Leeds United have been dealt a late fitness setback forward of their Premier League assembly towards Liverpool tonight.
What’s the newest?
In a current put up on Twitter, Phil Hay relayed feedback made by Jesse Marsch in his pre-match press convention, by which the 48-year-old revealed that Liam Cooper is now a doubt for the journey to Anfield, with the centre-back affected by a glute injury.
In his tweet, The Athletic journalist mentioned: “Decision also needed on Liam Cooper’s fitness. Another player who might miss Anfield.”
In an extra post, Hay went on to state that Rodrigo, Joe Gelhardt, Luis Sinisterra, Leo Fuhr Hjelde and Tyler Adams are additionally doubts for the assembly with Jurgen Klopp’s aspect, whereas each Adam Forshaw and Stuart Dallas stay sidelined.
The journalist continued: “Injury latest from Marsch – injury doubts over Gelhardt, Rodrigo, Sinisterra and Adams. Still being assessed. Dallas and Forshaw missing. Hjelde is a doubt too.”
Huge blow
Considering simply how influential Cooper is within the coronary heart of the Leeds defence, the potential absence of the membership captain for what would usually be thought of one of the vital difficult away journeys of the season will undoubtedly have come as an enormous blow to Marsch – particularly when considering the additional considerations concerning Rodrigo, Gelhardt, Sinisterra, Hjelde and Adams.
Indeed, regardless of Leeds’ struggles within the league final season, the £6.3m-rated defender was extraordinarily spectacular over his 21 Premier League appearances, serving to the Whites hold 5 clear sheets, along with making a mean of two.0 interceptions, 2.0 tackles, 3.4 clearances and successful 6.4 duels – at successful fee of 64% – per sport.
These returns noticed the £6.5k-per-week stopper common a fairly exceptional SofaScore match score of 6.99, rating him as Marsch’s best-performing outfielder in 2021/22 – enjoying a key position in his aspect avoiding relegation from the highest flight.
It has been an analogous story over the Scotland worldwide’s five league outings within the present marketing campaign, with Cooper having helped Leeds hold one clear sheet, in addition to making a mean of two.2 interceptions, 1.8 tackles, 2.6 clearances and successful 5.0 duels – at successful fee of 63% – per sport.
These metrics have seen the 31-year-old common a really respectable SofaScore match score of 6.84, at present rating him because the Whites’ seventh-best performer within the Premier League.
As such, whereas it’s true that eighth-placed Liverpool are enduring one thing of a stuttering begin to their 2022/23 marketing campaign, being with out the companies of Cooper towards a workforce that boasts the likes of Mohamed Salah, Darwin Núñez, Roberto Firmino, Fábio Carvalho and Harvey Elliott in assault will however come as an enormous blow to Leeds’ probabilities of choosing up a consequence at Anfield.
