LIVE
...

Follow us on

News

Ian Wright picks out two impressive Leeds players from West Brom victory

Add as preferred source on Google

Ian Wright picked out Raphinha and Luke Ayling as two of the brilliant performers from Leeds United’s thrashing of West Brom on Tuesday night.

Leeds steamrolled opponents West Brom by a 5-0 scoreline at the Hawthorns, as they put on an attacking masterclass away from home.

Ezgjan Alioski, Jack Harrison, Rodrigo Moreno and Raphinha were all on the scoresheet for Marcelo Bielsa’s men, plus there was an own goal from Romaine Sawyers to begin proceedings.

The Yorkshire club are now up to 11th in the Premier League table after back-to-back victories and it’s proving to be a successful first year back in the top-flight.

Ayling, 29, continued at centre-back amid injury problems in the Leeds defence and the conventional right-back helped keep another clean sheet.

Meanwhile, £17million (BBC) winger Raphinha wrapped up the scoring against West Brom with a thunderous left-footed finish from the edge of the box and he’s proving to be an excellent piece of summer business.

Pundit Wright highlighted the Leeds pair in particular after their team’s emphatic victory:

“[Leeds] are a joy to behold. Raphinha, you mentioned from Rennes, £17million, you think to yourself when you’re looking at some of the wingers in this league cost a little bit more than him are not doing half the things what he’s doing. Ayling today was absolutely fantastic for Leeds as well,” Wright said on BBC One (10:47pm, 29 December).

West Bromwich Albion v Leeds United - Premier League
(Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

TBR’s View:

If the entire Leeds squad was available for selection at the same time for manager Bielsa, then there would be no doubt that there would be room for Ayling in the starting XI.

The all-action defender has proven he’s such a force from the right-back position in both boxes, but the way he’s stepped in at times this campaign into the heart of the backline has been so impressive and his development in the last few years at Elland Road has been immense.

24-year-old Brazilian attacker Raphinha was one of the new bunch of players added to the squad in the summer, but he’s slotted in so effortlessly and replaced Helder Costa in the starting line up.

Raphinha produced a piece of magic against West Brom with his goal and he’s slowly becoming a fan favourite with the trickery he’s capable of on the ball.