Despite the stress of avoiding relegation from the Premier League on the final day of last season, Leeds United have not learnt their lessons and face another nail-biting end to the campaign.
The Whites rarely do things the easy way and now the West Yorkshire outfit need key players to step up and be counted in their bid to avoid the dreaded drop back down to the Championship.
Leaky Defence Continues To Plague Leeds
Leeds have made a name for themselves as a high-energy team in the Premier League that will attack in numbers and will be rarely outrun. Both admirable attributes that mean many neutrals will even tune in to watch Leeds’ games that are seldom dull. However, it’s Leeds’ ongoing defensive shortcomings that means they are 11/8 with online sports betting Zambia to be relegated from the Premier League this season. Issues at the back were a problem during Marcelo Bielsa’s reign at Elland Road but at least at that time Leeds were scoring plenty of goals. However, after the Argentine tactician’s departure from Elland Road, his successors have failed to solve the problems.
Jesse March replaced Bielsa last year but his spell in charge ended after less than a year at the helm after a difficult run of results. Javi Gracia was eventually appointed on an interim basis until the end of this season and it’s up to the Spaniard to try and get Leeds over the line. Gracia started positively in the role, with Leeds beating the likes of Southampton, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Nottingham Forest. However, a 5-1 defeat to Crystal Palace and a 6-1 loss against Liverpool brought Leeds back down to earth. With games running out, Gracia and his players need to find solutions quickly to make sure Leeds are in the top flight next season.
Key Figures Need To Stand Up
Leeds had to rely on some key players to produce big moments last season to avoid relegation and they will need the same this time around. Brazil international Raphinha was instrumental in helping Leeds survive last season, while England midfielder Kalvin Phillips returned from injury to help his hometown club avoid the drop. Both players were sold for big money in the summer and now other stars will need to fill the void.
Striker Patrick Bamford has seemed to put his injury woes behind him and the one-cap England international could be the man to get the goals needed to keep Leeds outside of the bottom three. Bamford has been wasteful with chances in the past but he does tend to score in bursts and Leeds could do with a flurry of goals for the remainder of the season. Winger Jack Harrison can also have a big role to play again for the Whites. Harrison scored to help Leeds beat Brentford 2-1 on the final day of last season and potentially he has the goals and assists to contribute to Leeds’ safety.
Leeds find themselves in an all-too-familiar situation at the bottom end of the table and there’s plenty of work to keep this famous club at the head table of English football.
