Last weekend saw the nightmare scenario play out for Leeds United in the Premier League's relegation battle. The Whites went into the weekend knowing that their chances of pulling off a result against Manchester City were slim and although they did play well, they fell to a 4-0 loss to the champions.
However, it was results elsewhere which gave Jesse Marsch a real headache. Burnley were losing for the vast majority of their game, but they managed to score twice after the 80th minute to defeat Watford.
Meanwhile, Everton pulled off a shock result as they beat Chelsea. Those two results meant that Leeds now look favourites to go down, since they are equal on points with Burnley with a vastly inferior goal difference, whilst Everton have a game-in-hand in which to overturn the two point deficit that sees them behind Leeds in 18th place.
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With the battle so closely fought, Leeds will know that they still have an opportunity to turn things back in their favour though. Here is what could happen were the best and worst-case scenarios to play out this weekend.
Best case scenario
Leeds have a difficult fixture against Arsenal this weekend. However, the Gunners' games have been chaotic in recent times, meaning that the Whites could have an opportunity.
Additionally, Mikel Arteta seemed to have developed a strategy which caused Marcelo Bielsa major issues. Under a different manager for the Whites, it will be a different tactical battle which could work in Leeds' favour. Should the Whites get a win at Emirates they could turn the pressure back towards their rivals.
Burnley's fixture is an interesting one, as they face Aston Villa. They have yet to face Steven Gerrard's side this season, due to a cancellation earlier on, meaning that the match-up is difficult to predict. However, Villa certainly have the individual attacking talent to defeat Burnley.
Meanwhile, Everton have an away fixture against Leicester City. Leicester's form has been poor this season but Frank Lampard's side have been awful away from home this season. That makes it very possible that both Leeds' rivals could lose this weekend. If Leeds can win against Arsenal, they would move three points ahead of Burnley and five ahead of Everton - despite their game-in-hand - should the other parts of the best-case scenario play out.
Worst-case scenario
On the other hand, given Leeds' recent struggles against Arsenal and the fact that the game is at the Emirates, it's very possible that they come away with no points. If they were to lose, whilst Burnley and Everton both make it consecutive wins, they could find themselves adrift in the relegation zone.
Burnley would move three points clear, with their vastly superior goal difference meaning Leeds would need four points to overtake them. Everton would move a point ahead of Marsch's men, knowing that they could extend that lead with their match against Watford to come, as well as a game more to play than Leeds ahead of the final day. Should this scenario play out, Leeds would be struggling to turn the situation around, or relying on Everton's opponents to take points against them in their final four fixtures, providing an opportunity for the Whites to climb above them again in the final two games.
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