Gary Neville backs Leeds United to beat Tottenham as Jamie Carragher drops four-point verdict, Leicester and Forest in trouble
Gary Neville has tipped Leeds United to get a win against Tottenham and stay up this season while Jamie Carragher has backed them to record four points from the final two fixtures.
Both Sky Sports pundits believe that it is now Leicester and Nottingham Forest who are in the most trouble in the relegation battle, with Everton also having favourable match-ups.
Even before the Foxes’ latest defeat their chances were rated poorly but a 3-0 reverse will have worsened that outlook, and Steve Coopers’ men were given little hope despite being on 34 points and two places above the drop zone in 16th.
Analysing the relegation battle prior to the kick-off of Leicester vs Liverpool on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football (15 May, 6.51pm) Neville said: “I never have a clue what’s going to happen down there at this stage of the season… I don’t like Forest’s games even though they’re only looking like a 25% chance of going down.”
“Everton have got the best games,” Carragher cut in.
“I think Everton’s games are good,” Neville continued, “I think Leeds will fancy their chances enormously against Tottenham at home…
“I’ve worried about Forest for three or four months, and I think their games I don’t like. Everton have got games I think that they’ll win one of them, Wolves or Bournemouth. I think Leeds can beat Tottenham at home. I think it’s between Leicester and Forest now.”
Summing up, Carragher added: “I think Everton and Leeds can both get four points there, I really do.”
Great escape
Points aren’t won in the TV studio just as they aren’t won on paper but after a battling point against Champions League-chasers Newcastle there is reason yet that action on the pitch could follow the predictions.
Sam Allardyce’s arrival has brought about some fight from a defeated-looking Leeds United squad after a capitulation in form under Javi Gracia.
There is still a propensity to shoot themselves in the foot, as demonstrated by the unwanted triumvirate of a missed Patrick Bamford penalty, two conceded by Max Wober and Junior Firpo respectively, and a red card for the latter at Elland Road on Saturday (13 May).
But going from the brink of a 2-0 lead to level at 1-1, then going behind after the break, didn’t lead to the sort of collapse that was seen in previous matches, so games against a nearly-safe West Ham with a possible European final to think about and a listless Spurs side give cause for hope.
Big Sam making a triumphant return to the Premier League to successfully reprise his old relegation specialist role would have sounded like a ridiculous idea at the start of the campaign under Jesse Marsch, and arguably still would have as recently as a month ago.
But Neville and Carragher have both got an eye on that eventuality, and after the wringer the Whites fans have been through it would be a sweet finish to a ridiculous campaign.
In other Leeds United news, Phil Hay has shared a situation involving two players which is “confounding everyone”.