Leeds United’s focus now turns to their away trip to Brighton this weekend, where they will reunite with 2024 departure Georginio Rutter.
A three-point haul against West Ham saw Jayden Bogle keep Crysencio Summerville in his back pocket throughout the match. It was a proof of progression at Elland Road that 23/24’s star player was kept quiet by a signing made as the Dutchman was heading out of the doors.
Up next is another meeting with one of Daniel Farke’s most important players in his first season, Brighton’s Georginio Rutter.
Most Read on LeedsAllOver
Brighton and Georginio Rutter looking to bounce back against Leeds United
Leeds dispatched of Summerville with relative ease on Friday, and will be hoping to continue in that vein at the AMEX on Saturday.
Rutter’s Seagulls sit just a point above Leeds after nine games, having most recently lost away at Manchester United on Saturday evening.
Georginio Rutter has become a key figure under Fabian Hurzeler at Brighton. (REUTERS/Tony O Brien)
A 4-2 defeat to the Red Devils leaves Brighton on 12 points, conceding one more than Leeds (15 so far), but scoring five more than Farke’s men (14 so far).
In eight appearances so far, Rutter himself has proven to be a key creative presence for Fabian Hurzeler, assisting three times. Those three assists match his Premier League tally last season, just minus the five goals he got in 24/25.
Could Georginio Rutter be Brighton’s achilles heel against Leeds United?
As I tuned into Brighton’s away fixture at Old Trafford, I noticed a recurring theme that was wreaking havoc with the visitors’ attempts to play their game.
Brighton for years have been a side unflinching in their eagerness to play out via their centre-backs. When it works, it’s amazing. When you snuff them out before they can progress, you get chances galore. The latter happened against Man United.
The Seagull’s issue was actually stemming from Rutter’s involvement, and it’s something Leeds saw often in the Championship. If you let the Frenchman turn you, it’s game over on the break – he can take three players out of the equation in an instant. However, if he turns over possession in his own half, it leaves his defence exposed. Risk-reward.
His driving run down the left set up a big chance for Danny Welbeck at 0-0, proving there’s huge threat if he gets motoring.
Breakdown: How Man United provided Leeds United with a blueprint to stop Georginio Rutter
However, after an opener from Matheus Cunha, Man United made it 2-0 when Jan Paul van Hecke’s pass to Rutter was met by Luke Shaw’s aggressive pressure. Then, Casemiro’s deflected shot found the net:
They then made it 3-0 when Shaw was again alerted to Rutter receiving the ball, quickly putting the squeeze on the ex-Leeds man as the ball was turned over. Eventually, Man United scored through Bryan Mbeumo. Granted, it was an obvious foul on Rutter, but the point stands:
The blueprint for both sides is there. Brighton will want to get Rutter on the ball as early and often as possible. Leeds need to stop him turning. If you can force him into cheap giveaways, you can flood the Seagulls’ defence. It probably lends itself to going man-to-man with someone like Ethan Ampadu tracking his runs.
Leeds know all too well the benefits of having Rutter in a team. If he’s at the races, he’s virtually unstoppable. That said, Shaw’s eager pressing is the clear route to stopping his potential influence, exposing the drawbacks of Rutter’s game.
Read more: Leeds United must pursue this PL playmaker after worrying squad update…