‘You’ve got to take your hat off to Leeds’ – Former Liverpool striker raves about Luke Ayling, Marcelo Bielsa and Rodrigo

The Whites ended Aston Villa’s winning start and ruined their chance of going top of the Premier League thanks to a brilliant Patrick Bamford hat-trick against Heskey’s former club.

Dean Smith’s side – who had put seven goals past champions Liverpool in their previous home game – saw Jack Grealish’s shot cleared off the line by a superb Luke Ayling block early on.

“Ayling, he makes me tired watching him,” Heskey said to HITC. “I’m out of breath when I see him going up and down and think ‘wow, where’s he getting that energy from’?”

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“You’ve got to take your hat off to Leeds. They were seriously on the front foot! I was very, very surprised but loved watching them and Villa just couldn’t deal with them!

“Villa weren’t bad but Leeds were creating a hell of a lot of chances. It was 3-0 at the end but it could have been a lot worse.”

And Heskey was also full of praise for winger Jack Harrison – who has impressed once again during his third season on loan from Manchester City – whilst also commending the Whites’ blockbuster £27m summer signing Rodrigo.

“When you’ve got wingers who think about crossing that ball in – (those who) want to take a touch and whip it into that area – all you’ve got to do is get into that area.”

“We had it with Steve Guppy [at Leicester City]. As soon as he takes that touch, you’re making that run.

“With others, they’re taking the touch, taking that stepover, doing a Cruyff, you’ve done four movements before the ball is put in the box. When you know the ball is coming in, it’s the best feeling. Marc Albrighton is another one.

“And Rodrigo has took his time but he’s brought something to the team.”

“Marcelo Bielsa has done something right,” Heskey adds. “He’s got them super fit. When they go out on the pitch, it just looks effortless. Villa Park is a huge pitch but they made it look small!

“It’s a long season, you don’t want to get carried away and, for Leeds, top half of the table is a wonderful achievement.”