Leeds United to get relegated from Premier League this season, Fulham and Leicester City games may save them – BBC pundit
Don Hutchison believes that Leeds United will be the third team along with Nottingham Forest and Southampton to get relegated.
However, he thinks that the games against Fulham, Leicester City and Bournemouth may be the saving grace for them as it’s the run of fixtures they will be looking to pick up maximum points from.
They begin with a visit to Craven Cottage on Saturday, 22 April, after two disappointing home performances against Liverpool and Crystal Palace.
Speaking on Premier League Productions‘ weekend preview show, Hutchison, a BBC pundit, said [22/04, 23:18], “Listening to phone calls from Leeds fans, they’re worried they’re going to go down. They have no identity. This is bad for Palace to come up to your place and beat them. When you get done five and six at home, it’s hard to shake off.
“These next three games for Leeds are massive. They need to pick up maximum points from those. You look at the run of games at the end, these are the games they will take. They need to win these three then they’ll stay up.
“I think Everton and Leicester will just survive. I think Leeds will go.”
Looks tough
Getting nine points from these next games, while very possible, is easier said than done and anyone associated with Leeds knows that.
Even if they get anything more than six, it will be considered a huge bonus as it gets them closer to the 38 point mark.
There’s a good chance that even 36 points may be enough to keep them up, but Javi Gracia will be targeting a finish close to 40.
It’s understandable as the league is unpredictable and the team at the bottom can go to the league leaders and nearly win that game and come away with a point.
Leeds also could spoil Manchester City’s party later on in the season, but they cannot be relying on such games to get the job done.
It remains to be seen which Leeds side turns up against Fulham as the Cottagers are very much there for the taking on Saturday.
In other Leeds United news, a Whites player has a potential offer on the table and could seal his permanent Elland Road exit this summer.