Leeds United have taken a big step away from the clutches of the Premier League relegation zone after a 4-1 win over Crystal Palace, and Gary Neville has made an honest admission about the Whites.
Saturday night saw Daniel Farke prepare for a massive game against Palace. Given his long-term ambition as manager is to establish the club in the Premier League, Palace was his biggest game in charge at Leeds.
This was Daniel Farke’s best performance as Leeds manager – Prove me wrong! 💪
Palace had no answers for Farke's 'hybrid' system. Relive it all here!
Largely, because a win over Palace would see Leeds go six points clear, after West Ham were easily beaten by Man City. Leeds not only secured a win, but they cruised to a victory, proving too physical for Palace.
Four goals, all from set-pieces, saw Leeds play to their strengths and take advantage of a Palace side that have injuries and absences. Gary Neville predicted Leeds would be relegated at the start of the season.
Gary Neville admits he might get Leeds prediction wrong
Indeed, Neville predicted Burnley and Wolves to go down and as things stand, that looks realistic. Wolves remain on two points from 17 Premier League games, while Burnley have 11 points, drawing on Saturday.
But he also predicted Leeds to go down and after Saturday’s win over Palace, Neville told his own podcast that while Burnley and Wolves prove him right, he thinks Leeds may see his prediction turn out wrong.
“I had Burnley, Wolves and Leeds to go down at the start of the season. I think Leeds have a real chance. I’ll be right with Burnley and Wolves, I’m not sure I’ll be right with Leeds. I think they’ve got something.”
Six points clear of the bottom three – Leeds can start to relax… can’t they? 😤
Gary Neville names the four players who are crucial for Leeds
Ask most supporters, and the obvious Leeds player in form is Dominic Calvert-Lewin. The striker is touted with an England call-up and maybe a World Cup spot. Joe Rodon has arguably been the most consistent.
But Leeds are more than just Rodon and Calvert-Lewin, and Neville has named the four players he feels are crucial for Farke’s men in the fight against the drop. It includes goalscorer and captain, Ethan Ampadu.
“It’s dependent on keeping two or three players fit, Ampadu and Calvert-Lewin are important for them, two wing-backs, Bogle and Gudmundsson – they’ve got a real hope,” Neville continued, in his analysis.
“Their manager will have gained strength having come out of it. They’re making Elland Road a place where they expect it to be, where teams won’t want to go because it’ll be a rough ride,” Neville added.
Leeds have one more game to play before the end of the year, as the Whites go to Wearside to take on Sunderland away from home. A Sunderland side that are missing a handful of key players at AFCON.
Receive a digest of our best Leeds content each week direct to your mailbox
