Noel Whelan reacts to Jack Harrison’s performance in Leeds defeat

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Noel Whelan has told BBC Radio Leeds (broadcast on 12/9; 19:32) that he thought Jack Harrison was excellent in Leeds United’s spirited defeat to Liverpool on the opening day of the new Premier League season.

There was a huge amount of intrigue surrounding Marcelo Bielsa’s side ahead of the clash at Anfield. However, the bubble seemed to be burst within a matter of minutes as Leeds went behind very early on.

But Mohamed Salah’s goal only proved to be catalyst for what proved to be an early contender for the Premier League’s game of the season. And it was Harrison who got Leeds’s first equaliser.

It was a stunning solo goal from the winger who cut inside and slammed home an emphatic effort from the edge of the box.

Ultimately, Leeds were denied a point thanks to a late penalty. But a number of visiting players can arguably be enormously proud of their performances in the 4-3 defeat.

And Whelan suggested that Harrison was one of those who can hold his head up high.

“Excellent again,” he told BBC Radio Leeds. “He scored a fantastic individual goal to get us back level in the game coming off that left-hand side. Taking two players on, outside that 18-yard box, beautiful strike on his weaker foot.

“He’s just getting better and better, because I felt, last season, he was exceptional.”

Harrison more than held his own against a player widely considered the best right-back in the world right now in Trent Alexander-Arnold.

And as Whelan notes, his performances hint that he is continuing to improve. He was superb in Leeds’s promotion-winning campaign and he has already opened his account for this term.