Fresh boosts for key Premier League rivals triggers big Leeds United first and change for Aston Villa visit
The Leeds United picture has changed ahead of Sunday’s return to action at home to Aston Villa.
Leeds United have slipped into the Premier League dropzone for the first time this season after fresh boosts for key rivals.
Daniel Farke’s Whites began the weekend fifth-bottom and just one point clear of the bottom three following back-to-back defeats at Brighton and then Nottingham Forest before the international break.
The weekend’s action began with a blow for fourth-bottom Burnley who suffered a 2-0 defeat at home to Chelsea which ensured they remained one point below Farke’s Whites.
Fellow strugglers Wolves, Nottingham Forest, West Ham and Fulham then all played in 3pm kick-offs and Forest and West Ham both picked up points that have left Leeds in the division’s relegation zone for the first time this season.
Looking to back up the 3-1 win at home to Leeds before the international break, Sean Dyche’s Forest side took on faltering champions Liverpool at Anfield and left with a brilliant 3-0 victory as Murillo, Nicola Savona and Morgan Gibbs-White all bagged a goal apiece.
West Ham, meanwhile, seeking a third win on the spin under new boss Nuno Espirito Santo, also looked set to pick up three points as they led 2-0 at Bournemouth through a first-half Callum Wilson brace.
West Ham hit back to net twice after the break through Marcus Tavernier and a Enes Unai penalty which sealed a 2-2 draw but the point was still enough to take the Irons out of the dropzone and above Leeds on goal difference.
Burnley have also now dropped into the relegation zone, the Clarets sitting second-bottom and one point behind Leeds whose Sunday afternoon hosting of Villa now represents a huge game in hand.
Wolves remain well adrift at the bottom of the pile after a 2-0 defeat at home to Crystal Palace in new boss Rob Edwards’ first game in charge. The defeat has left Wolves eight points behind Burnley and nine points behind Leeds and West Ham.
Forest are a point further ahead in 16th place, level on points with Newcastle United who host Manchester City in the Saturday evening game.
There is then a two point gap to Fulham who left it late to record a 1-0 win at home to Sunderland.