A round-up from the national media following Leeds United's disappointing defeat to Liverpool at Elland Road.
Leeds United assurances falling flat on their face
Phil Dawkes of the BBC said: "Leeds began this campaign with assurances from owner Andrea Radrizzani that having come perilously close to relegation last May, a repeat 12 months later was "impossible". With May approaching, here the Whites are once more, two points above the bottom three with back-to-back home embarrassments and seven stressful games to go.
"Having suffered a demoralising second-half demolition at the hands of Palace in their previous game, this result could be terminal to their confidence. For 35 minutes, their tactic to contain and counter-attack worked reasonably well but, having suffered a setback with the opener, they were unable to regather themselves.
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"There was a bit of fight in the second half thanks to Sinisterra's dogged determination and cute finish but as against Palace, once the floodgates opened they were unable to shut them again. With all four of the sides below them in the table losing at the weekend, Leeds have not slipped any further into trouble.
"But their goal difference has taken a battering thanks to the first occasion they have conceded five or more goals in successive games in their history. A rally is needed, with upcoming fixtures against Fulham, Leicester and Bournemouth potentially key to their fate."
Leeds United's top flight status under threat
Mike McGrath of the Telegraph said: "After shipping five against Crystal Palace in their last match, this defeat was another worrying performance as owner Andrea Radrizzani watched on from the directors’ box, his club’s top-flight status under severe threat.
"Javi Gracia was brought in to save their season but they are in a worse position than a year ago after 31 games, when they eventually needed a win on the final day of the campaign to survive.
"'I suppose the supporters need to see the team playing like we have done in the previous games and try to improve our level,' said Gracia, whose team scored through Luis Sinisterra. 'We have to improve for the seven finals.
"'I don't have an explanation. The players always tried and always worked hard during the week. In this game and the last game in the second half we didn’t compete at our level and we need to improve that as we have seven games left and have to show our best face. I prefer to be critical at myself and try to find solutions for the future.'"
Whites' defeat to Liverpool a tennis score
Ian Ladyman of the Daily Mail said: "Elland Road can be a ferocious, febrile bear pit of a football stadium. But not when it’s half empty.
"On Monday the locals were heading for the exit with twenty minutes to go after seeing their team provide yet another shocking, stunning example of relegation football. The ones who stayed were still cheering their team on at the end but by heaven Javi Gracia’s players didn’t deserve it.
"This was Leeds’ second home shellacking in the space of a fortnight. It was 1-5 against Crystal Palace earlier this month and here it was a goal worse, a tennis score. If they continue to play as fecklessly as this then they will setting records by the season’s end, and not in a good way.
"Leeds were bad under Jesse Marsch, Gracia’s predecessor. But they sacked the American weeks ago and haven’t improved. Maybe it’s the players? Now there’s a thought.
"It is, on the face of it, astonishing that Leeds are not in the bottom three already. They have conceded 60 goals – the worst in the Premier League – and have won only three times in the competition since the start of November.
"Yet still there are four teams beneath them. So the sheer ineptitude of those even further down the food chain may yet save this great Yorkshire club. Equally, they surely will have to find some way of helping themselves."
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