'Have the edge' - Chris Sutton and Paul Merson agree on Brentford vs Leeds United outcome
The predictions are in for Leeds United’s Premier League clash at Brentford on Sunday.
Chris Sutton expects Leeds United’s away-day woes to continue when they travel to Brentford on Sunday.
Leeds head to the Gtech Community Stadium hoping to build on a great week at Elland Road, with a 3-1 win over Chelsea and last weekend’s 3-3 draw against Liverpool lifting them out of the bottom three. Daniel Farke earned plenty of credit for those performances, having changed to a 3-5-2 formation and more direct style of play.
The Whites still have issues on the road, however, with a 3-1 win at Wolves in September their only positive result. Brentford, meanwhile, have lost just once at the Gtech Community Stadium with only the current top three of Arsenal, Manchester City and Aston Villa boasting a better home record.
“This is another big game at the bottom of the table,” Sutton wrote in his BBC Sport predictions column. “I am so pleased for Leeds boss Daniel Farke because I was fed up with the rubbish being talked about how he cannot manage in the Premier League.
“Leeds have had a tough run of games against Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool and it felt like there were people out there who were waiting and even wishing for Farke to fail, so he would be sacked. I am delighted that it has turned out very differently.
“The performances, the guts, and the quality that Leeds have shown has been brilliant, even in defeat at City, and against Chelsea and Liverpool they have picked up points too. Dominic Calvert-Lewin's goals have made the difference, and they will go into this game full of belief, and thinking they have got a real chance.
“Brentford are still favourites, though, because their home form is so good - with five wins, a draw and just one defeat under Keith Andrews so far. They have won their past three games there, against Liverpool, Newcastle and Burnley so, like Leeds, they will be full of confidence.
“I remember Farke's last game as Norwich manager in November 2021, when his team beat Brentford but he was sacked a few hours later. This time, I am backing Brentford to win (2-0), but Farke's future should not be in doubt.”
Paul Merson’s Brentford vs Leeds United prediction
Former Arsenal midfielder Merson has echoed Sutton’s praise of Leeds, who he believes have shown ‘great improvement’ since switching formation at Manchester City. That second-half at the Etihad was up there with the best Farke’s side have been on the road, fighting back from 2-0 down to draw level at 2-2 before Phil Foden’s late winner.
Also like Sutton, however, he believes home advantage will prove the difference. He told Sportskeeda: “If Brentford win this game, they will stop worrying about relegation. But they are under so much pressure to win games at home because of their terrible form on their travels. Leeds have shown great improvement in recent weeks.
“Both teams will match up against each other the same way, but I just feel Brentford have the edge. At home, Keith Andrews' men are a different team. Even though Leeds have done extremely well to get four points against Chelsea and Liverpool in their last two games, I expect them to come up short here. Prediction: Brentford 3-1 Leeds United.”
Leeds will hope to have Lukas Nmecha back fit after he missed Saturday’s draw against Liverpool with a hamstring issue. Brentford forward Kevin Schade is suspended but on-loan Arsenal winger Reiss Nelson could be back in the squad after a recent absence.