The best manager in the world, to borrow Pep Guardiola’s old description, now has the worst defensive record in the Premier League.
Leeds’ 6-0 shellacking at Anfield on Wednesday left Marcelo Bielsa with a host of unflattering statistics that, as his side encounter the double act of Harry Kane and Heung-Min Son on Saturday, could get worse again.
Leeds have conceded 10 goals in their last two games, 16 in four and 34 in 10. Not since 1963-64 has an English club let in more in a 10-match spell in the top flight.
“How am I not going to question what I'm doing?” asked Bielsa at Anfield. The answers can include ill-fortune but also reflect Bielsa’s idiosyncratic tactics and the problems of playing his way.
After Sunday’s 4-2 defeat to Manchester United, Bielsa arrowed in on his difficulties in defensive midfield, a role Robin Koch, Pascal Struijk and Adam Forshaw all occupied at various points then.
It scarcely helps that Leeds are without a Euro 2020 finalist: they have conceded 41 goals in the 13 league games the injured Kalvin Phillips has sat out. He already appeared Leeds’ most important player; their fortunes in his absence have confirmed that.
If injuries have been a constant and brought instability, there are also problems in each full-back position. Luke Ayling was a revelation last season, but his form has taken a sharp downturn. On the left, Junior Firpo has been an awful signing: before buying him from Barcelona, Leeds fared better with the odd-job men Gjanni Alioski and Stuart Dallas there.
In the middle, captain Liam Cooper struggled at the start of the season, but perhaps Leeds have missed his influence of late. The Germany and Spain internationals Koch and Diego Llorente came with plenty of pedigree but each has been inconsistent: Llorente, who finished last season well, was hauled off at half-time against United after a hapless display. Struijk shows promise but can be exposed.
Liverpool v Leeds player ratings
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LIVERPOOL RATINGS: Alisson Becker – 6. The Brazilian nearly had his pocket picked by James early on as he dallied on the ball. It was his only lapse in concentration and he was secure during the rare Leeds attacks. EPA -
Trent Alexander-Arnold – 7. The 23-year-old probed constantly and passed effectively. He left space behind him but Leeds were not good enough to exploit it. EPA -
Joel Matip – 8. The 30-year-old stepped out of defence with the ball and disrupted the opposition’s shape. He took his goal superbly and made sure Alisson’s early error was not punished. AP Photo -
Virgil van Dijk – 7. The Dutchman was calm, composed and made sure Rodrigo was not a factor. He matched Matip with a goal, scoring a header with the final touch of the game. AP Photo -
Andrew Robertson – 7. The Scot forced the first penalty for the opening goal and crossed for Van Dijk’s final strike. In between he ranged up and down the line and was an influence at both ends. EPA -
Fabinho – 7. The Brazilian set the tempo in midfield and took any sting out of the opposition. He missed a glorious chance when he seemed set to score. Getty Images -
Thiago Alcantara – 8. The 30-year-old pressed hard and passed with aplomb. He was very influential until replaced by Henderson in the 68th minute. AFP -
Curtis Jones – 7. The 21-year-old started slowly but grew into the game. His running with the ball worried the defence. He made way for Milner with 13 minutes to go. EPA -
Mohamed Salah – 9. The Egyptian scored two penalties, set up Matip’s goal with an excellent ball and hustled around dangerously looking for his hat-trick. Pure class. EPA -
Sadio Mane – 7. The Senegalese was brought down for the second penalty and scored the fourth and fifth goals. Not bad for someone whose touch was slightly off. AP Photo -
Luis Diaz – 7. The Colombian terrified the defence and left Ayling trailing hopelessly. Another fine performance and he deserved his ovation when he came off for Origi with five minutes to go. Getty Images -
SUB: Jordan Henderson – 7. The 31-year-old joined the action for Thiago with 22 minutes to go. He added extra energy and fed Mane for the fourth goal. EPA -
SUB: James Milner – 6. The 36-year-old came on for Jones with 13 minutes left and put himself about the midfield against one of his former clubs. Getty Images -
