Michael Dawson believes 36 points could be enough to secure safety in the Premier League this season amid an extremely tight relegation battle.
Leeds have dropped to 16th place, and sit only two points clear of danger after losing 5-1 against Crystal Palace at Elland Road last weekend. The Whites secured their Premier League status with 38 points last term, and are nine points short of that tally as it stands in the current campaign.
Dawson does not expect the 40-point total to be used as a yardstick this campaign, and anticipates games between the sides battling out at the bottom to play a telling role in the fight for survival.
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"It's not going to be the 40 mark that we all normally say secures safety. I don't believe it'll be that. 36 will probably be enough, possibly 37," the former Tottenham and England defender told The Sky Sports Football Podcast.
"So it's going to be a little bit less. Maybe less than that even because they all need to play each other. Bournemouth have got some tough games, you look at the weekend that could really affect the outcome.
"I can see Everton beating Fulham because Fulham are on a slippery slope. If Palace beat Southampton then it nion makes them safe. So all these kinds of things I've said, if you play the teams around you then you must win. Worst case, if you're above them, you don't lose."
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