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Leeds: Hay reveals late fitness setback

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Leeds: Hay reveals late fitness setback

Leeds United have been dealt a late health setback forward of their Premier League assembly in opposition to Liverpool tonight.

What’s the newest?

In a latest submit on Twitter, Phil Hay relayed feedback made by Jesse Marsch in his pre-match press convention, during 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 stated: “Determination additionally wanted on Liam Cooper’s health. One other participant who would possibly miss Anfield.”

In an additional 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 facet, whereas each Adam Forshaw and Stuart Dallas stay sidelined.

The journalist continued: “Harm newest from Marsch – harm doubts over Gelhardt, Rodrigo, Sinisterra and Adams. Nonetheless being assessed. Dallas and Forshaw lacking. Hjelde is a doubt too.”

Large blow

Contemplating simply how influential Cooper is within the coronary heart of the Leeds defence, the potential absence of the membership captain for what would sometimes be thought of probably the most difficult away journeys of the season will undoubtedly have come as an enormous blow to Marsch – particularly when considering the additional issues relating to Rodrigo, Gelhardt, Sinisterra, Hjelde and Adams.

Certainly, 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 preserve 5 clear sheets, along with making a median of two.0 interceptions, 2.0 tackles, 3.4 clearances and successful 6.4 duels – at a hit price of 64% – per recreation.

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 facet avoiding relegation from the highest flight.

It has been an identical story over the Scotland worldwide’s five league outings within the present marketing campaign, with Cooper having helped Leeds preserve one clear sheet, in addition to making a median of two.2 interceptions, 1.8 tackles, 2.6 clearances and successful 5.0 duels – at a hit price of 63% – per recreation.

These metrics have seen the 31-year-old common a really respectable SofaScore match score of 6.84, presently 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 providers of Cooper in opposition to a workforce that boasts the likes of Mohamed Salah, Darwin Núñez, Roberto Firmino, Fábio Carvalho and Harvey Elliott in assault will nonetheless come as an enormous blow to Leeds’ possibilities of choosing up a consequence at Anfield.