What Leeds United need to be mathematically safe from relegation.
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Leeds United are last to play this weekend with Monday night’s clash at Tottenham Hotspur - yet Daniel Farke’s Whites could be mathematically safe from relegation by around 6.30pm this evening.
Fourteenth-placed Leeds sit seven points clear of the Premier League drop zone with just three matches left ahead of Monday evening’s clash at fourth-bottom Tottenham who are six points adrift of the Whites.
Tottenham are only one point clear of third-bottom West Ham but it is United’s seven point gap to West Ham that could lead to Farke’s side being mathematically safe after West Ham’s hosting of title-chasing Arsenal today in a 4.30pm kick-off.
With bottom two clubs Wolves and Burnley already down, a victory for Mikel Arteta’s Gunners at West Ham would guarantee United’s top-flight survival as defeat for the Irons would leave them seven points behind Leeds with just two games left to play.
The only result that will ensure mathematical safety
An Arsenal win is the only result today that would leave Leeds mathematically safe from relegation even before playing Tottenham although a draw between the Hammers and Gunners would realistically if not mathematically ensure that Leeds won’t go down.
A point for West Ham would leave them six points behind with two games left meaning they could still draw level with Leeds on 43 points if winning their last two games away at Newcastle United at home to Leeds on the final day.
However, the Hammers would also need a huge and unrealistic goal difference swing, United’s goal difference currently standing at minus five but West Ham’s minus 19.
In practice, it means an Arsenal win or draw would be enough for Leeds fans to be able to crack open the bubbly.
A win for the Hammers, though, would bring them just four points behind the Whites and with Leeds still to play but Farke’s side would have three games left as opposed to two.
Fifth-bottom Nottingham Forest are also in action today as they host Newcastle United in a 2pm kick-off. Forest start the day one point behind the Whites.
Sixth-bottom Crystal Palace who are behind Leeds on goal difference host Everton at the same time in another 2pm start.