By Craig Scott

11th Dec, 2020 | 1:22pm

'Shock' - Robbie Savage silenced by Emma Jones over Leeds PL relegation suggestion

LUTV host Emma Jones has had to silence Robbie Savage as the outspoken pundit got ready to suggest Leeds United could be relegated from the Premier League this season.

Leeds have had a fairly inconsistent start to life back in the Premier League with Marcelo Bielsa overseeing four wins, two draws and five losses in the opening 11 matches.

The Whites have also looked suspect at the back with stats by FBRef showing that West Brom [20.5] are the only team in the league worth a worse xGA than Bielsa’s side [20.5].

Former Derby and Leicester midfielder Savage has regularly mocked Leeds over their defensive record but Leeds-loving Jones didn’t let the pundit get a word in on this week’s Three of the Best on William Hill’s Twitter account.

“Oh the topic we’ve all been waiting for, can Leeds stay up?”

Jones butted in to say: “Is not what we’re talking about this week. Shock.”

At the end of the clip, Savage discussed how the Premier League season could throw up more surprise results as it progresses before Jones added: “Who knows? Maybe Leeds could be up there [at the top end of the table].”

Savage laughed his head off and said: “Good one, Jonesy.”

Relegation? No chance

Savage is clearly on the wind-up.

He knows that Jones supports Leeds so he tries to mock the Whites every week to have a dig at her and her team.

Leeds have suffered a couple of big defeats this season and yes, they are leaked a lot of chances at the back but going forward, there are not many teams better than Bielsa’s in the Premier League.

According to stats by WyScout, Liverpool [21.79] and Chelsea [20.91] are the only teams with a higher xG than Leeds [20.33] this season.

Leeds also rank third for possession in the top-flight [57.6%], behind only Manchester City [63.7%] and Liverpool [59.5%].

No team has managed more crosses into the box than the Whites [206] and only Liverpool [165] have had more shots at goal [151].

Bielsa has fine-tuned this team to score goals for fun.

Yes, every now and then they will be rolled over because their gung-ho approach does see them exposed at the back.

But when you’re scoring so many goals and winning matches, does the defensive record matter that much?

In other Leeds United news, Mark Lawrenson has cast doubt over this Elland Road mainstay in his prediction for the clash versus West Ham.