Former Championship star Sam Parkin has tipped Leeds United to overcome Burnley when the two promotion hopefuls clash at Elland Road on Saturday.
Parkin believes that Leeds, under the management of Daniel Farke, are looking more settled at this stage of the season, giving them the edge in what promises to be a closely contested match.
Both Leeds and Burnley are aiming for automatic promotion to the Premier League, and after four games, Leeds hold a slight advantage, sitting a point and two spots ahead of Burnley in the Championship table.
However, Farke will face a selection headache with 12 of his players away on international duty, including Brenden Aaronson, who may return late and be unavailable for the weekend.
Burnley, on the other hand, are grappling with their own set of problems. Vincent Kompany’s side could be without as many as nine players due to injuries, which will undoubtedly complicate their preparations for the trip to Leeds.
Parkin, though, is convinced Leeds are in a stronger position than Burnley, particularly because of the greater stability within their squad. He pointed out that Burnley underwent significant changes during the summer transfer window, losing 21 players, which has affected their cohesion early in the season.
Analysing the performances of both teams, Parkin noted that Leeds are creating more chances and, crucially, look defensively solid after a shaky start.
Burnley’s return of ten goals, he suggested, flatters them when compared to the quality of the chances they have been producing.
“They are creating a lot in comparison to Burnley,” Parkin said on the What The EFL Podcast. “Burnley’s return of ten goals flatters them greatly in comparison to what they have been creating.”
He added, “All of a sudden, after the debacle of the opening two games where they conceded six, the Leeds back-five have looked solid. I make Leeds the favourites. Just with the continuity that they have with Daniel Farke and less carnage, I’d fancy them to win this one narrowly.”
With both sides under pressure to deliver, Parkin believes Leeds’ stability and recent form give them the upper hand.