The Premier League relegation battle was blown wide open following a disastrous set of weekend results for Leeds United. The Whites were defeated 4-0 by Manchester City at Elland Road on Saturday, while both Everton and Burnley picked up wins.
Burnley left it late to score two late goals and secure a 2-1 comeback victory at Watford, while Everton earned a hard-fought 1-0 success over Chelsea. Leeds now sit 17th in the table, level on points with Burnley – who are above the Whites on goal difference.
More worryingly for Leeds, though, Everton are now just two points behind Jesse Marsch’s side having played a game fewer. Ahead of a nail-biting few weeks in the battle to beat the drop, here is a comparison of the three sides’ injury and suspension situation.
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Leeds United
Patrick Bamford – foot
Liam Cooper – knee
Stuart Dallas – leg
Adam Forshaw – leg
Tyler Roberts – hamstring
Crysencio Summerville – ankle
Leeds will be without Stuart Dallas, Adam Forshaw, Tyler Roberts and Crysencio Summerville for the remainder of the season. Dallas and Forshaw in particular will both represent huge blows for the Whites, with the former set to face a very lengthy spell on the sidelines due to a femoral fracture picked up in the 4-0 defeat to Manchester City on Saturday.
The severity of captain Liam Cooper’s injury is yet to be discovered after he limped out of the warm-up ahead of the clash with City. Leeds will be desperate for his injury not to be serious given the impact he has made on the defence since returning from a hamstring injury.
Finally, optimism is high in the Leeds camp that Patrick Bamford will return before the end of the season. Bamford has been out for much of the campaign but if he can play some sort of part in the final four matches, that would be a huge boost for the run in.
Burnley
Ben Mee – calf
Erik Pieters – knee
Maxwel Cornet – knee
Johan Berg Gudmundsson – calf
Ashley Westwood – ankle
Jay Rodriguez – calf
Like Leeds, Burnley are also currently nursing six injuries to first-team players. Johan Berg Gudmundsson and Ashley Westwood are set to miss the rest of the season, though there is hope with the other four that they could play some part in the run-in.
Maxwel Cornet could be available for the weekend match with Aston Villa, while Erik Pieters is also back in training. Captain Ben Mee, who has been helping out with the coaching side of things since Sean Dyche’s departure, could also feature before the end of the campaign.
The only current uncertainty surrounding a return date is Jay Rodriguez – which suggests that Burnley’s squad could be in decent shape for their final four matches.
Everton
Nathan Patterson – foot
Donny van de Beek – groin
Andre Gomes – groin
Ben Godfrey – thigh
Andros Townsend – knee
Richarlison – potential suspension
The only Everton players set to miss the rest of the season are Andros Townsend and Nathan Patterson, who have both undergone surgery on respective knee and foot injuries. Ben Godfrey’s availability is also uncertain, though Frank Lampard does hold some hope he will play some part in the run-in.
Donny van de Beek and Andre Gomes are likely to be fit in the next week or so, with the Toffees’ trip to Watford next week a potential return date for the midfield pair. Everton’s biggest blow could be still yet to come, though, with Richarlison under an FA investigation.
The Brazilian threw a flair back into the crowd after his winning goal against Chelsea, which he is likely to be charged for. Whether he incurs a suspension remains to be seen, however.
