On Match of the Day 2, Nedum Onuoha and Jill Scott discussed the importance of belief for Premier League clubs battling relegation, including Leeds United
Javi Gracia’s side suffered a major setback against Fulham last weekend, while the bottom three – Nottingham Forest, Leicester City, and Southampton – all continued to struggle.
The Whites are preparing to host Liverpool, hoping for a repeat of last October’s 1-2 win thanks to goals from Rodrigo Moreno and Crysencio Summerville.
With Onuoha looking forward to the match on Monday evening, the pundits were debating whether belief was the most important factor in beating the drop.
“Every game feels massive, and the fact that they are playing Liverpool at home is crucial for them,” he said.
“And, believe it or not, if they win there, they will have beaten Liverpool twice.”
“I think the crowd will definitely make it as difficult for Liverpool as possible, and if Leeds can match the energy of the crowd, it could be a game changer, maybe swaying it their way.”
It is now time to deliver.
Liverpool will be playing at Elland Road under the lights.
The famous old stadium will be rocking tonight, with fans urging the team to give it their all. They must respond to that energy while also making amends for last week’s disaster in the second half against Crystal Palace.
Gracia will need to make a few changes, as will the tactical setup, but this is a game that Leeds can learn from.
As previously stated, there must be belief. That must be matched by intensity and purpose, but not too much, too soon, or the result will be unavoidable.
A win would provide some breathing room in the form of a three-point gap over the danger zone as well as a leapfrogging of West Ham into 15th place, while a draw would increase the advantage over Everton.
Three home games remain after Jurgen Klopp’s visit, but every point counts.
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