It has been a long time since all three promoted sides will sit outside of the relegation zone after 10 games, and Gary Lineker has now had his say on Leeds United, Sunderland, and Burnley.
All three promoted sides picked up wins over the weekend. Leeds cruised past West Ham despite the Hammers’ late consolation, while Sunderland came from behind to produce a huge win away at Chelsea.
Burnley, meanwhile, made it two wins from two after beating Leeds at Turf Moor. They netted a 95th-minute winner to beat Wolves 3-2. For now, the Wolves board is sticking by manager Vitor Pereira.
But with Burnley five clear, Leeds six, and Sunderland sitting in fourth, none of the three promoted sides will drop into the bottom three even if they all lose next time out. 10 games in, all clear of the drop zone.
Gary Lineker at the Premier League Hall of Fame 2024 Inductions
Photo by Tom Dulat/Getty Images for Premier League
The Premier League season is only nine games old. But as things stand, Leeds, Sunderland, and Burnley look as if they will put up a real fight in avoiding relegation back to the Championship at the first hurdle.
Something that hasn’t happened in the last two seasons. In Premier League history, only 12 promoted teams have reached 11 or more points by the 10-game mark and all 12 have avoided relegation.
Speaking to The Rest Is Football, Gary Lineker said it would be “great” for the Premier League if all three promoted sides could avoid the drop: “I think it’s good for the league this year, and it might change.
“The three teams promoted, none of them are in the bottom three. In fact, they’re all pretty comfortably away from the gap. Burnley five points clear, Leeds are six and Sunderland are flying high. That’s great.”
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Leeds have matched the 2020-21 record under Marcelo Bielsa
Farke will never get the praise that Marcelo Bielsa has earned from Leeds supporters. The Argentine took a side miles away from promotion, to ninth in the Premier League. He reconnected a club with its fanbase.
Farke has done a sensational job, though. The similarities keep coming in, between their time as Leeds managers, and the latest is that Farke’s side have 11 points from nine, the same total back in 2020-21.
Season Manager Points after 9 W-D-L GS/GA/GD
2020-21 Marcelo Bielsa 11 3-2-4 14/17/-3
2020-21 Daniel Farke 11 3-2-4 9/14/-6
Bielsa guided his Leeds side to ninth that season and while that may be a bit far-fetched for Farke and Leeds this season, there is certainly a good chance that Leeds avoid relegation back to the Championship.