Leeds United fell to defeat again last night, with Jesse Marsch’s side slipping ever closer to another relegation battle. It marks the seventh game without victory and three losses on the run.

They now sit 16th in the standings, with their goal difference the only thing separating them from the drop zone.

Whilst there were few positives to take from a defeat against 19th-placed Leicester City, there was one that came off the bench to impress greatly.

A half-time replacement for the terrible Robin Koch, club captain Liam Cooper entered the fray with his side 2-0 down and chasing the game.

Yet he once again outlined his defensive intelligence and ability to neutralise the host's second-half advances. In just 45 minutes of football, he got through a sensational amount of work, managing 55 touches and an 86% pass accuracy of his 42 attempts.

He also managed a key pass and missed a big chance too, suggesting he got through such a high volume of work whilst playing on the front foot. A goal might have been the only thing he could have done to improve on this exceptional performance.

Of his three ground duels, he won them all and won two of his three aerial duels. This marks an 83% success rate Not only that, but he also completed a sensational two tackles, two blocks, two clearances and three interceptions, as per SofaScore.

The 6 foot 2 titan's reintroduction will please the American, who clearly relies heavily upon the exploits of the Scotsman.

This appearance marks his 251st for the club, as the 31-year-old continues to extend his fine legacy at Elland Road.

It is clear that despite injuries, Cooper still possesses the incredible instincts that made him such a fan favourite, and also explains how in his absence last season they came so close to relegation.

Now that the long-serving skipper is back, along with other key names such as Patrick Bamford, hopefully, they can put this kind of results behind them and start to climb the Premier League.

With performances like that, the defence will surely be sorted for the foreseeable future. The only issue is that he was the sole shining light in an otherwise dismal performance.