Former Manchester City defender Micah Richards has backed Leeds United to stay in the Premier League as he predicts Everton to struggle between now and the end of the season.
The Whites recorded their first win since January with a 2-1 success over bottom side Norwich City on Sunday afternoon. Goals from Rodrigo and Joe Gelhardt secured all three points for Jesse Marsch's side at Elland Road.
It was a result of huge importance towards the foot of the division, as the Whites moved four points clear of the relegation zone, while Burnley and Everton both lost in a dramatic weekend of top-flight football.
Meanwhile, Watford earned a 2-1 victory at Southampton to give them a fighting chance of survival, with three teams now level on points between 19th and 17th in the table.
Sixteenth-place Leeds have opened up a small gap which they could build on ahead of another important game at Wolverhampton Wanderers this Friday, with Everton in action before then against Newcastle United.
When asked about the relegation battle on the Monday Night Club, Richards said: "I would pick Leeds [to stay up] just because of the last-minute winner from [Joe] Gelhardt. You look at Everton and the amount of money they've spent, they haven't been relegated out of the Premier League.
"They don't expect to be in this position and that just brings more pressure. They brought in Lampard, I thought it would be a good fit and it might prove to be the case if they stay up. He will then get a full pre-season and can get his style of play engrained in the squad.
"Right now, they've got the expectation of a great club, great history and the fans are so passionate. They've also got an inexperienced manager at the helm. So, all these things and you look at the fixtures moving forward, they are very, very tough.
"I've been in the relegation battle before and once you concede the first goal, the whole team knows they are going to lose. When that sets in at Everton, it will become toxic quickly and I don't think we're at that point yet."
It has been a busy few weeks at the Whites following Marcelo Bielsa's departure after three-and-a-half years at the club. The decision came as a shock to some Leeds supporters, who were surprised to see Marsch appointed as his replacement given he has no experience of English football.
However, the Whites produced a much-improved performance in his first game in charge at Leicester City and were unfortunate to not get anything from the game. It proved to be an evening to forget, though, when Aston Villa visited Elland Road last Thursday, as Leeds fell to a thumping 3-0 defeat.
This only made the game against Norwich more important and the Whites just managed to come out with the victory. And Richards has praised the Leeds supporters for their backing even when it is tough.
He said: "Leeds have just got a new manager, they've lost a couple of games. Yes, they were unlucky in the first one at Leicester. Young Gelhardt comes in to score the winning goal.
"Even though the expectation at Leeds is lower than at Everton, I think we all thought they would stay up, especially with Bielsa and the way they played after the first season.
"They have had a few key injuries, but if you go to Elland Road regardless of the result, it's always been rocking. When Leeds went to League One, I went to one game and there was 30,000 people.
"Leeds' support is one of the best, so no matter the result, they will back their team until the end home and away. Towards the end of Bielsa's tenure, there were a few groans but they were always going to fight to the end."
