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“Paul Merson Predicts Premier League Doom for Leeds and Burnley After Ipswich Collapse”
Leeds United and Burnley Secure Premier League Return as Ipswich Face Relegation
Leeds United and Burnley will play in the Premier League next season, while Ipswich Town drop back to the Championship after a 3-0 defeat to Newcastle confirmed their relegation.
All three of the clubs promoted in 2024 will return to the Championship for the 2025/26 season, marking a disappointing end to Ipswich’s campaign.
Burnley and Leeds had already secured promotion earlier in the week, earning praise from figures like Gary Lineker for their achievement—while also delivering a financial boost to the other 17 Premier League teams.
Leeds are keen to make a competitive return, but the growing gap between the Championship and Premier League remains a concern.
Questions have also emerged about Daniel Farke’s future amid skepticism over the recent performances of promoted sides.
Merson Analyzes Ipswich’s Struggles and Sends a Message to Burnley and Leeds
Speaking on Sky Sports’ Soccer Saturday during Ipswich’s final match, Paul Merson gave a blunt assessment of their season and warned newly promoted teams like Leeds and Burnley.
“They just weren’t good enough,” Merson said. “There’s such a big gap now between the Championship and the Premier League.
These teams try to play attractive football, but without the elite players, it just doesn’t work.”
He criticized newly promoted managers for trying to mimic top clubs like Manchester City or Arsenal without the squad quality to do so.
“Even Real Madrid sometimes go long,” he noted. “You’ve got to be more pragmatic—clear your lines, make the opposition work.”
Merson stressed the importance of survival over style. “You come up, and your goal is 17th place.
That’s it. Stay up, earn the money, strengthen the squad, and build from there. That’s how teams like Brentford have succeeded.”
Leeds and Burnley Face a Tough Climb
Leeds might have an edge in recruitment over Burnley, but both clubs will face a Premier League where the standard is higher than ever. The struggles of this year’s promoted teams highlight the challenge.
Southampton, for instance, plummeted from an 87-point Championship season to just 11 in the Premier League.
Along with Ipswich and another relegation-bound side, they’re on track to become the worst promoted trio in league history, potentially breaking Derby County’s infamous low-point record.
This underlines the task ahead for Leeds and Burnley. To survive, they’ll need smart recruitment, tactical pragmatism, and a focus on grinding out results—above all, avoiding the fate of this season’s fallen trio.
