Paul Merson feels Leeds United are making their upcoming Premier League match against Everton a ‘cup final’. He also adds that the Whites took a risk after sacking Jesse Marsch.
Elland Road chiefs felt Marsch had now outlasted his tenure at the club following a 1-0 loss at Nottingham Forest. The result on Sunday left the West Yorkshire outfit 17th in the table with 18 points after 20 fixtures. They are also only above the drop zone on goal difference.
Everton, AFC Bournemouth and Southampton occupy the bottom three with 18, 17 and 15 points respectively through 21 games each. Leeds hold the edge on the Toffees with a goal difference of minus-8 to minus-12. The Whites have also scored and conceded more goals.
Leeds have struck home 26 goals to Everton’s 16 so far this season from one fewer games. But the Elland Road outfit have also let in 34 to the Goodison Park side’s 28 to have a four-goal difference. Yet a big enough win could launch either club above Leicester City in 14th.
The margin between Leeds and Everton’s goal differences could also shrink on Wednesday when the Whites play their game in hand. Michael Skubala, Chris Armas and Paco Gallardo will oversee duties at Manchester United targeting the Whites’ first win since November 5.
Merson now names Everton in a warning to Leeds after sacking Marsch on Monday
Another game with Manchester United follows for Leeds on Sunday when Leeds Live notes the Whites want to have a permanent manager in place to replace the sacked Marsch. The West Yorkshire outfit then visit Everton before hosting Southampton and visiting Chelsea.
Merson feels Leeds have taken a risk sacking Marsch before two matches with Manchester United. The Arsenal icon sees the Elland Road hierarchy’s decision as writing the games off as they target a new boss. But it will put further importance on their trip to Goodison Park.
“Things can change quickly,” Merson wrote in his column for Sky Sports. “They could quite easily lose twice to Man Utd, and they face Everton and Southampton before an FA Cup game against either Sunderland or Fulham and a league game against Chelsea.
“By writing these two games off they are potentially making the game against Everton a cup final. It’s not that easy. You can’t just write off football matches when you are down the bottom.
“I’m not sure if they’ve started to listen to some of the fans, if they are getting a bit frustrated. But still, I don’t think you want to be changing things up like this at this stage. It’s still extremely tight down at the bottom. One win can change an awful lot.”
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