In a surprising turn of events, Leeds United allowed their first open play goals of the year in their recent draw against Watford. Despite Mateo Joseph’s late equalizer securing a 2-2 result, the team’s performance was lacking compared to pre-break standards.
Due to injuries to key players like Willy Gnonto and Ilia Gruev, as well as Junior Firpo’s delayed return, Daniel Farke was forced to make changes to a previously settled starting lineup. This included breaking up the successful partnership of Joe Rodon and Ethan Ampadu in defense.
While Rodon and Ampadu had only conceded three goals in 12 matches playing together, Watford took advantage of the disarray in Leeds’ defense. A lackluster first half performance saw Leeds trailing, with errors from Sam Byram and Liam Cooper proving costly.
Cooper, making his first league start since January 1st, faced criticism for his defensive lapses. Pundit Jon Newsome suggested that Leeds perform better without Cooper in the lineup, highlighting his lack of pace compared to his teammates.
Despite Cooper’s years of service to the club, it appears his time as a regular starter may be coming to an end. As Leeds push for promotion, Cooper’s role as a leader off the pitch may be more valuable than his performance on it. The 32-year-old will likely be looking to make a meaningful contribution in the final weeks of his time at Elland Road before his expected departure.
