Jesse Marsch has been delighted with the response he has seen from Illan Meslier after challenging him to have a ‘bigger presence’. Meslier was one of Leeds United’s heroes on Saturday night as the Whites saw off Liverpool 2-1 at Anfield to claim their first win since August and climb out of the relegation zone.
The goalkeeper conceded early as a Mo Salah volley found the back of his net. However, despite Liverpool’s best efforts, he wasn’t beaten again as he frustrated the Reds and the home crowd with his ability between the sticks.
Meslier made nine saves in total during the game, a feat no goalkeeper has bettered in the top flight this season, with Darwin Nunez, Roberto Firmino and Salah all being denied by the Frenchman. And, after frustrating Liverpool at one end, Leeds made them pay at the other as Crysencio Summerville popped up to bag the winner in the 89th minute of the game.
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Summerville stole the headlines but Meslier has picked up plenty of plaudits since Saturday night’s showing and Marsch was understandably keen to hail the 22-year-old after the game.
“What I always say about goalkeepers is I can give them tutelage on presence and mentality and how to handle moments, how to be the quarterback of the team but the technical aspect of what I can teach him, that I have to leave up to the goalkeeper coach,” he said.
“We needed Illan, I've been pushing him to continue to grow to be a bigger presence, to be savvier and understand how to handle big moments and certainly today he did that. He did that really well so it was really important.”
It was undoubtedly Meslier’s most impressive and important performance of the season so far, but that’s not to say he hasn’t been in fine form this season with the France Under-21 international catching the eye on several occasions. Just four goalkeepers have made more saves than Meslier’s 39 this season so far and he leads the way for punches, clearing danger on nine occasions with a strong fist.
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