Leeds United's poor form in 2021/22 continued on Sunday afternoon as they were narrowly beaten by Tottenham Hotspur.

It means Marcelo Bielsa's side still occupy the one spot above the relegation zone and are just two points adrift after another disappointing result amid their worrying injury problems.

The Whites largely dominated the first half and by full-time, they still led the possession and attempts on goal statistics but they just couldn't get going again in the final 45 minutes.

Jack Harrison found his wide companion Daniel James one minute before the break with a low-driven cross after beating home defender Emerson Royal all ends up with a nutmeg.

However, it was Kalvin Phillips, who surprisingly dropped into the backline that was Bielsa's one silver lining down in north London.

As per SofaScore, he recorded the most touches of anyone on the pitch (113) and that goes to show his influence on the side, as well as the game - everything ran through him as he was like an American quarterback - that'll please the 49ers' group if they were watching.

Similarly, no player managed more passes either (76), in which a whopping seven were successful long balls as he sprayed it all over the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Elsewhere, he was an absolute rock in his unfamiliar central defensive role, recording four tackles, three interceptions and three blocks, on top of winning six ground duels, via SofaScore.

The Daily Star's Paul Brown was left impressed by the England international, too, having described him as an "absolute Rolls-Royce" before suggesting that he "ran the show" in north London.

Meanwhile, LeedsLive's Beren Cross also spoke glowingly about the £36m-rated powerhouse in his post-game ratings column.

'Immense in the first half when he was given a man-marking job on Harry Kane. Took the match by the scruff of the neck. Not as central after the break when he went into midfield. Cut a frustrated figure at times,' he wrote.

Phillips was absolutely class against Spurs and arguably deserved something from the game as a result of his performance. If there are any small positives for Bielsa to take, then he's certainly one.

AND in other news, Forget Firpo: £60k-p/w Leeds lightweight who lost possession 24x badly let Bielsa down...