Chris Sutton has aimed a dig at the Leeds United fans and stated that they have ‘short memories’ regarding their recent disapproval towards manager Jesse Marsch, prior to their 2-1 win at Anfield, as he told BBC Radio 5 Live Sport.
Former Manchester City defender Micah Richards was left stunned by Sutton’s comments and stated that ‘fans are going to get on your back’ if you are producing the performances Leeds were putting in.
During their last home game, despite taking the lead, Marsch watched his side lose to yet another team they were expected to beat, this time Fulham.
That resulted in Marsch being booed by the Elland Road faithful after the full-time whistle because the club’s last win was in August.
Well, whilst Liverpool has had their issues this season, they were still unbeaten during their last 30 league games at Anfield, so even the most ardent of Leeds supporters was probably just backing them to get a point, at best.
But they returned to Yorkshire with all three, as Sutton shared his thoughts on how Leeds fans have acted towards Marsch in recent weeks.
“I think it was much-needed because the Leeds fans, more than anything, had turned on Jesse Marsch, in their numbers,” said Sutton. “I think it was becoming a huge, huge problem for their manager.
“Bielsa’s name was being sung again and again, which wasn’t fair on Jesse Marsch. He said he was ‘sick of losing’ – it was huge for Jesse Marsch. But I think he deserved time because I don’t think the start to the season has been awful. The fact is that Leeds fans have short memories because this is a guy who kept them in the Premier League.”
Richards responded: “Wow, wow! Short memories?!” to which Sutton then added: “It’s true. He kept them up last season. The start wasn’t that bad, and then they fell away. But talk about him losing his job and the Leeds fans turning against him. Are you sort of disputing that, Micah?”
Richards responded: “No, I was disputing the fact that you said they have ‘short memories’ – if you keep conceding ridiculously bad goals, then, of course, fans are going to get on your back. I’m not saying they were right. We all have a right to an opinion.
“But when a manager comes in, he’s great in the press conferences, says all the right things, then they go out there and they concede sloppy goals. I am not saying they should be booing the manager. Nothing like it. But they want a little bit more.”
MARSCH NEEDED BREATHING SPACE
Whatever your viewpoint, Marsch now goes into the weekend game against Bournemouth with some much-needed breathing space.
The fact of the matter is, when you haven’t won a Premier League game since August, and the 2022 World Cup break is around the corner, then fans aren’t going to be exactly jumping in the stands.
The issue Marsch had was that his teams were losing or dropping points against sides that you expect them to beat on paper.
But, when the toughest of fixture of the lot came about, they rocked up to Merseyside, claimed all three points, ended Liverpool’s 30-game unbeaten run in the league at home and inflicted a first defeat in 70 matches on Merseyside for Virgil van Dijk.
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