Yorkshire Evening Post

Leeds United will have the chance to pile more pressure on Spurs before the season is over.

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Ex-Leeds United assistant coach Gus Poyet has warned another of his former clubs, Tottenham Hotspur, are in real danger of relegation this season.

Leeds are currently the best-placed of four teams fighting to avoid joining likely relegation candidates Wolves and Burnley in the bottom three. The Whites are 15th, three points ahead of West Ham and Nottingham Forest while two clear of Spurs.

Few expected the latter to be involved in such a scrap but having failed to pick up a single Premier League win in 2026, Spurs are swirling the drain. New manager Igor Tudor has lost all of his four matches in charge across all competitions amid calls for him to be axed already.

Poyet spent three years as a player at Spurs before coaching the North London outfit, for whom he left his assistant role at Leeds under Dennis Wise in 2007. The Uruguayan is therefore well-placed to understand how the current relegation scrap might be affecting both.

“Winning the Europa League and finishing 17th last season, that was an accident,” Poyet told the YEP of Spurs, via Gambling.com where users discover top online casinos. “This year is not an accident anymore. Now it's a problem, and the more you play with that situation, the more risk you have to go down.

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“So I think they need to be careful, very, very careful. It's a tricky one, but without any doubt, I think Tottenham are in danger from what I felt when I was at the stadium [during their recent defeat to Arsenal] watching the team.”

Of course, Leeds still have to travel to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for what is their third-last game of the season in May. Daniel Farke’s side have won just one away game all season but in Spurs, will face the Premier League’s second-worst team at home - better only than Burnley.

Leeds United can use Spurs toxicity to their advantage

Tottenham have not won a Premier League home game since early December and last week’s 3-1 defeat to Crystal Palace was a perfect example of how quickly things can unravel. Tudor’s side went 1-0 up on 34 minutes but by half-time were 3-1 down and reduced to 10 men.

The Tottenham Hotspur stadium has become toxic, with any setback or mistake met with audible groans and boos. Poyet believes visiting teams such as Leeds can use that to their advantage as the pressure piles up.

“I call them World Cup final games, massive ones,” he added. “It's worrying for everyone. For Leeds players to play at Elland Road, now is fantastic. For Tottenham to play at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, it's terrible. It's a massive difference.

“Leeds can take advantage of that depending on the situation because all players are not all the same mentally, and the atmosphere affects the place in a different way. So if you go there, score first or get through the first 30 minutes, it could be a nightmare for the local players. That's something that could be important for Leeds at that time.”

Leeds United currently sit two points above crisis-ridden Spurs in the Premier League table.

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Gary Neville believes it would be good for the Premier League if established teams are relegated amid pre-season worries over the fate of Leeds United.

Leeds were promoted from the Championship alongside Burnley and Sunderland but faced arguably a more difficult task than ever surviving. In each of the previous two seasons, all three newly-promoted sides went straight back down and many pre-season predictions pointed towards a repeat.

But while Burnley have struggled, Leeds and Sunderland currently sit outside the bottom three with the latter virtually safe following their 1-0 win at Elland Road last week. Daniel Farke’s side sit three points above 18th-placed West Ham, with Nottingham Forest and Tottenham Hotspur between the pair also.

Of those four candidates to join Burnley and Wolves, Spurs feel like they are in the biggest crisis with new manager Igor Tudor losing all of his four games in charge so far. The North London club are just one point clear of West Ham with Liverpool away this weekend.

“I must admit, seeing Tottenham go down, it wouldn’t be great for Tottenham fans, but it would be very good for the Premier League from a competitive perspective,” Neville told The Overlap. “The idea of Leeds staying up, Sunderland staying up, because I was worried that every club that came up would go straight back down again.”

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There is already huge pressure on Tudor, whose side are in free-fall with mounting disciplinary problems and no clear route to points. The Croatian admitted after a 5-2 midweek Champions League defeat at Atletico Madrid that everything is going against Spurs.

Gary Neville Spurs relegation verdict amid Leeds United hope

“The Premier League doesn’t necessarily need Tottenham to go down; they need clubs other than the ones who have come up to go down,” Neville added. “It would be sad if they went down, but maybe they’ve had it coming. If you’re going to make another [managerial] change, that for me needs to be today or tomorrow, because you don’t wait.”

Leeds still have to go to Tottenham, of course, with their trip to North London marking the third-to-last game of the season. Daniel Farke and his side will hope to have increased their three-point cushion on the drop zone by that point but it looks set to be a huge game regardless.

