'More fitting': Gary Neville finds one word to describe Leeds' attacking play against Liverpool

By John Verrall

Gary Neville has claimed that Leeds United looked ‘desperate’ yesterday against Liverpool, on his self-titled podcast.

Desperate times

Leeds fell to a 3-0 defeat and, in truth, Liverpool could have won by an even greater margin had they been more clinical.

Leeds did cause some problems going forward, but defensively they were cut open time after time.

And Neville felt that Leeds were simply too eager to score, rather than looking to play the sensible pass.

“We enjoy watching them play. Marcelo Bielsa’s teams are fantastic to watch, great energy,” he said.

“I do think in the first-half there was real desperation. I used the word frantic and anxious in the game, but I think the word ‘desperate’ is a more fitting word.

“Every time they go forward they look like they have to score within four, five, six seconds.

“I know that’s a principle counter attacking teams have, but the problem is you have to assess what is the probability of this attack being a goal, or coming to nothing and they do try to do the impossible at times.

“That cost them because it never gave their defenders a chance to rest.”

The wrong approach?

As good as Leeds are in attack, the last thing any team can do against Liverpool is leave them gaps to exploit.

Jurgen Klopp’s side are simply too fast and too effective when given space to counter into, and Leeds ultimately were picked apart.

Even before the red card, Liverpool looked the better side, as they ultimately cruised to three points.

Leeds’ desperation for a goal was understandable though.

Marcelo Bielsa’s men have started the season in poor form, and have now failed to win any of their first four matches.