It’s been claimed that Diego Llorente’s dip in form might be down to the absence of Leeds United captain, Liam Cooper.
Leeds have struggled in Cooper’s absence, since the skipper limped out of December’s 2-2 draw with a hamstring injury.
Marcelo Bielsa’s side haven’t kept a clean sheet since then and have conceded 28 goals – more than any other side in the Premier League during that period.
Llorente has looked a shadow of the centre-back we saw last season, too.
The Spaniard was at fault for two goals in Sunday’s 4-2 defeat to Manchester United and was hooked by Bielsa at half-time, with Pascal Struijk the last man standing in defence.
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Writing for Leeds Live, Beren Cross has touched on the 28-year-old’s recent struggle, suggesting it might be the absence of Cooper that is contributing to it.
“Diego Llorente has pushed his way to the top of the club’s central defensive rankings this season with his confidence on the ball, defence-splitting passes and aggression with attackers.
“Sunday was a lapse for the Spain international, however, and Llorente is playing his part in a defence which has shipped 10 goals in the last three games.
“He was weak under Harry Maguire’s header and pulled out of position for Bruno Fernandes’s leap. It was a sloppy performance and there needs to be something at Anfield to restore confidence in Llorente.
“More and more he looks like he is missing the guiding authority of Liam Cooper alongside him.”
Leeds face Liverpool at Anfield tonight, with Cooper still missing through injury and Robin Koch joining him on the sidelines.
Leeds on the whole appear to be missing Cooper, with the stats backing that up.
However, when it comes to Llorente, it doesn’t feel like it’s the only reason why he’s struggling to get going at the moment.
If you think back to last season, he excelled alongside Struijk in the heart of defence, as Leeds really motored towards the end of the campaign.
That’s a partnership that works and doesn’t require Cooper’s presence.
This year, they both looked that little bit more stretched without the shield of Kalvin Phillips.
He’s been missing for the same amount of time as Cooper and is someone that covers the ground exceptionally well ahead of the centre-backs.
It might be Cooper’s absence that Llorente is struggling with, but don’t discount what Phillips’ presence does for his performance levels.