Leeds United slipped down the Premier League table on Sunday afternoon despite securing a point against Brentford away from home, thanks to Nottingham Forest’s excellent 3-0 win.
The odds were stacked against Leeds on Sunday despite earning some momentum after a win against Chelsea and drawing with Liverpool. Away from home, Leeds had lost six of their seven league matches.
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Brentford had won five of their seven home games. It seemed like a Brentford win was a formality, and it looked to be the case when Jordan Henderson squeezed home a Bees opener, via a Jaka Bijol deflection.
But Dominic Calvert-Lewin leaped above the Brentford defence to head home a Willy Gnonto cross and score for a fourth consecutive Premier League match. Pat Nevin discussed Leeds’ fight against relegation.
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty ImagesPat Nevin is confident for Leeds after watching Brentford draw
The keyword used by veteran commentator and pundit Nevin to describe Leeds’ fight against relegation, and their chances of remaining in the Premier League, was that Leeds had “acclimatised” to the top tier.
Certainly, it feels like a new era under Farke. The defensive, 3-5-2 approach is keeping Leeds in games and while Jermaine Beckford might not like it, Nevin feels Leeds have adapted to the Premier League’s rigours.
“As both managers shook hands there, it was Daniel Farke with a big smile. A point away from home was always decent; they deserved it and look as if they’ve become acclimatised to the Premier League.
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“It doesn’t look like a team that’s going to go down. As for Brentford, yeah, they played well enough, but they need to keep this going because they’re still not out of the woods yet,” Nevin said on BBC Radio 5L.
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Leeds United will be hell-bent on remaining unbeaten in 2025
The draw at Brentford saw Leeds go unbeaten in three matches, having beaten Chelsea and drawn with Liverpool prior to Sunday’s 1-1 result. Leeds now have two more matches to play before the year is out.
Leeds return to Elland Road next weekend to host Crystal Palace, with the Eagles playing just 48 hours beforehand at home to KuPS in the Europa League. Oliver Glasner says he is going to make 11 changes.
Then, Leeds face a Sunderland side that will have been weakened by the African Cup of Nations. A good time to play the Black Cats, who will lose the likes of Reinildo Mandava, Noah Sadiki and Bertrand Traore.
There is a real chance that given the struggles Palace and Sunderland face for the rest of December, that Leeds can capitalise and at least, remain unbeaten for the rest of 2025 and stretch that run to five.
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