"Absolutely brutal": David Anderson drops big Leeds claim after unique Elland Road situation

Journalist David Anderson has described Leeds‘ injury crisis this season as “absolutely brutal”.

Marcelo Bielsa’s side have been riddled with absentees all campaign, which has virtually ended their chances of bettering their ninth place finish in 2020-2021.

It really has been a grim situation for Bielsa. According to Leeds Live, the Argentine hasn’t had a fully fit squad to choose from in any Premier League game this term.

Diego Llorente was the first casualty of the season, missing the games with Manchester United and Everton, and while he made a swift return, Robin Koch had already sustained a bone problem and was about to begin a four month spell on the sidelines, which would be the start of their crisis.

The majority of Bielsa’s squad have been injured at some point in 2021-2022, while key players Luke Ayling, Liam Cooper, Kalvin Phillips, and Patrick Bamford have spent sustained spells out injured.

In fact, in 13 of Leeds’ 21 Premier League games, they’ve been without at least four senior players, while they had nine players ruled out through injury for the defeat at Arsenal before Christmas.

Leeds’ situation is gradually improving, although three of their most important players, Cooper, Phillips, and Bamford remain unavailable, and Anderson has described the injury crisis as staggering.

He told GIVEMESPORT: “I can’t remember [a situation like this before]. It was eight injured players before West Ham. It’s been absolutely brutal.”

Until recently, Bielsa’s team were arguably in a relegation battle, but victories over Burnley and West Ham gave them some much-needed breathing space above the bottom-three.

But it’s generally been an underwhelming season for the Yorkshire giants, who’ve only recorded five league