Here are your Leeds United evening headlines on Monday 25th April...
Owen tips relegation battle to be between Leeds and Everton
With the Premier League relegation battle hotting up, Michael Owen believes the final relegation spot will end up being filled by either Everton or Leeds. Assuming that both Watford and Norwich are certainties to go down, that leaves the final spot open, with Leeds, Burnley and Everton currently occupying the three spots above them.
Having found a new lease of life under caretaker manager Mike Jackson, Burnley look to be in the best form of the three. And with Leeds face off against Manchester City, Arsenal and Chelsea in their three games after tonight's clash against Crystal Palace, Owen feels that Jesse Marsch's side could find themselves in real trouble in the coming weeks.
Read more:Crystal Palace vs Leeds United LIVE - early team news, build-up and match action
"I think you’re going to have to get about 38 points to be safe I would say," explained Owen. "Everton need three wins out of those six, maybe two wins, two draws and two defeats maybe would be ok?
"But I think they can do it, I think they can do it. Honestly, on that performance today [2-0 loss to Liverpool], if I was an Everton fan, I’d be thinking we’ve got hope here, Leeds could get dragged into it. If they don’t beat Crystal Palace, or if they don’t get something against Crystal Palace, then all of a sudden I can’t see them getting something in the three games after.
"Then you know, they’re going to have to get probably four points out of the last two games. Leeds are in trouble as well.
"I agree, I think out of the three I’d prefer to be in Burnley’s shoes. I think they’ve got the momentum, obviously recently they’re out of the bottom three now. I’d say it’s going to be between Everton and Leeds who goes down."
Squad available to Marsch for Palace away day
Ahead of tonight’s clash against Crystal Palace, Leeds United head coach Jesse Marsch has plenty of options at his disposal. Midfield talisman Kalvin Phillips looks set to make his long-awaited return to the starting XI following a hamstring injury.
Phillips has not started a game for the Whites since a 2-2 draw in December against Brentford. His return will certainly be a welcome one as Leeds look to secure their spot in the top flight for next season.
Ahead of the game, the American said: “He (Phillips) had a really good training week, he’s fully fit, he’s fully fit and we’re excited for him to be back."
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Burnley form has brought Leeds into relegation scrap reckons Lampard
Everton boss Frank Lampard reckons that Burnley’s recent form has pulled Leeds United right back into the relegation battle. The Clarets have picked up seven points in three games since the sacking of Sean Dyche, and look to have found some form under caretaker boss Mike Jackson.
They now sit just two points behind Leeds although the Whites do have a game in hand on the Clarets, which will be played tonight against Crystal Palace. There can be no doubt that Leeds are right among it when it comes to the relegation battle but they are certainly in better shape than Everton, who dropped into the bottom three following their 2-0 loss in the Merseyside derby.
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