Michael Owen and Peter Schmeichel have delivered their verdict on whether Sam Allardyce’s Leeds United will get relegated from the Premier League after Leicester City’s defeat to Liverpool on Monday night.
The former England striker thinks Leeds United are ‘joining’ Leicester City and Southampton in the Championship, whilst the legendary goalkeeper has a ‘feeling’ the Whites will survive, as they told Premier League Productions (15/05/23 at 10:20 pm).
That point for Leeds at home to Newcastle, even though they had a chance to make it 2-0 at one stage, will now feel like a point gained given that both Leicester and Everton lost over the weekend.
But heading into the final two games of the season, Allardyce still hasn’t been able to push his team out of the drop zone, as they prepare for a trip to West Ham United on Sunday.
At the end of the day, what matters most is where you are when that final ball is kicked, the only issue for Leeds is that, even if they win their final two matches, they could still end up going down.
Whatever happens, it seems as though it’s going to go to the final day of the season, with Owen and Schmeichel sharing their thoughts.
“I think Leicester have got to get four points, I can’t see them doing it,” said Owen. “I think Leeds have probably got the hardest fixture there and they have got the second-lowest points out of those.
“I think Everton have got the points on the board and they have got the easiest fixtures. And Nottingham Forest have got even more points – I can see it being Leicester and Leeds joining Southampton based on those fixtures.”
Schmeichel added: “I don’t see points there (for Leicester in their final two games). The way they have been playing. We heard Dean Smith, after the game, again talking about individual mistakes. I think they are more than individual mistakes at the club. It’s the team as well. The way the team is lining up. It goes all through the football club. I think they are going down.
“In a way, I feel Leeds can find a way out of this. The way they played the other day. The way that Sam Allardyce is lining them up. They aren’t playing out from the back, anymore. They are playing a more long ball game. They are fighting. It’s easier to fight that way – I just have a feeling they are going to get out of it.”
FINAL-DAY PREMIER LEAGUE RELEGATION BATTLE
Those in the Elland Road boardroom promised their fans that such a scenario wouldn’t repeat itself, yet here Leeds are once again.
If the Yorkshire club are to keep their Premier League status intact, then there has to be final-day drama again.
Last time out, they were away at Brentford, now it’s a home clash against Tottenham. But before the fans can worry about facing Harry Kane, they have to get the points at the London Stadium.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
