Former Norwich City player Chris Sutton has launched a passionate defence of Leeds United boss Daniel Farke as he delivered his prediction for the game against Brighton.
Daniel Farke is currently enjoying a personal best start to the Premier League season, having steered Leeds to 11 points from their opening nine games.
However, their trip to Brighton represents a difficult test for Farke’s side, with Leeds having failed to win away at Brighton since 2009.
Farke has the luxury of an injury-free Leeds squad to choose from, and the Leeds manager hinted that he could be set to unleash Dan James against Brighton following a run of niggling injuries.
Now, former Premier League forward Chris Sutton has defended Farke’s record in the top flight before delivering his prediction for the game.
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Chris Sutton defends Daniel Farke’s Premier League track record
Speaking to the BBC ahead of Leeds’ visit to the Amex Stadium, Sutton backed Farke after his strong start to the season with Leeds.
According to Sutton, the Leeds boss took a lot of stick during his time in East Anglia, and he is pleased to see him proving those doubters wrong in the top flight.
Sutton said: “Leeds have made a great start, and I am pleased for Daniel Farke. He took a lot of stick when he was at Norwich, when I kept hearing how he wasn’t a Premier League manager.
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“But apart from their heavy defeat at leaders Arsenal, his side have been competitive in all of their games so far.”
However, Farke has not done enough to convince him that his Leeds side can pick up more precious points on the south coast, as Sutton continued: “I am still going with a Brighton win here, though.
“The Seagulls did not play well when they lost at Manchester United last weekend, then went out of the Carabao Cup at the hands of the Gunners on Wednesday, but they are unbeaten at home so far, and I am expecting them to bounce back.”
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Daniel Farke’s managerial record v Brighton
Leeds have never won against Brighton in the Premier League, highlighting the full scale of the task facing Farke and his side.
The German manager’s all-time record against the Seagulls does not offer Leeds fans much comfort either, as they look for any cause for optimism ahead of the weekend.
Daniel Farke’s record v Brighton
02/11/2019 – Brighton 2-0 Norwich
04/07/2020 – Norwich 0-1 Brighton
16/10/2021 – Norwich 0-0 Brighton
Farke has only faced Brighton three times in his managerial career, all three of which came in the Premier League with Norwich.
During that time, Farke managed one draw and suffered two defeats, with his only point coming in a home game in 2021. Farke’s only trip to the Amex ended in a 2-0 defeat, according to TransferMarkt, in a worrying omen for Leeds.