Opta Predicts Strong Promotion Push for Leeds United, Sunderland’s Drop-Off Expected
Leeds United may currently be in third place, but they remain strong contenders to top the league by the end of the season.
Despite facing challenges this year with key player sales and injury setbacks, Daniel Farke still has one of the best squads in the division. This is evident as Leeds sit just two points off the top, with an optimistic outlook heading into the winter fixtures after November’s international break.
Opta predicts Leeds United will win the Championship with approximately 86 points.
Opta’s latest Championship table prediction is optimistic for Leeds, with the statisticians forecasting Farke’s side will emerge as the leaders, outperforming their rivals.
Leeds are projected to narrowly edge out second-place Sheffield United, who are expected to finish just behind them. Despite starting the season with a two-point deduction, Chris Wilder’s team sits two points above Leeds and ahead of Sunderland on goal difference.
There’s a noticeable gap to third and fourth, with Burnley and Sunderland next in line. West Brom and Middlesbrough round out the top six according to Opta’s latest predictions.
Here’s a look at the predicted points and promotion chances for the top teams:
| Position | Club | Expected Points | Promotion Chance | Title Chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Leeds United | 85.75 | 68.56% | 42.08% |
| 2 | Sheffield United | 84.54 | 59.30% | 32.94% |
| 3 | Burnley | 78.62 | 26.16% | 10.12% |
| 4 | Sunderland | 77.76 | 21.70% | 7.92% |
| 5 | West Brom | 74.37 | 10.98% | 3.34% |
| 6 | Middlesbrough | 71.76 | 5.9% | 1.56% |
Leeds are widely backed by neutrals to win the league, placing added pressure on them to deliver.
Most neutrals you encounter are likely to consider Leeds the favourites for the title in the promotion race.
There are plenty of reasons behind this view, and if we can maintain consistency away from home, it won’t be long before we’re vying for top spot.
What’s interesting, however, is the expectation that Burnley will finish higher than Sunderland, even though the Black Cats have appeared stronger than the Clarets so far this season.
Leeds’ dominance in games has put us in a strong position in these predictions, but the key factor will be whether we become more clinical with our chances.
