A stride towards safety?
Forty points has always been held up as the safety mark clubs need to reach in the Premier League, but the last 10 years would tell you the magic number is actually closer to 35. Leeds United would hit 36 if they beat Crystal Palace tonight.
Putting the form and fixtures of their rivals to one side, hitting 36 points would generally be seen as beyond any club finishing in the bottom three across the past decade. Of course, if the teams around Leeds keep winning then the goalposts will move accordingly.
Burnley have Watford, Newcastle United and an Aston Villa heading for the beach, twice, before the conclusion. Everton have Watford, Brentford and Palace before the end. Thirty-six will be enough, won’t it? Won’t it?
READ MORE: Inside Leeds United's whirlwind Jesse Marsch transition and the Thorp Arch evolution he has pushed
Unbeaten anniversary
Avoid defeat at Selhurst Park tonight and the Whites will be onto a five-match unbeaten run and their longest stint without a loss since April 25 last year. Last season’s run-in was outstanding, but that pesky loss to Brighton & Hove Albion split the run.
Manchester United visited Elland Road one year ago today and played out a 0-0 draw which made it six unbeaten for Marcelo Bielsa's side. That run included Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool as well as the Red Devils.
While the spectacle has not always matched the results in this run under Jesse Marsch, few should care too much as the American guides the club to safety from relegation. They are hitting their best form in 12 months at just the right time.
Fitting in Phillips
Many expected Kalvin Phillips to get his first start in more than four months against Watford a fortnight ago, but Marsch remained cautious. The painful lesson of Patrick Bamford’s return has scarred the head coach and he does not want to see his other England international breaking down with injury.
With another 16 days of rest and preparation under his belt, Marsch now feels ready to re-introduce Phillips, a big weapon they have missed, as Leeds face their last six matches without any scheduled pauses between now and the finish line. As ever, we are left debating who would drop out to make way after such an impressive run of results. Robin Koch seems the smart pick, but we have seen how highly the head coach values the German.
Greenwood and Gelhardt’s involvement
The youngsters have been central to Marsch’s comments and plans since he came into the club. Injuries and knocks have perhaps denied them more game time, but they increasingly look like the head coach’s go-to attacking options from the bench.
Sam Greenwood impressed from the dugout at Vicarage Road with a hand in two of the three goals, while Joe Gelhardt's impact has been well documented. Could they yet play another big role in Croydon tonight?
Marsch and Vieira reunited
As surprising as it was, some basic research dug out a fiery history between Patrick Vieira and Marsch. As managers of New York’s rival clubs, the pair faced off in several Hudson River Derbies during their Major League Soccer days.
On one particularly fractious meeting, Vieira was sent off for remonstrating with the referee and had some choice words for Marsch on his way off before refusing to shake the American’s hand post-match. Vieira would later accuse Marsch of crying all week about poor officiating as a tactic to influence the referee in their game.
Their reunion will be worth a look on the touchline. Marsch has previously admitted his managerial meetings in the Premier League have been a touch too cordial. Perhaps Vieira will bring the edge he is craving.