SUB: Divock Origi – 7. The Belgian replaced Diaz for the last five minutes and his brave challenge with Meslier set up the fifth goal. PA -
LEEDS RATINGS: Illan Meslier – 3. It was a chastening night for the Frenchman. Not only did he concede six goals but his distribution was poor and there were moments of confusion with the defenders. PA -
Stuart Dallas – 3. The Northern Irishman had a rough time at right-back and failed to get a grip of Diaz and Robertson, whose cross he handled for the first penalty. He was better when moved to midfield after the break. Getty Images -
Luke Ayling – 3. The 30-year-old’s frailties were shown up by Liverpool’s pace and movement. He gave away the second penalty and looked like he was running in treacle when passed by Diaz. Getty Images -
Pascal Struijk – 4. The 22-year-old battled hard but could not hold back the red tide. He lost Van Dijk before the final goal. EPA -
Junior Firpo – 4. The Dominican tried to get physical with Liverpool but all he got out of it was a yellow card. He cleared off the line to deny Salah a hat-trick. AP Photo -
Adam Forshaw – 4. The 30-year-old started eagerly but floundered as the team’s system broke down. He found it hard to put a brake on Liverpool attacks. AFP -
Raphinha – 1. The Brazilian drew the ire of colleagues for letting Robertson run free before the first penalty. He drifted offside in the most boneheaded manner and had what should have been an equaliser disallowed. EPA -
Mateusz Klich – 3. The Pole began well but seemed to lose interest after Liverpool took the lead. After that he was almost a bystander. He was replaced at half time by Shackleton. Reuters -
Rodrigo – 2. The Brazilian never got into the match. He hit a few passes but none of them into danger areas. He made way for Roberts at the break. AFP -
Jack Harrison – 3. The 25-year-old did not make the most of his possession. His best cross should have delivered a goal but Raphinha blundered offside. EPA -
Daniel James – 3. The 24-year-old hustled Alisson into an early mistake but could not profit from it. He got no joy from the defence and made way for Gelhardt in the 61st minute. PA -
SUB: Tyler Roberts – 4. The 23-year-old joined the action after half time at Rodrigo’s expense. He improved the team without worrying the defence. EPA -
SUB: Jamie Shackleton – 4. The 22-year-old came on after the break for Klich after two months out. Diaz was not as prominent against him but Liverpool eased down in the second half. AP Photo -
SUB: Joe Gelhardt – 3. The Liverpool-born 19-year-old replaced James in the 61st minute. He was largely anonymous. AP Photo
And Bielsa’s system does leave players isolated. Man-marking all over the pitch means they have precious little cover: lose a one-on-one battle and it can bring a goal. It is no coincidence that they have conceded 29 times in six games against the Manchester clubs, Liverpool and Arsenal.
Leeds’ players have been pitched into individual battles with vastly superior players and lost them. Some duels - Firpo against Mohamed Salah in September, the youngster Cody Drameh against Gabriel Martinelli in December - feel unfair. Open games, basketball-style, favour more talented teams.
It may be simplistic to say opponents have worked Leeds out, but they are exploiting shortcomings in a bold approach. A false nine who can drag defenders out of position and open up gaps in the heart of defence for others to run into, whether Alexandre Lacazette, Phil Foden or Sadio Mane, can make Leeds look shambolic.
And because, with everyone else concentrating on man-marking, the free man is a centre-back, meaning a defender who can bring the ball out from the back can go a long way forward. Victor Lindelof helped set up United’s second goal. Joel Matip scored Liverpool’s.
“A problem with centre backs driving with the ball has become very evident,” Bielsa accepted.
Factor in Leeds’ frailties from dead-ball situations - they have conceded a league-high 28 goals from set-pieces since their promotion - and some mistakes in selection, such as picking Mateusz Klich rather than Adam Forshaw as the defensive midfielder at Everton, and it amounts to a mess.
Playing Bielsa’s brand of football is difficult. A more pragmatic approach would give players more cover, but Bielsa’s is a high-risk, high-reward attitude. But now the risk for Leeds is that their defensive deficiencies could cost them their Premier League status.
