As many as six Leeds United first-team players are struggling badly for form in the early few months of this season, according to journalist Beren Cross.
The Lowdown: Leeds make poor start
After a superb first year back in the Premier League, Leeds have experienced a sobering start to the 2021/22 campaign.
Marcelo Bielsa's side have still only won one of their nine league games so far, drawing and losing four times apiece in the other matches.
It leaves Leeds languishing just above the relegation zone in 17th place ahead of Sunday's crucial trip to bottom-placed Norwich City.
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The Latest: Cross singles out six players
Speaking in a Q&A for Leeds Live, Cross claimed that Stuart Dallas, Luke Ayling, Patrick Bamford, Rodrigo, Jack Harrison and Mateusz Klich all need to get their act together and find some form:
“Dallas is one of a few who have not been at the same levels as last season. [Luke] Ayling, Bamford (before injury), Rodrigo, [Jack] Harrison and [Mateusz] Klich all seem to have slumped at the same time, which has not helped matters."
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The Verdict: Time to go up a gear
At the moment, Leeds appear to be suffering the footballing equivalent of a difficult second album, but they need to get over this slump as soon as possible.
The quality is clearly there for that to happen after last season's ninth-place finish - injuries aren't helping at the moment, in fairness - and they just need a few wins for things to click again and key figures to show their full worth.
Those aforementioned individuals are ranked 7th, 13th, 10th, 6th, 17th and 8th in the squad based on Whoscored's match ratings,
If Leeds are to pull away from what is starting to look like a real relegation scrap, the likes of Dallas and Bamford in particular will need to be much higher up that list, considering their effectiveness in last season's resounding success.
In other news, Phil Hay has made a claim regarding three Leeds players. Read more here.