Roca's Rodrigo frustration, Alexander-Arnold's dark…

Roca's Rodrigo frustration, Alexander-Arnold's dark arts, ominous chant in Leeds United bits missed

Special warm-up clobber

Leeds United’s players warmed up at Elland Road with blue t-shirts over the top of their usual training gear. The tops were a mark of support for the city’s Year of Culture: Leeds 2023.

Angus Kinnear, United’s chief executive, said: “We're delighted to be dedicating this match to Leeds 2023. Our club is proud to wave the flag and fly the colours of this incredible celebration of creativity across the city.

“It's fantastic to see the extraordinary range of community events in the programme and we hope fans will get out and experience some great culture on their doorstep this summer."

Aranalde’s role becomes clear

Javi Gracia has not divulged too much about the roles his backroom staff play on the training field or in preparing the players. However, it was Zigor Aranalde, the former Walsall and Carlisle United left-back, who took the back four to one side in the warm-up.

The 50-year-old was drilling Rasmus Kristensen, Robin Koch, Pascal Struijk and Junior Firpo in several exercises before kick-off.

Roca’s Rodrigo frustration

In the early stages of Monday’s game, Leeds were looking in decent nick, if not prolific in their chance creation. In the 10th minute, one of the rare moments of pressure came from the hosts.

Marc Roca had nicked the ball from a Liverpool midfielder and fed Rodrigo quickly in transition as the visitors fought to get back into position. The forward turned and ran at the Liverpool goal, but rather than return it to Roca, who had found space, Rodrigo scuffed a low shot wide from 25 yards out.

Roca would slap his legs in frustration at his team-mate’s wastefulness.

Liverpool fans bask in the glory of a night on the road

Last season’s 16th-place finish for Everton was the closest they have come to relegation from the top flight since 2004. And yet, currently 17th, they may just top last term and go down.

It’s also been a campaign of pain for their city rivals Liverpool, but the one silver lining they might find is seeing the Toffees condemned to the Championship. As they hammered Leeds last night, the away support could not resist singing “You’re going down with the blue s----.”

Alexander-Arnold’s dark arts

Even with the match dead and buried at 5-1, Trent Alexander-Arnold sought to kill any sign of momentum Leeds were looking to build. Ibrahima Konate, who often looked like the one away weak link, had gone down after some contact with a Leeds attacker.

The French defender looked like he was ready to get back to his feet and allow the Whites to play on, but Alexander-Arnold was telling him to stay on the turf and await treatment. The right-back could be seen pointing at Konate to stay down.