Tottenham Hotspur supporters will not be too pleased with the latest prediction ahead of Monday night’s crucial clash against Leeds United, especially given what is at stake in the relegation battle.
There is no denying that only a few weeks ago, the clash between Tottenham Hotspur and Leeds United was being labelled a relegation six-pointer.
However, plenty has changed since then, with Daniel Farke’s side pulling clear of trouble after securing three wins in their last five outings.
That run has lifted Leeds into 14th place and seven points clear of the drop zone. While they can still mathematically be relegated, their fate could already be confirmed before kick-off against Spurs on Monday should West Ham United lose to Arsenal.
Paul Merson predicts Tottenham defeat against Leeds United
For Spurs, Monday’s encounter remains a massive game as they still do not have enough breathing space to afford further dropped points.
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As things stand, just one point separates Tottenham from 18th-placed West Ham, leaving Roberto De Zerbi’s side with very little margin for error.
A victory for the Hammers over Arsenal would see them leapfrog Spurs into 17th before Tottenham even takes to the pitch on Monday night, piling further pressure on the Lilywhites.
Paul Merson has now delivered his prediction for Tottenham’s clash against Leeds, and many Spurs supporters will not appreciate the direction he went.
Writing in his Sportskeeda column, Merson praised Tottenham’s recent improvement under De Zerbi but admitted he still expects Leeds to come away with all three points. He said:
“Tottenham played well the other day against Aston Villa. I thought Villa were a joke, but the Spurs from six months ago would not have won that game! They have definitely made progress under Roberto De Zerbi.
“Leeds have been outstanding in recent weeks. Barring the FA Cup semi-final loss to Chelsea, they have lost just one out of their last nine games. If Leeds are in the mood, they can hurt Tottenham. There is no doubt about it.
“I actually feel sorry for West Ham because Tottenham are playing Leeds at a favourable time. We know it is all about timings in football. If Leeds were still heavily involved in the relegation battle, they would have been a huge test for Tottenham. Now I fear they might take the foot off the gas against Spurs on Monday.
“This is a hard game to call. Even if West Ham lose to Arsenal, Tottenham should win this game. They cannot let the relegation battle go down to the final day of the season. I do not expect Spurs to beat Chelsea in the next game. So this is a hugely important fixture for them. I just cannot back them against Leeds though, I think they lose this one!”
Prediction: Tottenham Hotspur 1-2 Leeds United.
Spurs can still prove Paul Merson wrong
The last time the two sides met, it was Spurs who came out on top after securing a 2-1 victory at Elland Road.
There is no reason why the Lilywhites cannot repeat a similar result in front of their home supporters, even though Tottenham have struggled at home for large parts of this season.