Leeds United must guard against the consequences of Premier League survival
Leeds United are on course for survival in the Premier League.
Leeds left Villa Park disappointed to have only come away with a point at the weekend, but it was another good step towards safety, with 11 games to go.
The Whites have a six-point cushion on West Ham in 18th, and with the Hammers also having the hardest fixtures left to play on paper, Leeds are in a very good spot.
While nothing is done until the final ball has been kicked, the Whites are very much looking good value for a place in the Premier League again next season, though that can sometimes come at a cost if not protected.
What are the consequences of survival?
If Leeds stay in the Premier League, many would assume that everything is going to go as planned, but that is very rarely the case.
The Whites’ success this season has been built around several of their summer signings, with the likes of Jaka Bijol, Anton Stach and Dominic Calvert-Lewin all impressing, as well as several of those who were here lasts eason.
But when a team surpasses expectations, the players who have contributed to that success very quickly garner interest from other Premier League clubs as well as sides from around Europe.
And that will almost certainly be the case again this summer.
Stach, in particular, has been a spectacular signing at Elland Road, and his ability would allow him to play for the majority of the sides in the Premier League.
But if Leeds aren’t prepared for these types of scenarios, which are almost inevitable, they are at risk of being caught off guard when the summer approaches.
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Leeds United’s relegation chances predicted by supercomputer
Not only are Leeds already looking a good bet for survival in the Premier League, but Opta‘s supercomputer also predicts them to avoid relegation by some margin.
As things stand, the Whites are predicted to finish on 45 points come the end of the season, which would see them finish 10 points above relegated West Ham.
Daniel Farke’s side have a 2.33 per cent chance of relegation, and, for what it’s worth, a 0.02 per cent chance of qualifying for Europe.
Leeds are anticipated to finish 15th this season, which would be a huge achievement for all involved, given that they were among the favourites for relegation.
For more in-depth coverage on Leeds’ battle against relegation, fans can visit Football Insider