Despite last week’s 1-0 defeat to Sunderland halving their six-point cushion, Leeds are still deemed more likely to survive than Spurs, Nottingham Forest or West Ham. That is due in part to the fact they have a more favourable run-in on paper compared to all rivals.

Farke’s side travel to Crystal Palace this weekend before the visit of Brentford to Elland Road before the March international break. That is the first of four more home games which also includes Wolves, Burnley and Brighton.

The former CEO and managing director of Premier League clubs believes Leeds United would be far less impacted by relegation than the likes of Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United but the drop would delay 49ers Enterprises' plans.

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Christian Purslow, formerly the CEO of Aston Villa and the managing director at both Liverpool and Chelsea, has been assessing the prospect of relegation for clubs fighting to avoid finishing 18th or below. With Wolves and Burnley almost certain to fall through the top flight's trap door, the final relegation place is currently occupied by West Ham on 28 points. Nottingham Forest sit just above the Hammers on goal difference, with Spurs one point ahead and Leeds three points clear in 15th.

Speaking on The Football Boardroom podcast he co-hosts with journalist Henry Winter, Purslow highlighted the fact that no one involved in the deal that saw Spurs borrow hundreds of millions to finance their £1bn-plus stadium was ever contemplating Championship football or its associated revenues. The idea of selling Spurs, he believes, would go out the window if they dropped into the second tier, until such a time as they returned to the Premier League.

"None of those bankers when that deal was done would have assumed that the borrower Tottenham Hotspur would ever be in the Championship, where revenues weren't £600m, £700m, but where revenues were £300m to £350m. Nobody realistically contemplated a relegation scenario where we're not talking about the difference between fourth and 15th place - £20m to £30m, we're talking about maybe £200m, £250m. Now what I'm looking at is this summer in a scenario of relegation, without doubt, those banks will want to see some equity invested by the owners. So not just not selling, but having to write a big check. That's what these owners will be thinking about today."

WATCH: Who MUST play at Crystal Palace and where is a summer upgrade needed?

When it comes to West Ham, Purslow pointed out that the club's recent accounts made it clear players will need to be sold, potentially alongside a serious injection of cash from shareholders, whether or not they are in the Premier League. Relegation would obviously only worsen the financial situation for the Hammers.

But while no one in the Leeds United fan base wants to hear that their club would be 'least impacted' by the drop, or even consider the idea of an immediate return to the Championship, Purslow says 49ers Enterprises' acceptance of that possibility should safeguard them from financial meltdown.

"I do think that the ownership group at Leeds' approach to coming back up last season and since has been quite cautious," he said.

"They have gotten into a situation where they are running the club with a base case assumption that they might be re relegated - to give it a terrible media name as if they are a yo-yo club. They stuck largely with the Championship squad. They stuck with Daniel Farke, who I think most people in the game didn't expect to last the full season. Let's face it, this season we had had two prior years where all three teams coming up have gone back down. So any prudent manager, responsible chief exec at Leeds would say we have to allow for that possibility. And I think therefore the only positive is that in terms of their investment in the wage bill, their investment in the playing squad has been such that it won't be as damaging."

Yet relegation never comes without a cost and alongside the potential loss of talented players, new stars who have become popular with the fanbase and potentially some of those so instrumental in promotion, Leeds could find themselves on the back foot off the pitch again. Just like Nottingham Forest, Purslow's view is that Leeds would have to delay their Elland Road redevelopment plans in the event of relegation. "It wouldn't surprise me if it got mothballed for another year if they go down," he added.

Leeds United’s battle for Premier League survival is paused until next weekend - ahead of which a new supercomputer is forecasting a relegation shocker in its new predicted final table and points.

Daniel Farke’s Whites put in a fine display in last Saturday evening’s hosting of title-chasing Manchester City only to suffer a 1-0 defeat but results elsewhere kept Leeds nine points clear of the dropzone.

United then had the chance to kick nine points clear of the bottom three with a victory from Tuesday night’s hosting of Sunderland but Farke’s side suffered a very disappointing defeat and the landscape has changed in a big way since.

Third-bottom West Ham United then travelled to Fulham the following night and Crysencio Summerville’s strike gave the Irons a huge 1-0 victory which took them to within three points of the Whites.

The same night, fourth-bottom Nottingham Forest managed to get a 2-2 draw from their clash at Manchester City as they too moved three points behind the Whites.

