Statement of intent, the centre-back picture and a look at Rodrigo and Robin Koch's debuts - Leeds United Talking Points

AFTER watching Leeds United's first Premier League game for 16 years, the YEP's Lee Sobot takes a look at a few key talking points from Saturday's 4-3 loss at defending champions Liverpool.
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A statement and a standard

Leeds could hardly have been handed a tougher opening fixture on their long awaited Premier League return at Jurgen Klopp's defending champions whose home record is crazily impressive.

Incredibly, Jurgen Klopp’s Reds lined up having gone 59 games unbeaten at Anfield, winning 48 of them.

NEW DEFENCE: Leeds United centre-back duo Robin Koch, right, and Pascal Struijk, left, look to keep out Liverpool livewire Sadio Mane. Photo by Phil Noble - Pool/Getty Images.NEW DEFENCE: Leeds United centre-back duo Robin Koch, right, and Pascal Struijk, left, look to keep out Liverpool livewire Sadio Mane. Photo by Phil Noble - Pool/Getty Images.
NEW DEFENCE: Leeds United centre-back duo Robin Koch, right, and Pascal Struijk, left, look to keep out Liverpool livewire Sadio Mane. Photo by Phil Noble - Pool/Getty Images.
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The Whites were then dealt a huge blow before Saturday's contest even kicked off with captain Liam Cooper forced to miss the game with a calf problem picked up on international duty with Scotland meaning the very inexperienced 21-year-old Pascal Struijk was handed just a third start of any kind in professional football as part of a completely new look centre of defence next to new recruit Robin Koch.

Unsurprisingly given the attacking talent at their disposal, Jurgen Klopp's Reds caused Leeds all sorts of bother at the back yet it was United's daring, free-flowing and attacking football under head coach Marcelo Bielsa that took the plaudits and so nearly bagged the Whites a point.

Bielsaball has well and truly landed in the country's top flight.

Ultimately, Mo Salah's 88th-minute winner and second spot kick to seal his hat-trick meant United left with nothing from a points perspective but Marcelo Bielsa's side can take a huge amount of positives for having the champions of England and one of the best teams in the world seriously on the ropes.

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Jurgen Klopp was seen mouthing "wow" at the full-time whistle with the Reds boss full of praise for United in his post-match press conference while hat-trick hero Salah also saluted United's football and looked a relieved man in his post-game interview on Sky.

Leeds were also applauded by the likes of Jamie Carragher and Graeme Souness as part of the game's coverage on Sky and from an attacking perspective, against a side of the calibre of Liverpool, United were seriously impressive.

As Souness pointed out, the question now is whether Leeds can repeat such displays on a continued basis with the former Reds ace rightly highlighting the amount of energy and fitness levels needed to produce such a high octane pressing performance.

Squad size and having enough quality options will therefore be very important.

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There will naturally be off days but you would fancy Leeds to produce similar displays more often than not and if doing so then shoring up the defence and continuing to be clinical in front of goal are really the only factors that would seemingly stand between United and a very decent season.

Quite where Leeds are capable of finishing is difficult to predict but in the first instance the primary objective is survival and based on Saturday's display that objective should be a breeze.

But United will obviously need to start picking up the points sooner rather than later and really the Whites could do with hitting lift off in next Saturday's hosting of Fulham to avoid any early nerves.

Scott Parker's Cottagers were walloped 3-0 at home to Arsenal in Saturday's lunch-time clash and based on their respective displays at the weekend United ought to be looking at at their first victory back in the Premier League against Fulham though football is rarely that straightforward.

Testing debuts for Rodrigo and Robin Koch

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Leeds have splashed out in a major way to bolster the two main areas that Whites head coach Marcelo Bielsa felt needed strengthening at centre-back and upfront with club record signing Rodrigo able to play anywhere across the front line.

Spanish international Rodrigo had to settle for a place on the bench as Patrick Bamford led the line with Pablo Hernandez in the no 10 role either side of Jack Harrison and Helder Costa on the flanks and Leeds were impressively efficient in front of goal in netting three times from three shots on target as part of six shots at goal overall.

Liverpool, meanwhile, had 22 shots on goal but only six of those on target whilst unusually for a game at Anfield the visiting side actually shaded matters in terms of possession with 51 per cent.

United's performance was not just impressive on the eye but on the figures too.

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Rodrigo was finally introduced in the 62nd minute for Hernandez and the Spaniard quickly became involved with plenty of characteristic movement though the 29-year-old's evening ended in huge frustration when he was rightly penalised in the 88th minute for a clumsy challenge defending a corner with Salah winning the game from the resulting penalty.

Rodrigo took to social media afterwards to say he was "sad with the penalty" adding "I'll work harder so it doesn't happen again."

The Spanish international has very high standards and his attitude is to be commended and for Rodrigo there will be much better days.

And better days at Leeds will also await new centre back recruit Robin Koch who was handed the most testing of debuts faced with Liverpool's clinical front three alongside Struijk.

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In fairness to Koch, Liverpool's first penalty awarded for his handball looked very harsh but the German international then lost his man in Virgil van Dijk for the Reds second although he looked to be somewhat obstructed but you'd be clutching at straws suggesting he was fouled.

There was then almost a carbon copy repeat in the second half when van Dijk thought he had netted his second only for referee Michael Oliver to call back play for a foul on Koch.

The new Whites centre-back admitted the game was "full of ups and downs" in a post-match post on social media and even as a German international he has a hard act to follow in replacing last season's Brighton loanee Ben White who is now arguably the most promising young defender in English football.

But there won't be many tougher tests than Saturday's assignment at Anfield, especially given the late loss of Cooper and Koch, who is still only 24, will naturally improve given more time with the team and Bielsa's expert training.

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After a tough first half, his defensive partner for the day Struijk also defended pretty well in the second half and his future looks bright but nevertheless the sooner that Cooper is back the better and Leeds could really still do with signing another centre-half.

Patrick Bamford up an running

Bamford admitted during the summer that he felt he had a bit of a point to prove in the Premier League having previously had 27 outings in English football's top flight for four different clubs - Crystal Palace, Burnley, Norwich City and Middlesbrough - scoring once for the latter.

The striker should have scored early in the first half when released one on one but attempted to round Reds 'keeper Alisson instead of shooting and the chance was then gone.

But Bamford was handed another opportunity by an uncharacteristic error by a rather shaky van Dijk soon afterwards and the Whites no 9 this time took the opportunity with both hands with a neat finish.

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Bamford was eventually taken off for Tyler Roberts two minutes after the hour and Roberts also had some decent moments but Bamford can be very satisfied with his first outing back in the Premier League and his hold up play and work rate is never doubted.

Taking a decent ratio of chances has been the sticking point but that's now one goal from one game and the 27-year-old ought to have every chance of at least doubling his tally next weekend against Fulham with Leeds at home to Hull City three days earlier in the second round of the Carabao Cup.

Expect plenty of changes for that game and possibly a rest for Polish international midfielder Mateusz Klich for one who looked very tired when taken off for Jamie Shackleton in the latter stages after a fine industrious display in centre midfield capped by a very good goal.

The debate can continue over whether Klich's goal or Jack Harrison's brilliant effort was better with the two strikes coming after fine assists respectively from Helder Costa and Kalvin Phillips.

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Leeds left with nothing from a points perspective yet with an abundance of positives upon a highly impressive Premier League return.

Leeds has a fantastic story to tell - and the Yorkshire Evening Post has been rooted firmly at the heart of telling the stories of our city since 1890.

We believe in ourselves and hope you believe in us too. We need your support to help ensure we can continue to be at the heart of life in Leeds.

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Thank you Laura Collins

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