MX23RW : Thursday, April 3 12:51:07| >> :120:4115:4115:

Marcelo Bielsa hails Diego Llorente, Robin Koch

Marcelo Bielsa hails Diego Llorente, Robin Koch
© Reuters
Both central defenders have overcome injury since arriving in the summer to leave Marcelo Bielsa convinced they have big roles to play.

Diego Llorente and Robin Koch's Premier League displays have been among the highlights of Leeds' season for head coach Marcelo Bielsa.

Both central defenders have overcome injury since arriving in the summer to leave Bielsa convinced they have big roles to play in the club's bid to establish themselves in the top flight.

Spain international Llorente was dogged by successive muscle strains after joining from Real Sociedad in September for a reported £18million, but has emerged as a polished and reliable performer.

"He (Llorente) has played well, he hasn't had any bad games," said Bielsa, whose side face Liverpool at Elland Road on Monday.

"He's had a performance level that has improved every single time we have played. He started playing well and from there onwards he's been playing better.

"Llorente, as well as Koch, in the first part of the season, they have been high points of our season."

Germany's Koch, signed for around £13million from Freiburg, recently returned to action after knee surgery and could make his first start since December against Liverpool in the absence of suspended skipper Liam Cooper.

Diego Llorente, right, has impressed Marcelo Bielsa since recovering from a series of muscle strains
Diego Llorente (right) has impressed Marcelo Bielsa since recovering from a series of muscle strains (Tim Goode/PA)

Stuart Dallas has also earned rave reviews this season and the highly versatile Northern Ireland international's stock rose even higher last weekend when he put the brakes on Manchester City's title charge with both goals in a shock 2-1 win at the Etihad Stadium.

"The place that Dallas occupies in the team at the moment is the role that (Mateusz) Klich usually had," Bielsa said, referring to Klich's recent loss of form.

"In the majority of the games that the team played, he (Klich) was one of the best players in our team.

"When Dallas started to play in this position he started to show different ways of playing in it.

"To score goals was a clear expectation when he started to play in this position and as the minutes go by he manages to have a marked influence or definition in the finalisation of our chances."

Luke Ayling is expected to wear the captain's armband on Monday as Cooper starts a three-game ban for his red card against City.

"There's nothing better than for the players themselves to choose who is going to conduct their behaviour," Bielsa added.

Luke Ayling is expected to wear the captain's armband in Liam Cooper's absence
Luke Ayling is expected to wear the captain's armband in Liam Cooper's absence (Alex Panting/PA)

"Ayling has all the capabilities to be a leader and a conductor for the team. For me, he has the most important virtue.

"He doesn't speak too much and he acts in the way it should be. He leads by example."

Leeds, 10th in the table, are aiming for a fourth straight Premier League win for the first time in 20 years, while Liverpool are also chasing a fourth consecutive league victory in pursuit of a top-four finish.

ID:443672: cacheID:443672:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:8301:
Written by
P A
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp pictured on April 10, 2021
Read Next:
Jurgen Klopp admits Liverpool are under pressure in top-four race
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool30227170274373
2Arsenal301710355253061
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest30176750351557
4Manchester CityMan City30156957401751
5Newcastle UnitedNewcastle29155949391050
6Chelsea29147853371649
7Aston Villa3013984445-148
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton30121174845347
9Fulham3012994440445
10Bournemouth301281049381144
11Brentford30125135147441
12Crystal Palace29101093734340
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd30107133741-437
14Tottenham HotspurSpurs291041555431234
15Everton30713103237-534
16West Ham UnitedWest Ham3097143350-1734
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves3085174158-1729
18Ipswich TownIpswich3048183063-3320
19Leicester CityLeicester3045212567-4217
20Southampton3024242271-4910


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!