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Danny Bloomer

Leeds United's April fixtures assessed as next month could prove decisive in relegation fight

Leeds United and the other eight teams battling the drop can now take a breather from the stress of Premier League football now the international break is here.

The division's bottom nine sides are separated by just four points and once club football does resume again, it is going to be an intense fight to stay up. The month of April for every team down at the bottom looks set to be pivotal, with a number of fixtures against one another set to take place.

That is certainly the case for Leeds and so it is likely to go a long way to deciding the division they are in next season. So, with that in mind, here is an in-depth look at the seven games Leeds will face next month.

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April 1 - Arsenal (a)

At this stage of the season it is difficult to describe any game as a free hit but if ever there is one, this it. The Gunners currently sit top of the table and are playing arguably some of the best football this league has ever seen, so Leeds will need to be at the top of their game if they are to come away with anything at all.

That said, a potential glimmer of hope that Leeds could hold on to is many of Arsenal's key players - including Bukayo Saka, Thomas Partey, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Martin Odegaard - are all away on international duty. It will, however, be the games in April that follow which decides Leeds' fate, not this one.

April 4 - Nottingham Forest (h)

Games don't come bigger than this as Nottingham Forest travel to Elland Road with both sides sat level on points just outside the bottom three. This is Leeds' game in hand on many of the teams around them and given their superior goal difference, a win could really push Forest in amongst it.

Leeds have looked solid at home under Javi Gracia and with Forest having accumulated six points from their 13 away matches, this is a massive opportunity. With Liverpool, Manchester City, Tottenham and Newcastle United all to play, only a win will do here.

April 9 - Crystal Palace (h)

Another monumental clash at the bottom as winless in 2023 Crystal Palace make the trip to West Yorkshire in front of the sky cameras. Having previously sat comfortably in mid-table at the turn of the new year, Palace are now right in the scrap to beat the drop and as such, have controversially re-appointed Roy Hodgson as their manager to replace Patrick Vieira.

If Leeds are able to take six points from these two consecutive home games against teams around them, it would go a long way to ensuring they play Premier League football next season. Easier said than done, though.

April 17 - Liverpool (h)

The pressure riding on this one will much depend on the outcome of the two previous matches, but either way, it's another home game and therefore another chance to take points. As seen with Leeds' win at Anfield, Liverpool are not the same side as last season and so Gracia's side are certainly capable of getting something here.

Jurgen Klopp's men had looked back to their best in a 7-0 demolition of Manchester United, but defeat at Bournemouth was a quick trip back to reality. Anything other than a defeat here would be massive.

April 22 - Fulham (a)

Fulham have shocked everybody with how well they have performed this season but their implosion at Man United in the FA Cup could threaten to derail the end of their season. Along with Willian and Marco Silva, Aleksandr Mitrovic was sent off in that match at Old Trafford and if reports are to be correct, the big Serbian could well be handed a longer ban.

Without Mitrovic, Fulham are a far less daunting prospect for Leeds to face and despite defeat, their performance at Craven Cottage should give them confidence they can get a result. Again, another big chance for some points.

April 25 - Leicester City (h)

The crucial home games just keep coming for Leeds in April and another side battling the drop to make the trip is Leicester City. The Foxes had looked as though they had turned a corner in early February but just one point in five matches since means they are right back in it.

Leicester remain heavily reliant on James Maddison and there is potential he could be absent at Elland Road, as he sits two yellow cards away from a two-match ban, still with five matches to play between now and April 25. Leeds' April home form could be what decides the division they play in next season, one way or another.

April 30 - Bournemouth (a)

What better way to round off a huge month than with another relegation six-pointer. The Whites make the long trip to Bournemouth with just two points currently separating the two sides.

Of course, it goes without saying given the several number of huge matches in April that the table will have a different look to it when this game arrives, but either way, at this stage it looks massive. Who knows, if the previous six matches go well, then this could be the day that Leeds confirm their safety.

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