Chris Sutton feels Sam Allardyce looks ‘at a loss’ over key Leeds issue

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Chris Sutton believes Sam Allardyce looks like he has run out of ideas over how to fix Leeds United’s dire defence. He also doubts the Whites can beat Tottenham Hotspur.

Spurs travel to Elland Road on the final day of the Premier League season on Sunday. Leeds go into the fixture knowing they must win and hope Everton and Leicester City both lose to stay up. Anything but three points and defeats for the Toffees and Foxes may spell the end.

Leeds can stay up with a resounding win over Tottenham and a draw between Everton and AFC Bournemouth. But they will need to beat Spurs by four or more goals to overturn their inferior goal difference. Leicester, who host West Ham, also have a superior goal difference.

Leeds may need a miracle against Tottenham to avoid relegation

Just already-relegated Southampton (-37), Bournemouth (-33) and Nottingham Forest (-30) have worse goal differences than Leeds (-27). The Whites have also shipped a league-high 74 goals through their 37 games this season. While the Elland Road natives have scored 47.

The margin of victory Leeds will need against Tottenham should Everton draw and Leicester fail to win in order to stay up would also be a rare occurrence for the Whites this term. The West Yorkshire outfit have only scored four or more goals in a match twice so far this term.

Leeds beat Bournemouth 4-3 last November and Wolverhampton Wanderers 4-2 in March. They also lost 4-3 away at Tottenham last November after Rodrigo Bentancur’s 83rd-minute goal. The Whites had taken the lead in north London three times but could not stay ahead.

Sutton wonders if Allardyce can find the answers at Elland Road

Now, Leeds go into the final day against Tottenham needing to claim their first win in nine Premier League fixtures. Allardyce has overseen two defeats and a 2-2 draw over his three matches as Leeds’ manager. The Whites lost 2-1 at Manchester City and 3-1 at West Ham.

The way that Leeds have played with Allardyce in charge does not inspire much confidence for Sutton. He has predicted in a column for the Daily Mail that Leeds will draw 1-1 against Tottenham on Sunday. The Celtic hero also questions if Allardyce can end Leeds’ problems.

He said: “Even Big Sam has looked at a loss over how to shore up Leeds at the back. I don’t see them winning this one against a Spurs side who have blown hot and cold all season.”