Credit: The Overlap and Imago

Daniel Lewis

Thu 12 March 2026 8:44, UK

Gary Neville admits he was “worried” Leeds United, Sunderland and Burnley would all drop straight out of the Premier League this season.

Burnley look likely to do just that, but Sunderland and Leeds are well positioned to beat the drop with nine games remaining.

Sunderland have never truly been in relegation danger, whereas Leeds have always managed to do enough to stay truly out of the conversation.

And as Leeds prepare to take on Crystal Palace this weekend, Neville believes that can only be a good thing for the division.

What has Gary Neville said about Leeds amid Tottenham’s relegation fears?

Leeds’ recent back-to-back home defeats at Elland Road has shifted the mood slightly among the fanbase.

However, Daniel Farke’s men always manage to keep themselves one result away from being dragged right into the relegation picture.

There remains a three-point margin on West Ham in 18th place ahead of facing Palace, which does now admittedly have more importance than it might have done a fortnight ago.

Speaking generally about the relegation picture, with Tottenham now fancied by many to go down, Neville shared his thoughts on The Overlap.

“The idea of Leeds staying up and Sunderland staying up… I was worried that every club that came up would go straight back down again,” Neville said.

“The Premier League doesn’t necessarily need Tottenham to go down, but it need clubs other than the ones who have come up to go down. It would be sad to go down, but they’ve had it coming.”

While Neville is understandably a hated figure among the Leeds fanbase, supporters will get fully behind the former Manchester United player’s comments.

The Premier League is undoubtedly better for the promoted clubs actually putting up a fight – and thriving in Sunderland’s case – so long may that continue.

What is Leeds’ overall record like vs Crystal Palace?

There is not a great deal to choose between Leeds and Palace heading into Sunday’s match at Selhurst Park.

Leeds are two places below the Eagles, who have enjoyed a return to form of late under soon-to-depart manager Oliver Glasner.

However, the Whites have come out on top more times than not against Palace down the years, winning 19 matches to their opponents’ 11 in all competitions.

The other 11 games in that sequence have finished all square, but it was certainly not honours even in December’s reverse fixture as Leeds comfortably beat Palace 4-1 at Elland Road.

A repeat of that scoreline this weekend and once again Leeds fans will not have to sweat over the threat of relegation for the time being.