What pundits including Jamie Carragher and Jeff Stelling have said about Leeds United's chances of staying up

Pundits across the media have been delivering their verdicts on Leeds United's chances of avoiding relegation from the Premier League.

Leeds United are full of confidence as they prepare to visit Premier League rivals Brentford on Sunday afternoon.

Daniel Farke’s side travel to the Gtech Stadium looking to make it three games unbeaten after building on the momentum of a positive second-half display in their late defeat at Manchester City by claiming four points from two home games against Chelsea and reigning Premier League champions Liverpool.

The win against Europa Conference League winners Chelsea was fully deserved as Jaka Bijol, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Ao Tanaka all found the net in what was an impressive display from everyone wearing those famous white shirts. However, Farke’s side appeared to be on their way to a defeat just days later when a quickfire double from Liverpool forward Hugo Ekitike put the Reds in control at Elland Road.

Leeds hit back with goals from Calvert-Lewin and Anton Stach - but their efforts appeared to be going without reward as Dominik Szoboszlai gave the visitors a lead that remained in place until deep into injury-time. But the Whites roared back into the game and earned themselves a deserved share of the points when Tanaka netted for the second consecutive home game.

That has left the Whites sitting two points and two places above the relegation zone ahead of Sunday’s visit to Brentford - but what are the pundits saying about Leeds’ hopes of avoiding an immediate return to the Championship this season?

What are pundits saying about Leeds United’s hopes of avoiding relegation?

Former Sunderland striker Darren Bent (Photo: Getty Images)placeholder image
Former Sunderland striker Darren Bent (Photo: Getty Images) | Getty Images

Darren Bent

“Fair play to Daniel Farke because he got promoted with Norwich, terrible, and went back down. Now he’s got back there with Leeds, they’re struggling. They’ve got a couple of good results, but are struggling. That result, of course, will please the fans and the owners and supporters and, yeah, it’s a feel-good factor. But it’s how do Leeds back that up?

“Because they’ve beaten Chelsea, fair play. Now we’ve got Liverpool. Liverpool’s the next one they’ve got. That’s at home. You never know, then Brentford away. But I still don’t think their supporters are convinced. One result can’t convince you that he’s the right man.”

Conor Coady

“I played with him (Dominic Calvert-Lewin) at Everton and lucky enough to do so for England, too. He’s an outstanding footballer. People just think he’s a big lad and he’ll win headers, but technically, he’s very very good as well. You play the ball into his feet, he can set, he can spin.

“He can hold the ball up, he can get you up the pitch. At Everton, I never felt we needed a player more than Calvert-Lewin when he wasn’t playing. The team was built for him. I said [his aerial ability] wasn’t the only part of his game, but it is a really strong part of his game. His leap is unbelievable. If they keep him fit, they have a right chance of survival.

“What I always look at with teams down there [at the bottom of the table] is the firepower they have up top. Those two they have, Calvert-Lewin and Nmecha, are a handful. Compare them to the other teams. West Ham have Callum Wilson but you look at Wolves, Burnley, do they score many goals? Those two up top will score goals [for Leeds]. They are going to be a massive part in how Leeds do this season.”

Gabriel Agbonlahor

“The players are with [Farke], the players are listening to him, their new tactics. So, Daniel Farke has done fantastically, and the talk of him losing his job is long gone. I am. I’m going to say West Ham go down.”

Jamie Carragher

“Yes, brilliant management, but going to 3-5-2 doesn’t mean all Leeds problems are finished. They are going to lose games; they are going to find it difficult. They do not have the quality of the other teams. But Farke made changes against Liverpool, and we saw a real impact. Calvert-Lewin has made a huge impact over the last week. Elland Road was absolutely bouncing at 2-1, then they equalised again.”

Jeff Stelling

“If it comes down to the crunch, one of the reasons I think Leeds will stay up, I looked at their last eight games. Now, look, it’s light years away from those last eight games, right? But on paper, at least, within those last eight games, you know, you mentioned the home form.”

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