Chris Sutton predicts scoreline of ‘very close’ Leeds vs Crystal Palace, Daniel Farke delight emerges
Daniel Farke has proven his doubters wrong ahead of Leeds United facing Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Saturday.
Elland Road will host Oliver Glasner’s team on 20 December, with the Whites looking to continue their unbeaten run in the league.
Farke is still without Lukas Nmecha, Daniel James and Sean Longstaff, but the German manager has been able to cope with them in recent weeks.
The former Norwich City boss’s situation at the West Yorkshire outfit has turned around after their recent performances, and the Eagles might have an uphill battle to win three points in LS11.
Leeds United draw vs Crystal Palace predicted
Palace may be stretched thin against Leeds after their UEFA Conference League game against Kuopion Palloseura on 18 December, Chris Sutton says.
While Glasner played his second-string team in the 2-2 draw at Selhurst Park, it may still affect the Eagles, with Ismail Sarr’s absence due to the Africa Cup of Nations also a big blow.
Sutton has gone with a 1-1 draw at Elland Road, with the Englishman expecting a “very close” game in West Yorkshire.
The former striker wrote in the BBC Sport on 18 December: “Fair play to Leeds boss Farke, too. I’ve said it before, but I am delighted for him. He was written off a few weeks ago as not being able to manage in the Premier League, and it felt as if some people were waiting for him to be sacked. He has proved them all wrong.”
Sutton added: “Farke’s side are always a handful at home and will relish the challenge of getting another good result on Saturday, but I can see this being a very close contest.
“I am tempted to go with Glasner’s side to nick it, but they have got a Europa Conference League game to contend with on Thursday, which has stretched them in the past. They are going to miss Sarr, too, who has gone to AFCON with Senegal, so on that basis I am going for another draw instead.”
Daniel Farke may not be out of danger at Elland Road after what’s been said
Simon Grayson isn’t ruling out Farke’s sacking at Elland Road before the end of the season, but would like to see the head coach be given time.
It wouldn’t make sense for Paraag Marathe to get rid of the German manager right now, but a few poor results in the coming weeks may change the situation completely at Leeds.
The Whites are still in a fierce relegation battle, sitting just three points above 18th-place West Ham United in the table.
There’s every chance the West Yorkshire outfit can get dragged back into the relegation zone before the turn of the year, and Farke is surely not out of danger.
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