Leeds can heap pressure on Tottenham and a new relegation rival with a win on Friday evening
Leeds United have survival in their own hands(Image: Michael Steele/Getty Images)
Daniel Farke says from Monday morning he told his Leeds United players to relegate Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final defeat to the past – but in some sense fans will hope they do carry the disappointment with them a little bit.
Suffering a setback can sometimes be the fuel needed to inspire a good performance and indeed three points are needed at home to an already relegated Burnley outfit on Friday evening.
Tottenham Hotspur’s win last weekend perhaps disguises the true gap between them and Leeds, with Spurs suffering a number of injuries and rather toothless in front of goal against Wolves, but it is a reminder that United cannot sleep before the task is complete.
The visit to Wembley was not representative of how United’s recent form has been and so the players will be determined to get back on track, with a win surely securing the club’s status in the Premier League for next season.
Burnley’s mindset
Farke says facing a side already down can make things more complex given they literally have nothing more to lose. Burnley’s Jaidon Anthony might also wish to prove a point against his former club. But Scott Parker’s exit will surely kibosh such a mindset.
The Clarets went unbeaten against Leeds last season, beating them at Elland Road before defeating them at Turf Moor earlier in this campaign, which they could have taken into the game. However, this is a side who are bereft of confidence and players who might be looking for an out this summer.
Parker’s exit only amplifies this and leaves the club in a state of limbo and perhaps disarray. It can only help Leeds. Burnley will want to drag Leeds down with them amid the recent needle between the two clubs but United should have enough to topple an outfit that already is now seriously unsteady.
The survival picture
This could be a swing weekend in either direction. The worst case scenario sees Leeds lose and Spurs beat Aston Villa to cut the gap between the two clubs to three points. That does seem unlikely on the balance of probabilities, but this is the stick.
The carrot is that a Leeds win coupled with a non-win for Tottenham means that United would be safe so long as they do not lose to Spurs away, in a game where the onus and the pressure would be on the hosts – which could work in Daniel Farke’s favour.
Playing on Friday under the Elland Road lights, for the final time this season, is not only a fantastic environment for Leeds to do the job but a win would pile the pressure on Tottenham to defeat a Champions League-bound Villa on their own turf.
Another side story is that three points would take United above Newcastle – eight points from safety – in the table for the evening at least. The Magpies play Europe-chasing Brighton & Hove Albion at home and a loss would cause worry at St James’ Park.
Coping without Gudmundsson
James Justin has been among the best signings of the summer and is a very decent left-wing-back cover – but he is not as effective going forward as Gudmundsson, who is sidelined with a hamstring injury.
Ironically, Justin has scored two more goals than Gudmundsson but those who regularly watch Leeds know how valuable the Swede is to the attacking outlay. Also, Justin is right-footed, which changes the angles in which the left flanker operates.
Pascal Struijk and Noah Okafor have played with Justin on that side multiple times this season but having had a left-footer next to them for majority of the season, it does mean they need to get used to Justin’s play once more.
Justin can still make an impact going forward but is naturally more conservative in his play. Against Burnley he perhaps needs to be more expansive.