Paul Merson has backed Leeds United to avoid relegation from the Premier League on the final day of the season. The point that the Whites picked up against Brighton moved them out of the bottom three, leapfrogging Burnley in the process.
The Clarets have the chance to go back above Jesse Marsch’s side with their game-in-hand against Aston Villa on Thursday evening. If they draw or win, it will take Leeds’ survival fate out of their own hands and would leave them relying on a favour from Newcastle on the final day to avoid the drop.
As we have seen throughout the season – at both ends of the table – points on the board are more important than games in hand and Merson believes that hands an advantage to the Whites. The former Villa striker was speaking in his weekly column with Sky Sports.
“If I had to pick which camp I'd rather be in out of the relegation candidates, it'd be Leeds because of that point against Brighton - one that I think will keep them up,” he said. “I was covering their game on Sunday and Pascal Struijk's late equaliser was a massive goal for them. They were out of it in the first half and Brighton were a much better team.
“On Thursday, Burnley go to Aston Villa who are playing their last home game of the season. You've got to give the fans optimism on the last home game so Villa will be the biggest triers in the world on Thursday night.
“Steven Gerrard will not want 40,000 people leaving that ground with the attitude of next season. He will want to send those fans away with the feeling that they'll buy a new season ticket with the thought of Gerrard turning things around. That only happens if they beat Burnley.
“I don't expect Burnley to get anything at Aston Villa, so it will be completely out of their hands with one game to go - which is not where you want to be. Yes, they have Newcastle at home and Leeds have Brentford away, but it should be in those two teams' hands.”
Everton are, at the moment, still in the relegation battle but are in a much more commanding position than either Leeds or Burnley. Although, most of that rests on whether they can beat Crystal Palace at home on Thursday. If they can’t beat the Eagles in the Goodison Park then there is a real chance they will have to get something against Arsenal at the Emirates on Sunday.
