Mark Smith

Fri 4 March 2022 9:10, UK

Paul Merson has backed Leeds United to make it much harder for Leicester City with Jesse Marsch now in charge.

The Sky Sports pundit has predicted that the Whites will still lose on Saturday, though, by two goals to nil.

Marsch has replaced Marcelo Bielsa with results starting to drop to an all-time low in recent weeks in the Premier League.

Writing in his Sportskeeda column, Merson singled out the return of Jamie Vardy as a deciding factor at the King Power.

“This is a different game of football with Jesse Marsch taking over the reins at Elland Road,” he said. “A week or two ago, I’d have said Leicester City would win quite easily, but now, Leeds United have a chance.

“It’ll be interesting to see how the new manager conveys his ideas in a short span of time, because Leeds need points on the board immediately.

“With all due respect to Marcelo Bielsa, the managerial change had to be made as they were on a bit of a slippery slope in the Premier League.

“Jamie Vardy is back for Leicester City and that could well turn out to be a huge boost, so I’m backing the home side to win this one.”

Huge.

Three points here would be a huge statement of intent from Marsch.

It wouldn’t instantly make everyone forget about Bielsa or put him on a higher pedestal, but it would send a message.

We need the American and the squad to start picking up points immediately, with the threat of relegation becoming as serious as ever in recent weeks.

It is time to put this new system into action, and if the element of surprise is a weapon, it is one we could certainly use on Saturday.

Everyone knows exactly how Leeds were going to line up in recent years, but that is no longer the case, how do Leicester prepare for this?

Let’s wish it brings back those three points.

In other Leeds United news, Jeff Stelling has shared what he has been told about the injury blow to Patrick Bamford over the past week