---
title: "Leeds: Rory Jennings slams Liam Cooper"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/leeds-whites-marcelo-bielsa-liam-cooper-rory-jennings-elland-road/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "jonathan radcliffe"
section: "Features"
published: "2021-10-20T14:35:25Z"
modified: "2021-10-20T14:35:25Z"
---

# Leeds: Rory Jennings slams Liam Cooper

**TalkSPORT pundit Rory Jennings believes Leeds United defender Liam Cooper is not good enough to play in the Premier League.**

### **The Lowdown: Cooper is Bielsa stalwart**

Cooper has been an important member of Marcelo Bielsa’s squad since the Argentinian made the move to Elland Road in 2018.

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He is the captain of course, and has made 110 appearances under the former Athletic Bilbao boss ([Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.com/liam-cooper/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/75067/plus/0?saison=&verein=&liga=&wettbewerb=&pos=&trainer_id=2553)).

The skipper has not been at his best this term though, drawing [criticism](https://thisisfutbol.com/2021/09/blogs/premier-league/leeds-united-fans-slate-liam-cooper/) from sections of the Elland Road support.

### **The Latest: Jennings slams Cooper**

[Speaking on talkSPORT](https://twitter.com/talkSPORT2/status/1450351170007060483?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1450351170007060483%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fd-29390603033703976544.ampproject.net%2F2110082201001%2Fframe.html), Jennings questioned the Scotland international’s ability. He said:

> *“They have got some jewels. (Kalvin) Phillips, obviously brilliant, Raphinha obviously brilliant, (Patrick) Bamford, you can make a case for him. But Liam Cooper is not a brilliant player, is he? He’s not a Premier League player. You can probably list half a dozen who can do a job in the Premier League.*
>
> *“There are players in the Championship that are better than a lot of Leeds players because a lot of what made them good last year was the (Marcelo) Bielsa factor, the way they played.”*

### **The Verdict: Has a point**

Leeds were a breath of fresh air last season, certainly in an attacking sense, as they found the back of the net 62 times ([Sky Sports](https://www.skysports.com/premier-league-table/2020)). However, defensively, they often struggled to contain their opponents – no other side in the top 11 conceded more than Leeds’ [54](https://www.skysports.com/premier-league-table/2020).

\[freshpress-poll id=”377629″\]

Cooper was not always in Bielsa’s starting XI – he made [25](https://www.transfermarkt.com/liam-cooper/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/75067/plus/0?saison=2020&verein=&liga=&wettbewerb=&pos=&trainer_id=) appearances in the Premier League – but of the 13 games he missed, Leeds kept [five](https://www.transfermarkt.com/liam-cooper/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/75067/plus/0?saison=2020&verein=&liga=&wettbewerb=&pos=&trainer_id=) clean sheets, compared to [seven](https://www.transfermarkt.com/liam-cooper/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/75067/plus/0?saison=2020&verein=&liga=&wettbewerb=&pos=&trainer_id=) in the 25 when he did appear.

Before signing for Leeds, the majority of his career had been spent in League One and League Two – while that does not mean he does not have the ability to play at a higher level, it does indicate he may be playing above where he is comfortable, even if he was called [“crucial”](https://thisisfutbol.com/2020/10/blogs/premier-league/leeds-united-latest-news-liam-cooper-premier-league-marcelo-bielsa/) by pundit Jack Collins last year.

***In other news, [one former Premier League ace has made this Kalvin Phillips claim.](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/leeds-united-news/leeds-united-gabriel-agbonlahor-kalvin-phillips-elland-road-marcelo-bielsa/)***