Leeds United are preparing for an important Premier League fixture at home to Burnley on Friday night, aiming to respond to their FA Cup semi-final loss against Chelsea.
Daniel Farke and his players will be eager to move on from that setback quickly and deliver a strong showing at Elland Road to end the week on a high.
With 40 points already on the board, a tally often considered enough for survival, Leeds know that a victory over Burnley would all but secure their place in the top flight.
Daniel Farke has made it clear that he is not taking Burnley lightly, despite Scott Parker’s side being confirmed for relegation. However, a Supercomputer prediction will please Leeds fans.
Leeds United predicted to break the Burnley duck
Burnley are confirmed to go down, but there is a reason why Farke is wary of facing the Clarets. They have been a tough side to beat for Leeds over the years.
Leeds have won just one of their last five encounters against Burnley, and have lost two of their last three games against Parker’s side.
However, Opta’s projections for Friday night put Leeds firmly in the driving seat, giving them a 62.4% chance of taking all three points at Elland Road.
A Burnley win has been set at just below 18 per cent, and there is less than a 10 per cent chance of the two teams sharing the spoils on Friday night.
It’s an emphatic prediction in favour of Leeds, given the recent history of the fixture and how hard Leeds have found it against Parker’s side.
It also reflects Leeds’ recent form, with the side picking up seven points from their last three matches, including a memorable win over Manchester United at Old Trafford.
A win on Friday night seals it
Leeds aren’t safe on paper just yet, but with only four games left, it would take an extraordinary collapse for them to be pulled back into the relegation battle.
Still, a win at home against the Clarets would calm any remaining nerves and likely put Leeds out of Tottenham’s reach in the table.
Ironically, that could suit Spurs, who are set to host Leeds next month. They’d much prefer facing a side with little left to play for rather than one still desperate for points in north London.
With that game shaping up as a must-win for Tottenham, a more relaxed Leeds outfit would be a far more appealing opponent.
