Leeds United and Everton are in a real relegation battle – and pundit Chris Sutton predicts that the Toffees will end up being relegated to the Championship.
Both teams will have been hoping for a top-half finish this season; after all, Leeds finished ninth last season and Everton were level on points in 10th.
This season has been pretty miserable for both teams though, albeit for rather different reasons.
Rafael Benitez was just a terrible fit for Everton from day one and his fairly dull brand of football didn’t bring excitement or points.
Frank Lampard is now trying to rescue the situation, but eight defeats in nine games leaves Everton on the brink.
As for Leeds, Marcelo Bielsa’s style just ran out of steam in the end, with truly dismal defensive displays leaving Leeds swimming against the tide.
Leeds did though have a morale-boosting 2-1 win over Norwich City on Sunday as Joe Gelhardt’s last-gasp winner handed Jesse Marsch his first victory.
The current situation is that Everton sit 17th in the Premier League table, only ahead of Watford – in the last relegation spot – on goal difference.
Leeds are four points ahead of Everton but the Toffees do have three games in hand on both Leeds and Watford.
Everton’s fate is in their own hands, but picking up wins is proving to be a desperate task for new boss Lampard.
Pundit Chris Sutton has now told the Daily Mail that he is ‘really worried’ about Everton as whilst they have some good players, they have been ‘rubbish’.
Sutton thinks Everton’s dismal away form means trips to the likes of West Ham United, Leicester City and Arsenal could doom them.
Sutton predicted Everton to finish 18th, believing Lampard’s men are ultimately going down to the Championship.
The former England striker added that he thinks Leeds will finish 16th, backing Marsch to keep the Whites in the Premier League at Everton’s expense.
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