Garth Crooks has claimed on BBC Sport that Leeds United star Kalvin Phillips would have struggled against Manchester United at Elland Road had Paul Pogba started.
Leeds played out a goalless draw with United at Elland Road in the Premier League on Sunday.
Phillips started the match for Leeds and had a wonderful game in the middle of the park, as the England international stopped Bruno Fernandes from playing his natural game.
The 25-year-old himself said after the match that he was pleased to have nullified Fernandes.
Former Tottenham Hotspur forward Crooks has included Phillips in his BBC Premier League Team of the Week.
While Crooks has praised the England international, he has said that had France international midfielder Pogba started, then Phillips would have had his work cut out.
Pogba did not start the game, but the Frenchman came on as a substitute in the 76th minute.
Crooks wrote on BBC Sport: “I’ve mentioned Philips before in my team of the week and rate him very highly. His performance against Fernandes was impressive.
“The England midfielder not only relished the battle with the Portuguese star but frustrated the life out of United.
“Fortunately for Leeds, Manchester United didn’t start with Fernandes and Paul Pogba, had they done so Philips might have had his work cut out.”
Encouraging display
Fernandes and Pogba are two of the best midfielders in the Premier League, and they have done well together.
Had Pogba started, then it would have been harder, not only for Phillips, but for the entire Leeds team.
However, it cannot be denied that Phillips and Leeds played well against United and deservedly picked up a point from the encounter.
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