drop of confidence from it.
Wins need to follow, however. As soon as Wednesday, against West Ham United, fresh from five consecutive losses, would be quite welcome. Leeds have been here before.
There have been small gains and silver linings sought in draws and tight defeats already this season, but they did not lead to wins quickly enough. The pressure built to breaking point until Anfield pried the valve open.
This clean sheet is a good starting point for the second phase of this campaign, but points mean prizes and they need to follow now.
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