The Premier League returns this weekend and such is the way, many pundits have had their say on who will be relegated at the end of the season and whether Leeds United will survive.
Leeds get their campaign underway on Monday night in the last game of the weekend, hosting Everton at Elland Road. A game that Leeds and Daniel Farke will see as winnable, right at the start of the season.
Leeds are set to bring in their eighth signing of the summer in Dominic Calvert-Lewin and he is expected to be involved in the squad against the club he left in July. Calvert-Lewin spent nine years at Everton.
Plenty have already had their say. Wayne Rooney thinks Leeds will survive, but both Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer expect Leeds to be relegated at the end of the season. Now, Steve McManaman has had a look.
Steve McManaman on TNT Sports duty.
Photo by Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images
The growing trend has been promoted teams being immediately relegated. For the last two seasons, all six promoted sides have gone straight back down. Last term, it was Leicester, Ipswich and Southampton.
A closeup image of the Leeds United badge on a corner flag at Elland Road
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But Leeds will be confident of survival thanks to smaller Premier League clubs losing some of their best players. Wolves have lost Matheus Cunha, Brentford have lost Bryan Mbuemo and boss Thomas Frank.
Liverpool and Real Madrid icon McManaman made an appearance on ESPN FC and he predicted the three sides to go down (35 mins). He says Leeds stay up, but Burnley, Sunderland and Brentford go down.
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Which players will be most important for Leeds next season?
Lucas Perri could well be Leeds’ most important signing. Comparing this Leeds side to the one that won promotion, the need for a goalkeeper stood out most. Nigel Martyn has been impressed by Perri so far.
Leeds need Perri to have a good season to stand a chance. Then, there is captain Ethan Ampadu and the need to keep him fit this season. If he remains fit, then Leeds are immediately bolstered in defence.
In attack, the need for more signings is key. But if Calvert-Lewin can get back to his best, Leeds may have picked up the best signing of the summer. Danny Murphy thinks he will be Leeds’ top scorer next term.