Those results piled the pressure on fifth-bottom Tottenham Hotspur ahead of their Thursday night hosting of Crystal Palace and Spurs suffered yet another defeat, a 3-1 loss leaving them just one point ahead of Forest and West Ham and two behind Leeds.

With bottom club Wolves and second-bottom Burnley, it’s looking like one from four for the final relegation spot and the supercomputer from the team at CasinoHawks is predicting a big further twist and relegation shocker in its new predicted final table and points. Here is the full new rundown in reverse order.

Leeds United’s struggling rivals Tottenham Hotspur have suffered a double blow in their quest for Premier League survival - and data experts Opta have now produced their new predicted final table and points.

Spurs lined up for Thursday evening’s hosting of Crystal Palace still seeking a first win of 2026 but knowing that getting one would take them above Leeds and send them four points clear of the dropzone.

That looked likely as former Leeds star Archie Gray set up Dominic Solanke to fire Spurs ahead but Tottenham’s night then imploded a bit like their season so far as Micky van de Ven was sent off en route to the team suffering a 3-1 defeat, van de Ven now facing a one-match ban as part of a double blow.

It’s all left Spurs two points behind 15th-placed Leeds with just eight games left and only one point above both third-bottom West Ham and fourth-bottom Nottingham Forest.

Leeds remain three points clear of the dropzone and two points clear of Tottenham but now seven points behind Palace, Brighton now the team directly above United but six points ahead of them.

Thursday night’s result was another huge development in the fight for Premier League survival and data experts Opta have now produced their new predicted final table and points following the full completion of the midweek games.

Here is the full new run down in reverse order.

Leeds United’s struggling rivals Tottenham Hotspur have suffered a fresh blow in their quest for Premier League survival - and the bookies have made a massive call in their new predicted final table.

Spurs lined up for Thursday evening’s hosting of Crystal Palace still seeking a first win of 2026 but knowing that getting one would take them above Leeds and send them four points clear of the dropzone.

That looked likely as former Leeds star Archie Gray set up Dominic Solanke to fire Spurs ahead but Tottenham’s night then imploded a bit like their season so far as Micky van de Ven was sent off en route to the team suffering a 3-1 defeat.

It’s all left Spurs two points behind 15th-placed Leeds with just eight games left and only one point above both third-bottom West Ham and fourth-bottom Nottingham Forest.

Leeds remain three points clear of the dropzone and two points clear of Tottenham but now seven points behind Palace, Brighton now the team directly above United but six points ahead of them.

Thursday night’s result was another huge development in the fight for Premier League survival and the bookies have quickly made a huge call with a massive change in their new predicted final Premier League table.

Here is the full new run down based on the latest relegation and title odds.

Leeds United are six points clear of the dropzone with ten games left - and Opta’s supercomputer has made a big Whites call in its new predicted final table and points.

Daniel Farke’s suffered a rare defeat under the Elland Road lights and just a third league loss from their last 15 games on Saturday evening as title-chasing Manchester City left Elland Road with a 1-0 success.

Leeds, though, remained six points clear of the relegation zone despite the defeat after third-bottom West Ham’s 5-2 loss at Liverpool on Saturday afternoon.

Nevertheless, United’s defeat to City offered both fifth-bottom Tottenham Hotspur and fourth-bottom Nottingham Forest the chance to improve their position, Spurs knowing that a win at Sunday’s hosts Fulham would send them above Farke’s Whites.

Tottenham, though, in new boss Igor Tudor’s second game in charge, suffered yet another defeat as Fulham recorded a 2-1 victory that leaves Spurs two points below Leeds with ten games left. In an arguably even bigger boost for Leeds, fourth-bottom Forest were also beaten by the same score at Brighton, leaving the Reds four points behind the Whites.

Completing a triple Whites boost, 14th-placed Crystal Palace also suffered a 2-1 defeat at Manchester United which featured the additional Eagles blow of a straight red card for star defender Maxence Lacroix. Palace could have kicked seven points clear of Leeds with a win but remain just one place and four points above them.

Apart from bottom of the table Wolves winning, it’s left the bottom seven standings exactly as they were and Opta’s supercomputer has now unveiled its new predicted final table and points featuring a big Whites call.

Here is the full new rundown including the latest Arsenal v City title call.

Leeds United’s defeat to Manchester City has been followed by fresh blows for a trio of struggling rivals - leading to a big Whites change in the bookies’ new predicted final Premier League table.

