By Daniel Feliciano

26th Apr, 2022 | 10:00am

Jamie Carragher shares 'real problem' facing Leeds United in relegation battle after Crystal Palace draw

Jamie Carragher says Leeds United’s goal difference could be a problem if they get sucked back into the relegation battle after a 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace.

Leeds moved five points clear of the relegation zone with five games remaining in their season, but they face Manchester City, Arsenal and Chelsea in their next three games.

With a goal difference -30 both Burnley and Everton essentially have the advantage if they’re able to catch Leeds’ points tally and Carragher told Sky Sports MNF it could be a ‘real problem’, although he expects them to make it difficult for those sides after improvements under Jesse Marsch.

“The one problem, and we talk about the five points at this stage of the season, especially over Everton in the relegation zone, but what they’ll be hoping for is the goal difference because that is a real problem for them,” he said.

“There’s no way Burnley or Everton are going to get anywhere near them in this goal difference. So they’re always going to be worse off. That could be a problem for them.

“You see the fixtures and you see tough games, but lets not forget that three of the next four are at home. The two tough big ones.. Chelsea before the cup final also. City in between two Champions League semi-finals.

“That won’t be an easy game for either of those teams to go to Elland Road, they’re fighting for their lives.

“The atmosphere, Man City a half-five game as well that generates a better atmosphere, an evening game, so it won’t be as easy as it would’ve have seemed a few months ago when Leeds were shipping goals.”

Huge

There are five games left of this season and Leeds are in a great position considering where they were when Marsch first took over back in February.

However the lasting effects of the legendary Argentine’s tenure remain as their poor defensive record has left the club in a precarious position should the race get closer.

Marsch seems to have found a system that has drilled individual mistakes out and made them much harder to beat, but they now face three of the top four in a row and could see all their hard work undone by one bad day.

With relegation so vital, they now need the other teams to do them a small favour with points going to be hard to come by in the next few weeks.

But if the race gets too tight, they have a disadvantage and there isn’t much they can do about it anymore. They just need to find a way to get as many points as possible from the next 15.

In other Leeds news, Harry Kewell admits Leeds face ‘very difficult’ survival race, says it’s ‘frightening’ to see.