Craig Scott

Fri 8 April 2022 6:36, UK

Mark Lawrenson has backed Leeds United to win away at Watford on Saturday and make themselves “pretty much safe” from relegation from the Premier League.

Jesse Marsch’s men have won seven points in their last three games and currently sit six points ahead of 18th placed Burnley, who have played two games fewer than the Whites.

Ex-Liverpool defender Lawrenson predicts the Yorkshire giants will win 2-1 at Vicarage Road on 9 April and also claims Kalvin Phillips could return to the starting line-up for Marsch after recovering from a serious hamstring injury.

“Watford were actually very competitive against Liverpool last weekend, they just didn’t take their chances at Anfield,” Lawrenson said on the BBC Sport website.

“It’s not away from home where Watford are really struggling though – they have lost their past eight league games at Vicarage Road since beating Manchester United 4-1 in November, and have the worst home record in the top flight.

“If they are going to stay up then that needs to change, and quickly, because five of their remaining eight games are at their place, starting with this one.

“I actually think Leeds will beat them, though, because they seem to have got their mojo back.

“Jesse Marsch has done extremely well since taking charge and picked up seven points from their past three games. Another win here would make them pretty much safe.

“Kalvin Phillips should be able to play more of a part – and maybe even start – after coming off the bench in last week’s draw with Southampton. His return to fitness is definitely going to help.”

Huge game

This is the one for Leeds.

If we win this, we agree with Lawrenson in saying that we should be safe from relegation.

If we hit 33 points, we cannot see two of the four teams below us reaching that point and putting us into the bottom three.

If one of those teams are going to do that, it’ll be Burnley. But still, the Whites are more than capable of picking up more wins in their remaining Premier League matches this season.

Norwich are hopeless, Watford will probably be down and out if we beat them, Burnley are capable and Everton are sinking fast.

Frank Lampard is crying his way into the relegation zone and the fact his side plays Manchester United on Saturday before Burnley travel to Norwich on Sunday suggests the Toffees could be in the relegation zone by the time the weekend is over.

Leeds, on the other hand, should be safe.

As long as Burnley and Everton don’t win and we don’t lose to Watford, we’re confident that this will be a good weekend.

In other Leeds United news, four players have been ruled out of the game for Leeds.