Daniel Farke’s Whites fell to just a third league defeat from their last 15 games on Saturday evening as Pep Guardiola’s title-chasing City side left Elland Road with a 1-0 success.

Leeds, though, remained six points clear of the relegation zone despite the defeat after third-bottom West Ham’s 5-2 loss at Liverpool on Saturday afternoon.

Nevertheless, United’s defeat to City offered both fifth-bottom Tottenham Hotspur and fourth-bottom Nottingham Forest the chance to improve their position, Spurs knowing that a win at Sunday’s hosts Fulham would send them above Farke’s Whites.

Tottenham, though, in new boss Igor Tudor’s second game in charge, suffered yet another defeat as Fulham recorded a 2-1 victory that leaves Spurs two points below Leeds with ten games left.

In an arguably even bigger boost for Leeds, fourth-bottom Forest were also beaten by the same score at Brighton, leaving the Reds four points behind the Whites.

Completing a triple Whites boost, 14th-placed Crystal Palace also suffered a 2-1 defeat at Manchester United which featured the additional Eagles blow of a straight red card for star defender Maxence Lacroix.

Palace could have kicked seven points clear of Leeds with a win but remain just one place and four points above them.

For Leeds, Sunday’s results couldn’t have been much better and it’s all led to a big change in the club’s relegation odds and new predicted final table with the bookies.

Here, based on the very latest title and relegation odds, is the full new rundown including the latest Arsenal v City title call.

Leeds United have received a fresh triple boost in the club’s survival bid.

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Leeds United have received a fresh triple boost in the club’s quest for Premier League survival following Saturday’s defeat to Manchester City.

Daniel Farke’s Whites fell to just a third league defeat from their last 15 games on Saturday evening as Pep Guardiola’s title-chasing City side left Elland Road with a 1-0 success.

Leeds, though, remained six points clear of the relegation zone despite the defeat after third-bottom West Ham’s 5-2 loss at Liverpool on Saturday afternoon.

Nevertheless, United’s defeat to City offered both fifth-bottom Tottenham Hotspur and fourth-bottom Nottingham Forest the chance to improve their position, Spurs knowing that a win at Sunday’s hosts Fulham would send them above Farke’s Whites.

Tottenham, though, in new boss Igor Tudor’s second game in charge, suffered yet another defeat as Fulham recorded a 2-1 victory that leaves Spurs two points below Leeds with ten games left.

Double blow for rivals featuring dismissal

In an arguably even bigger boost for Leeds, fourth-bottom Forest were also beaten by the same score at Brighton, leaving the Reds four points behind the Whites although the result in itself provided Brighton with a big boost as they moved 11th.

But completing a triple Whites boost, 14th-placed Crystal Palace also suffered a 2-1 defeat at Manchester United which featured the additional Eagles blow of a straight red card for star defender Maxence Lacroix.

A Lacroix header had earlier put Palace 1-0 but the defender was sent off just before the hour mark for bringing down Matheus Cunha just inside the box and denying a clear goalscoring opportunity. Bruno Fernandes converted the spot kick and then set up Benjamin Sesko for what proved the winning goal.

Palace could have kicked seven points clear of Leeds with a win but remain just one place and four points above them.

Leeds United remain six points clear of the dropzone after defeat to Manchester City - but a big new Whites call has been made in Opta’s new predicted final Premier League table and points.

Leeds approached Saturday evening’s hosting of Pep Guardiola’s second-placed side having lost just two of their last 14 Premier League games and Daniel Farke’s side created several good chances to go in front.

None of them were taken though and Antoine Semenyo’s strike in first-half stoppage time ultimately proved the only goal of the game as City left with a 1-0 success.

Nonetheless, despite City missing several other great chances themselves, Leeds put in another excellent display against this season’s possible new champions and no damage was done in terms of the gap to the relegation zone.

Third-bottom West Ham faced a very tough fixture away to Liverpool in a 3pm kick-off and the Irons were dealt another big blow in falling to a 5-2 defeat.

A crushing blow was also deal to second-bottom Burnley who fought back from being 3-0 down to draw level at 3-3 at home to Brentford only to suffer a heart-breaking reverse.

Sunderland, meanwhile, who have gradually been slipping down the table, took a point from a 1-1 draw at Bournemouth,

Ahead of Sunday’s games with Tottenham Hotspur, Nottingham Forest, Crystal Palace and Brighton all in action, data experts Opta have produced their new predicted final table and points which features a big Leeds change. Here is the full new rundown.