"Paid off" - Alan Smith's Leeds United declaration with Brentford game score prediction
Alan Smith has had his say on Leeds United’s ongoing quest for Premier League survival and Sunday’s clash at Brentford.
Former Arsenal star Alan Smith has saluted a Leeds United change with a Daniel Farke admission and score prediction for Sunday’s next huge Premier League clash at Brentford.
Farke was left facing questions about his job after a recent run of five defeats from six games which left Leeds in the relegation zone for the first time this season as they began a run of three games against giants at Manchester City.
Leeds then trailed 2-0 at the break at the Etihad but Farke switched United’s formation to a new-look 3-5-2 after the interval which triggered a stirring second-half comeback, albeit one that ended in a heart-breaking last-gasp 3-2 defeat.
Farke, though, kept the 3-5-2 in tact for Wednesday night’s hosting of Chelsea and Saturday evening’s visit of Liverpool from which his side took a brilliant four points through a 3-1 win against the Blues and amazing comeback 3-3 draw against Arne Slot’s Reds.
Farke did change his formation again to a 4-3-3 in the second half against Liverpool but ex-Gunners star Smith says the move to a 3-5-2 ultimately “paid off” and that Farke deserves praise for changing things up.
“It’s paid off. Fair play.”
Speaking in his latest column for BestBettingSites.co.uk, Smith said: “Farke has gone to a different shape, hasn’t he?
“Three at the back in the last couple of games, and playing two up top. So, being a bit more forthright. He’s had Calvert-Lewin and Nmecha and then Okafor up top.
“So, rather than having one centre forward and the two wingers, James, Gnonto or Okafor, he’s gone for those two through the middle, and it’s paid off.
“They’ve been scoring goals, a lot of goals lately, so fair play to Daniel Farke for making the change and making a really positive one.”
Smith, though, ultimately still believes that Leeds will suffer a ninth loss of the Premier League season in Sunday’s clash at Brentford.
Smith reasoned: “Prediction: Brentford have been really poor away but very strong at home, so I’m going to go Brentford to win it 3-2.”