Leeds United are aiming for automatic promotion this season and are in a strong position to do it as they sit second, but they could be eliminated tonight with Southampton and Ipswich Town playing each other.
The Whites have had an excellent year in 2024, with eight league games yielding maximum points and propelling them into the top two.
Such a run has shifted the attention to whether Leeds can maintain their momentum against leaders Leicester City on Friday, keeping the title chase alive.
Southampton and Ipswich have an opportunity to narrow the gap with Leeds
eeds’ earlier win over Norwich was Daniel Farke’s best chance to get ahead of their promotion opponents due to the match scheduling, but Southampton and Ipswich Town catch up tonight.
The Tractor Boys are predicted to win at home against Rotherham United, while the Saints are also at home but face a difficult challenge against Liam Rosenior’s Hull City.
If Southampton wins, they will retake second place by one point, while Ipswich would draw level with Leeds, but with a slightly inferior goal difference.
Ipswich’s Sam Morsy makes a comment about Leeds’ squad worth.
Speaking ahead of their game against the Millers, Ipswich skipper Sam Morsy believes his team has done exceptionally well to remain in the promotion race despite having personnel that are not on the same level as Leeds or Southampton.
He said the following to TWTD:
“They are tough teams, without a doubt, but so are we. We all have various qualities; people talk about Leeds’ £70 million frontline, Southampton’s Premier League strikers, and so on, but we know what we have: very talented players, a wonderful management, and a great team spirit.”
Ipswich has done very well to punch above its weight.
In any other season, Ipswich would be cruising to the league title, but the three teams above them are in the unusual position of having retained the majority of their finest players following relegation.
All of the top three have kept players who are simply too excellent for the Championship, and our overall assault is likely to cost almost £70 million: Georginio Rutter (£36 million), Dan James (£25 million), Joel Piroe (£10.5 million), Patrick Bamford (£7 million), Willy Gnonto (£3.8 million), and Crysencio Summerville (£1.5 million).
Ipswich and Leeds, on the other hand, are demonstrating that value can be gained without spending a lot of money; Summerville is both the cheapest and the best in the Championship.