A look at the latest Leeds United morning headlines on Tuesday, April 18.
Diego Llorente set for permanent Leeds United exit
Reports in Italy claim AS Roma will take up the option to sign Diego Llorente from Leeds United this summer. The Serie A side have an option inserted into his current loan deal to make the defender’s stay permanent for €18m.
There were reportedly initial concerns over Jose Mourinho's side exercising this option, but a report from Il Romanista says that is no longer the case. The Spaniard has already expressed his desire to stay with the Giallorossi earlier this month.
Llorente has started at centre-back in Roma's last three games, with Mourinho's interest in keeping the defender becoming 'more and more concrete' according to the report.
READ MORE: Javi Gracia's first words on Leeds United thrashing, handball and an unravelling run-in
Every word Javi Gracia said on Leeds United's Liverpool thumping, VAR, career lows, answers
Firstly, it was a solid 20 minutes and a good spell straight after halftime. What happened for the rest of it to explain that?
Before the game, all of us we knew that it will be demanding for us to play against a very good team and if we didn't give our best level, for sure will be very, very difficult for us. We started competing the game. We had some opportunities with Rodrigo some options to attack the opposite box but after that, when we consider the goal, is something happened in the last games, we were losing the composure and we were conceding goals. There is a moment in the second half, when in the beginning of the second half, when we scored our goal and maybe we felt that it's possible to compete again the game but another mistake gave them the chance to score the third goal and after it was very, very difficult to manage.
Javi Gracia's 'punch' to face exposes Leeds United's glass jaw again as transfer asset loses value
Everything the doctor did not order
The prevailing hope coming away from Leeds United’s Crystal Palace demise was it had been a one-off. Yes, the Whites had collapsed with one of the worst second-half displays Elland Road has seen, but there had been more than enough positive play in the first half, against Nottingham Forest and in Javi Gracia’s opening matches to feel it was a blip.
However poorly Liverpool have played this season, they still have some of the continent’s best footballers in their number. Nobody was under any illusions last night would be a challenge for Leeds and one they might lose, but there would be an acceptable manner in defeat.
This was not it. By all means, fall short in trying to win the contest, but try to remind everyone of the pragmatism and defensive solidity which had been a tenet of Gracia’s opening few games.
Robin Koch makes Leeds United relegation battle admission following punishing Liverpool defeat
Robin Koch has admitted that Leeds United's 6-1 defeat against Liverpool makes it "hard" in their fight for survival in the Premier League.
Leeds have leaked 11 goals in their last two games, and have now conceded more goals (70) than any Premier League club this season.
The Whites face three crucial games in succession against Fulham, Leicester City and Bournemouth respectively. Koch has acknowledged that the previous two games has put them in a difficult position, but insists that they must put the past eight days behind them ahead of a season-defining run of fixtures.
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Marco Silva sends 'character and personality' warnings to Leeds United ahead of clash
