Premier League sides are set for a crucial run of five matches ahead of the World Cup break in November and December. With Leeds United currently sat 15th and sliding down the table, the Whites will be keen to arrest their six-match winless run as soon as possible.
Jesse Marsch’s side face a mixed run of fixtures in the coming weeks, with some against sides expected to be in and around them come the end of the season, and others against those set to be challenging at the top. So, with that in mind, here is a look at who each of the bottom six have to come in their next five.
15th – Leeds
Leicester City (A)
Fulham (H)
Liverpool (A)
Bournemouth (H)
Tottenham (A)
Leeds will almost certainly be targeting six points from their next two matches as they head to a vastly under-pressure Brendan Rodgers' Leicester City side before hosting Fulham. With Bournemouth at Elland Road also to come either side of trips to Liverpool and Tottenham, the pressure is on to take points from those three matches.
READ MORE: 'I don't have any fears' - Pat Nevin backs Leeds United despite worrying Premier League form
16th – Aston Villa
Fulham (A)
Brentford (H)
Newcastle United (A)
Manchester United (H)
Brighton (A)
This feels like a really pivotal period for Steven Gerrard at Aston Villa; anything less than seven points and he could be out of a job. Villa will certainly fancy themselves against both Fulham and Brentford but will certainly have to raise their game against Newcastle, Man United and Brighton.
17th – Wolves
Crystal Palace (A)
Leicester City (H)
Brentford (A)
Brighton (H)
Arsenal (H)
Still without a manager, Wolves will be hoping they can generate some momentum ahead of a potential new appointment in the coming days. Palace, Leicester, Brentford and Brighton are certainly matches they are more than capable of winning if they can find their form in front of goal.
18th – Southampton
Bournemouth (A)
Arsenal (H)
Crystal Palace (A)
Newcastle United (H)
Liverpool (A)
Just like the aforementioned Gerrard at Villa, defeat for Southampton at Bournemouth could spell the end of Ralph Hasenhuttl. It is almost a must-win for the Saints against the Cherries as they face four tough matches, including against Arsenal and Liverpool.
19th – Leicester City
Leeds (H)
Wolves (A)
Man City (H)
Everton (A)
West Ham (A)
Again, defeat for Leicester at home to Leeds could be the end of Rodgers’ time at the Foxes. Leicester have some tough fixtures to come ahead of the World Cup and so a win on Thursday is almost paramount, not just for Rodgers, but for their hopes of moving away from the bottom three.
20th – Nottingham Forest
Brighton (A)
Liverpool (H)
Arsenal (A)
Brentford (H)
Crystal Palace (H)
With fixtures against Liverpool and Arsenal in their next three, Forest could well find themselves cut adrift come November. The pressure could really be on for back-to-back home matches with Brentford and Crystal Palace.
READ NEXT:
- Every word Jesse Marsch said on Leeds United's Arsenal defeat, Rodrigo, delay, Jack Harrison
- Why Gabriel's red card was overturned against Leeds United
- Mikel Arteta makes Leeds United concession despite Arsenal win at raucous Elland Road
- Liam Cooper urges Leeds to use Arsenal display as a 'catalyst' to turn season around
- Leeds United winners and losers as midfield impress but Rodrigo struggles in Arsenal defeat
