---
title: "Leeds: Graham Smyth hails Whites trio"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/leeds-graham-smyth-hails-whites-trio/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Henry Jackson"
section: "Leeds United News"
published: "2021-04-26T13:20:49Z"
modified: "2021-04-26T13:20:49Z"
---

# Leeds: Graham Smyth hails Whites trio

**Leeds defenders Pascal Struijk and Diego Llorente received praise for their performances against Manchester United, as well as the ‘outstanding’ Kalvin Phillips.**

The Whites picked up another good result against a top side on Sunday, [drawing 0-0](https://www.skysports.com/football/leeds-united-vs-manchester-united/429160) at home to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side. In truth, it wasn’t a game which will live long in the memory, but Marcelo Bielsa’s men more than held their own, as was the case against Manchester City and Liverpool recently.

A number of individuals stood out on the day, with Phillips arguably the star turn following a monstrous performance in the middle of the park.

\[freshpress-quiz id=“351040″\]

### Leeds trio praised by journalist

Taking to [Twitter](https://twitter.com/GrahamSmyth/status/1386332262288039943?s=20) after the game, journalist Graham Smyth hailed the 25-year-old, but pointed out that Struijk and Llorente also excelled:

> Kalvin Phillips outstanding today. Pascal Struijk and Diego Llorente too.
>
> — Graham Smyth (@GrahamSmyth) [April 25, 2021](https://twitter.com/GrahamSmyth/status/1386332262288039943?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

### Transfer Tavern take

These glowing reviews are fully merited, with Phillips not giving Bruno Fernandes a second to breathe at Elland Road, man-marking him and producing a total of [four successful tackles and 12 recoveries](https://www.fotmob.com/livescores/3411672/lineup/player-match-card/609755/leeds-united-vs-manchester-united?date=20210425).

Meanwhile, Struijk and Llorente were a rock-solid centre-back pairing, rarely allowing a dangerous Red Devils attack to click. Struijk [won six of his eight duels](https://www.fotmob.com/livescores/3411672/lineup/player-match-card/796974/leeds-united-vs-manchester-united?date=20210425) overall, outlining his dominance, while Llorente enjoyed a pass completion rate of [90%](https://www.fotmob.com/livescores/3411672/lineup/player-match-card/420568/leeds-united-vs-manchester-united?date=20210425), also winning both of his tackles.

With so many Leeds players on top of their game, it’s little wonder that the [in-form visitors](https://www.skysports.com/manchester-united-results) couldn’t find a breakthrough on Sunday.

***In other news, an ex-Leeds player has been discussing the importance of one individual. Find out who it is [here](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/championship/leeds-united/leeds-noel-whelan-highlights-raphinhas-importance/).***