Leeds United manager Daniel Farke has been warned that his side are “starting to slip” into danger in the Premier League relegation battle.
Although his side remain above the one point per game target set by Daniel Farke, the recent defeat against Brighton has set alarm bells ringing among the Leeds fanbase.
Following Wolves’ decision to sack Vitor Pereira, all three of the bottom three in the Premier League have changed managers already, as they look to close the gap on the sides above them.
Leeds travel to fellow relegation rivals Nottingham Forest this weekend in a fixture which is shaping up to be a must-win game, with concerns over the fitness of forward Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Now, former Premier League players Robbie Earle and Robbie Mustoe have warned Farke that his side are slipping into a risky position, amid suggestions that Steven Gerrard could come to Leeds.
Daniel Farke during Brighton & Hove Albion v Leeds United - Premier League
Photo by Harry Murphy/Getty Images
Daniel Farke warned about Leeds United’s Premier League future
Speaking on the Two Robbies Podcast for NBC Sports, former Premier League players Earle and Mustoe assessed Leeds’ perilous position after the chastening defeat against Brighton.
According to ex-Wimbledon forward Earle, Leeds have to “hang in there”, as the teams around them look to claw back the gap.
Earle said: “I just feel that Leeds are starting to slip, mate, a little bit,” Earle said. “But Burnley and Leeds have just got to hang in there, keep going. We don’t know what Wolves or the likes of Forest and West Ham are going to do. Leeds have to try and do their best to stay in the league.”
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Mustoe believes the winter will be a slog for the Whites, as he added: “It’s difficult. I say, every single year, you get a boost at the beginning, and then October, November starts, and it gets colder, and the games start to get thick and fast, and it’s just a slog. Winter is an absolute slog.
“It’s going to be a slog for Burnley. It’s going to be a slog for Leeds United. Sunderland look like they’re well clear of it. But for the other two, particularly the promoted teams, it is going to be a slog this winter. And you’ve just got to get your head down and pick up as many points as you can.”
Daniel Farke looking dejected during a Premier League clash between Liverpool and Norwich
Photo by Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty Images
Leeds United’s next 5 games compared to Premier League bottom three
Although Leeds have a four-point cushion on the bottom three after 10 games, that gap closed following West Ham’s comeback win against Newcastle.
With a tricky run of fixtures to follow for the Whites, that gap could be gone entirely by the middle of November, unless Leeds pick up some unexpected points.
After Leeds’ trip to Forest, they face Aston Villa, Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool in a daunting run of games.
Leeds United Wolves Nottingham Forest West Ham
Nottm Forest (A) Chelsea (A) Leeds (H) Burnley (A)
Aston Villa (H) Crystal Palace (H) Liverpool (A) Bournemouth (A)
Man City (A) Aston Villa (A) Brighton (H) West Ham (H)
Chelsea (H) Nottm Forest (H) Wolves (A) Man United (A)
Liverpool (H) Man United (H) Everton (A) Brighton (A)
Upcoming Premier League fixtures
There are two saving graces for Leeds in their rivals’ schedules. The first is that several of the teams in the bottom three will play each other in the coming weeks, meaning that points will inevitably be dropped.
The second is that Forest’s European commitments are now beginning to ramp up, with Sean Dyche’s side set for a tricky away game against Sturm Graz on Thursday before they face Leeds. Farke’s side need to try and catch their opponents cold to re-establish their cushion on the drop zone.