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Savage: Leeds will beat Derby

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BBC Radio 5 pundit Robbie Savage has said that he thinks Leeds will beat Derby County this weekend and that they’re a stronger side this season after having a full pre-season under Marcelo Bielsa. 

“I do think Leeds will beat Derby next week,” Savage said on the latest 606 show.

606 host and big Leeds fan Emma Jones asked whether he would have said that last season.

“No,” said Savage.

“What’s changed?” asked Jones.

“Because they [Derby] haven’t got Frank Lampard, they haven’t got Tomori, Mason Mount, Harry Wilson, so that’s why I think Derby are far weaker this season and Leeds, as you’ve alluded to Emma, are stronger because they’ve had a pre-season under Bielsa.”

There’s history between the two sides after Derby beat Leeds in the play-off semi-final last season. Derby are struggling in 19th place, while Leeds are top of the league.

Why will Leeds win the league?

Jones had been quizzed by Savage earlier on the show, when he asked, “Why are Leeds going to win the league?”

“Well, because they’re top aren’t they,” Jones responded.

“I need more than that,” Savage countered.

“They’re top, we’ve got Marcelo Bielsa. They’re so much better this year, we’ve got Eddie Nketiah, Helder Costa coming on making a difference in games, I’m telling you this year is our year,” Jones replied.

“You had Bielsa last year and you didn’t win the league,” said Savage.

“Yes, but we didn’t have him for pre-season last year,” Jones said. “He came in, the training regime he’s got the lads on, the difference in that team, Kalvin Phillips has come on leaps and bounds under Bielsa and I’m telling you, Leeds United, this is our year.”

Savage gave a simple a five-word response: “Can’t wait to see it”.

Are Leeds different this season?

Leeds had Bielsa last season and fell just short of promotion.

However, they suffered from an incredible number of injuries – 31 individual injuries by April that led to players missing 165 games. [Yorkshire Evening Post]

They also didn’t have the same depth in their squad.

Leeds added Eddie Nketiah and Helder Costa in attack this summer, and lost Kemar Roofe. So far this season, Bielsa has had both players to call on from the bench, and they’ve made an impact in two games already.

Costa and Nketiah combined for a late winner against Brentford and Nketiah broke the deadlock against Barnsley on Sunday in the 84th minute before winning a penalty to secure the three points.

Leeds have also tightened up their defence. They lost Pontus Jansson over the summer but added Brighton loanee Ben White, and so far they’ve only conceded three goals in seven games.

At this point last season, Leeds had 15 points, one fewer than the 16 they’ve got at the moment. They’d also conceded five goals.

There’s a long way to go but the bookies are with Jones. Leeds are just 11/10 to win the Championship and as short as 4/9 to finish in the top two.

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