Leeds United could not have asked for a more frustrating way to start the new season against Portsmouth.
The Whites were completely dominant for almost the entire 90 minutes yet were forced to settle for a 3-3 draw thanks to a 95th minute equaliser from Brenden Aaronson.
Daniel Farke‘s side started the match like a train and hit the same bit of woodwork three times inside the opening seven minutes before Pascal Struijk’s opener.
Goals from Elias Sorensen and Callum Lang then put the away side 2-1 ahead going into half-time thanks to their only two shots on target in the first half, with Wilfried Gnonto equalising a minute after the break.
Lang then looked as though he had won it in stoppage time but Aaronson marked his return to Elland Road with a late equaliser.
However, the drama did not stop there as Aaronson missed an absolute golden opportunity to win it just a matter of moments later.
Illan Meslier has just proven he is Leeds’ liability this season
On another day, Leeds would’ve come away from that game with a comfortable 4-0 victory given the chances they created.
But it is not even the opportunities missed that is the biggest cause for concern, but the fact they have shipped three goals against a side whose attacks were sparse.
Portsmouth had four shots on target across the whole match, with the only that didn’t go in from the halfway line that was comfortable for Illan Meslier.
With that in mind, fingers simply have to be pointed at Meslier, particularly for the first goal. Leeds were in control at that point, and his mistake let Portsmouth back into the game.
Sorensen’s shot did have a decent amount of power behind it, but that is no excuse. It was right at Meslier and once he gets a hand on it, he simply has to be keeping it out.
Statistically, Meslier was one of the worst shot-stoppers in the Championship last season and it does not look like that will be improving anytime soon.
Portsmouth scored three goals from an expected goals (xG) of just 0.89, the majority of which will have come from the penalty.
The very best goalkeepers are ones who can pull off important saves having not had much to do, yet Meslier simply does not do that. Not good enough.
Leeds should’ve sought a Meslier upgrade this summer
It was obvious to many following the end of last season that goalkeeper was a position that needed upgrading, yet Farke seems to have ignored that.
Meslier had a ‘really shaky‘ end to the 2023/24 campaign and perhaps with a more assured presence behind the defence, Leeds would’ve gone up.
Though there are still three weeks of the window remaining, it does not look like Leeds will be making a change anytime soon given he has been named vice-captain.
More performances like today, though, are only going to lead to more question marks against him.
