Alan Shearer names Leeds United as Gary Lineker shares PSR issue in Premier League
Leeds United’s battle for promotion to the Premier League has taken a significant turn for the worse in recent weeks.
Daniel Farke’s men have won just one of their last six games in the Championship and have subsequently slipped from the top of the table to third.
The West Yorkshire giants suffered yet another disappointment on Saturday when they were held to a 1-1 draw by relegation-threatened Luton.
Farke’s side are still just two points adrift of league leaders Burnley, though, and still have a strong chance of booking their spot in next season’s Premier League.
Leeds could face problems with Premier League PSR rules
Southampton have already been relegated this season after promotion last summer, with Leicester and Ipswich now likely to follow them.
Speaking on the latest episode of The Rest is Football podcast (6 April), Gary Lineker asked co-host Alan Shearer about promoted sides being immediately relegated.
Lineker quizzed: “Why do you think that is? Because it’s not only going down but this season by quite some considerable distance. Do you think the PSR (Profit and Sustainability) rules are playing a part?”
Shearer replied: “I think it’s a combination of both. The gap between the Championship (and the Premier League) and, I guess, whoever comes up from the Championship this year, whether it’s going to be Burnley, whether it’s going to be Leeds, or whether it’s going to be Sheffield United.
“I guess whoever it is, the three who come up will have the same problems as what these three this year and the three last year had to put up with.”
Leeds have to get back to winning ways
The Premier League’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules will be of no concern to Leeds if they are unable to win promotion to the top flight at the end of the season.
| Championship table (top three) | Games played | Goal difference | Points |
| 1 Burnley | 40 | 43 | 84 |
| 2 Sheffield Utd | 40 | 26 | 83 |
| 3 Leeds | 40 | 51 | 82 |
As it stands, the Whites are set to compete in the playoffs, as opposed to winning automatic promotion despite the fact that they boast the best attack in the Championship.
Farke’s men have hit a stunning 79 goals in 40 outings this season, while current top two Burnley and Sheffield United have scored 55 goals and 56 goals respectively.
But the Whites’ potent attack will count for nothing if the West Yorkshire outfit cannot turn their woeful form around and get back to winning ways.
Up next, Leeds travel to Middlesbrough on Tuesday and could be in for a tough night against a Boro outfit who have climbed back into the playoffs by winning three of their last four games.
But to keep the pressure on Burnley and Sheffield United, Farke’s men simply have to get the better of Michael Carrick’s side.