Leeds United travel to Turf Moor this Saturday looking for a crucial win on the road against a bottom-half rival in Burnley.
Scott Parker’s Burnley have been subject to a rough start back in the Premier League this season, seeing them sit 18th as things stand.
United, though, have faced a similar level of opponents with both sides facing three of the current top five. Saturday sees both hopeful of building a run of form to mount a real survival bid.
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“This is going to be very tight” – Chris Sutton issues Burnley v Leeds United prediction
It’s a tough game to call at Turf Moor. Underlying metrics depict Burnley as the outright worst side in the league after seven games. However, their undoing of the media-hyped Sunderland at home suggests they’re obviously no pushovers.
United only collected one point from two meetings with Parker’s men last season. That weighs into Sky Sports pundit Chris Sutton’s predictions for this match.
“Burnley have been a bit unlucky to lose four out of four on the road so far, but they really need to get something at home, especially against another promoted team,” he wrote for the BBC.
Chris Sutton is predicting a cagey match as Leeds United face Burnley at Turf Moor. (REUTERS/Russell Cheyne)
The Clarets beat Sunderland at Turf Moor at the start of the season, which is their only league win to date. Scott Parker’s side have been competitive in most of their other games too but so have Leeds, who have scored the same amount of goals as Burnley – seven – but feel like they carry a bit more of a threat.
“This is going to be very tight. I don’t like going for too many draws, but this fixture finished 0-0 in the Championship last season and I am going for the same outcome this time.”
Six-pointer for Leeds United against relegation rivals Burnley
It’ll be interesting to see how Daniel Farke sets us up for this game. There’s a part of me thinking that he’s going to be content with a point and a clean sheet, just like he was in January – as Sutton alludes to.
If Leeds get a point here, and then beat West Ham next week, that’s a very good four points. However, not taking maximum points here all of a sudden puts pressure on getting nailed-on results at Elland Road.
Burnley are going to put up a stubborn defence. Therefore, you can imagine this game panning out in a similar fashion to both previous meetings with Parker. That is Leeds having most of the ball, most of the chances, and being the side pushing the agenda more.
That doesn’t equate to three points, though, as those two Championship meetings can testify.
I worry Farke won’t go for the jugular at Turf Moor, though, because this is a staple six-pointer. Winning here would be a huge statement and a real confidence booster.
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