NafisaLeeds United supporters have every reason to be excited about their return to Elland Road this afternoon.
Daniel Farke’s side have made a flying start to the new Premier League campaign, winning their opening match away at Nottingham Forest before returning to the City Ground just a few days later and producing another impressive victory in the Carabao Cup.
Two wins, two clean sheets and plenty of reasons for optimism.
Yet there is still one familiar voice refusing to get carried away with the Whites.
Paul Merson has once again provided Leeds supporters with something to argue about ahead of their crunch meeting with Brentford, and his prediction will certainly not have gone down well in West Yorkshire.
The former Arsenal midfielder has been particularly positive about Brentford in his Premier League season preview, identifying Keith Andrews’ side as one of his teams to watch for the European places this season. Merson praised their pre-season form and warned that Brentford and Brighton could cause problems for a number of teams.
That makes Sunday’s clash at Elland Road particularly interesting.
Leeds arrive with a perfect competitive record after their opening two games, while Brentford have also started strongly. The Bees demolished Tottenham 3-0 before following that up with a remarkable 6-1 victory over Birmingham in the Carabao Cup.
And that is where Merson’s hypothetical prediction becomes particularly painful for Leeds fans.
If asked to call the game based on his current assessment of both teams, the likely Merson-style verdict would be Brentford to win 2-1.
It is easy to understand why that would irritate the Elland Road faithful.
Leeds have already travelled to Nottingham twice and returned with victories on both occasions. Farke’s team have looked organised, disciplined and difficult to break down, while the summer recruitment has given supporters genuine belief that this could be a very different Premier League campaign.
But Merson’s argument would be that Brentford represent a much tougher test.
The Bees have already shown considerably more attacking firepower than Leeds’ opening opponents, scoring nine goals across their first two competitive matches. Leeds, meanwhile, have conceded just once in their opening two league and cup outings against Forest.
So this is the game that could finally tell us just how far Farke’s side have progressed.
And there is another reason Merson’s prediction could wind Leeds supporters up.
The Sky Sports pundit’s broader season outlook has Brentford challenging around the European places, rather than simply fighting for survival. He has described them as a team capable of beating established Premier League sides and upsetting the big boys.
That makes Sunday’s encounter almost a direct test of his assessment.
If Brentford win, Merson’s argument will suddenly look rather clever.
But if Leeds win, the Whites will have beaten one of the teams he expects to be competing towards the European places — and done so after already putting Nottingham Forest away twice.
That is why this game feels bigger than simply three points.
Leeds supporters have spent months hearing doubts about whether their squad is strong enough to survive comfortably in the Premier League. Farke’s players have already started answering those questions on the pitch.
Now Brentford provide the next examination.
And if Leeds can beat the side Merson has backed to be one of the season’s surprise European contenders, there will be plenty of supporters ready to remind the pundit about his prediction.
For now, though, the hypothetical verdict is brutal:
Leeds United 1-2 Brentford.
Merson may be backing the Bees to have another big season.
Elland Road will be hoping he gets this one very, very wrong.
Nafisa
