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‘I don’t understand’: Sky pundit baffled by Liam Cooper’s situation at Leeds United

Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images
Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images
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Clinton Morrison says he ‘doesn’t understand’ why Javi Gracia isn’t starting Liam Cooper as Leeds United continue to struggle in their Premier League relegation fight.

The former striker thinks Leeds United, who shipped six goals to Liverpool on Monday night, are in need of ‘experience’ at the back and Liam Cooper provides that with abundance.

But, ever since Gracia has taken to the Leeds dugout, the 31-year-old has only played 16 minutes of Premier League football.

Leeds United v Barnsley - Carabao Cup Second Round
Photo by Pat Scaasi/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images

On either side of the international break, the Whites picked up two huge wins over Wolves and Nottingham Forest.

But, during their past two matches, they have shipped an incredible 11 goals, to increase the worry from supporters that they might be heading down to the Championship.

For Morrison, this calls for calm heads and he thinks the club captain needs to be brought back into action, as he told Sky Sports News (18/04/23).

“The thing is when I look at Leeds, who is the experienced player that’s going to galvanise them?” asked Morrison. “They have got their club captain sitting on the bench in Cooper. I don’t understand.

“Okay, he might not have been in good form. Why aren’t you playing him? In games like that, when you need a bit of leadership, why aren’t you playing him?

“Play some of those experienced players like Cooper because you need it. At the moment, the way they are defending, they aren’t defending good enough.”

Wolverhampton Wanderers v Leeds United - Premier League
Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images

COOPER TO START V FULHAM?

There surely has to be some sort of changes at the back from Gracia because his team aren’t just losing, but they are getting well and truly smoked.

That probably calls for their £25k-a-week defender (Spotrac) to start at Fulham, if he isn’t brought back into the fold, then Gracia really doesn’t fancy him.

When West Ham, one of Leeds’ relegation rivals, conceded five at home to Newcastle, they responded by beating Fulham 1-0 win. Can Leeds do the same?