Leeds United's season is in a state of make or break right now. While Jesse Marsch and his squad are being held in limbo during the winter break, as the World Cup winds to a close this weekend, the fixtures when they return are tough ones.
While their first two matches come against sides competing for Champions League places and have a combined 62 points at this point in the season, other - and potentially more important - matches come quickly afterwards against opponents much closer to them in the league table.
Several 'six-pointers' having just come off what has been a month-and-a-half long break for the Whites will not be an easy task but one solace from that is that they aren't the only ones. In what is a tightly contested race to escape the relegation zone, there's just six points between Fulham in ninth and Nottingham Forest in 19th.
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With the competition set to return in just under two weeks' time, here are six of the most important fixtures over the next month that could determine how Leeds' season goes and the ones that they'll be keeping an eye on...
Everton vs Wolves - December 26
With Everton just a point below the Whites and Wolves sat bottom-of-the-table four points from safety, this one is an obvious clash that'll affect Leeds' table position.
Wolves have proved themselves capable of winning after their Carabao Cup win over Leeds in November, but their two league wins have come against the sides directly above them in Southampton and Nottingham Forest respectively.
Everton, on the other hand, have just one win in their last five but will want to start their return from the winter break off by leapfrogging Leeds and climbing the table.
Leeds United vs Manchester City - December 28
The first game back for Jesse Marsch is against reigning champions Manchester City, and while it'll prove an incredibly tough test, many are waiting to see if the lack of game time has halted what was a decent run of form for the Whites before the break.
Only four Whites went to the World Cup and all four were flying home after the Round of 16, meaning they've had time to adjust back into the squad and with the training camp in Spain and friendlies throughout the winter, Marsch's men will meet this challenge head on.
Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace - December 31
While both of these teams are above Leeds, they share similar positions in the league table as the Cherries sit just a point in front while the Eagles are three points in front of them.
After their US takeover earlier this week, Bournemouth will want to show new chairman Bill Foley what they're all about after the winter break against a side that's won three of their last five.
Leeds United vs West Ham - January 4
Leeds are just a point in front of the Hammers but have a game in hand - something they could utilise to their advantage when they face each other at the start of the new year.
The first match in 2023 could be a big win for Marsch's side and it could even see them rise up into the top half of the table given how tight the Premier League has been so far this year.
Southampton vs Nottingham Forest - January 4
Both sides in this matchup are in the relegation zone and hungry for wins - Forest have two tough matches in Manchester United and Chelsea beforehand though which could see them around the same position in the league table.
Southampton, who sacked manager Ralph Hasenhuttl after four years in charge, will be up against the wall having won just three matches all season but could look to make a stand under new boss Nathan Jones in his first matches as a Premier League manager.
Aston Villa vs Leeds United - January 13
Just three points currently separate these two sides but in a month's time, things could look very different. Villa have to face both Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool before this Leeds fixture who would be hot off a win against West Ham.
With Villa having brought in Unai Emery after sacking Steven Gerrard, the Whites will want revenge for what felt like a missed opportunity at all three points back when the two sides met in October.
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