(Credit: Hasan Karim - Breaking Media / Imago)

Ben Palmer

Wed 13 August 2025 17:21, UK

Leeds face a tall order in their chances of surviving relegation this season but they could surprise a few.

Le Tissier fears for Leeds, Sunderland, Burnley in 'anti-competitive' Premier League	‘I don’t like them’ - Le Tissier predicts Tottenham, Aston Villa, Newcastle's Premier League finish	'They'd be my first pick' - Sunderland compared to Southampton as Le Tissier predicts relegation

That is according to former England and Southampton striker Matt Le Tissier, who told Football Insider exclusively that he expects all of the promoted sides to struggle to stay up this year.

The last time that any promoted side avoided an immediate return to the Championship was in the 2022/23 season, when Fulham, Bournemouth, and Nottingham Forest all stayed up.

Ivan Juric took charge at Southampton last year as they were instantly relegated.

Credit: Hasan Karim, Breaking Media

Since then, six of the last six promoted sides have been unable to survive making the leap up to England’s top flight.

Southampton were relegated earlier than any side before them in the Premier League era last season, while Leicester were unable to cope with the loss of Enzo Maresca to Chelsea before the season began.

This article contains exclusive comment from former Southampton and England striker Matt Le Tissier.

But despite the odds being firmly stacked against them, Le Tissier chose Leeds as his favourite to stay up from the three promoted sides.

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The Premier League icon previously told Football Insider that Sunderland are likely to replicate Southampton and make an instant return to the Championship, making them his first pick to be relegated.

Daniel Farke masterminded Leeds’ return to the Premier League.

Credit: Hasan Karim – Breaking Media

Le Tissier told Football Insider exclusively that Burnley were his second pick, but he can see Daniel Farke’s side surviving, although it would be a “massive ask”.

He said: “I think Burnley would be my second pick, and if one team were going to stay up, I would choose Leeds.

“I think if Leeds do stay up, it will be a massive ask.

It’s a big task to stay up now, coming up from the Championship.”

Despite earning 100 points on their way to the Championship title last season, Leeds struggled to find a number nine they could rely on.

Joel Piroe won the Golden Boot, scoring 19 goals in 46 appearances, but there are concerns about his ability to translate his goal-scoring to the Premier League.

Aleksandar Mitrovic is a proven goal-scorer.

(Credit: Imago)

As a consequence, Leeds are “doing their due diligence” on Aleksander Mitrovic, Mick Brown told Football Insider exclusively.

The former Fulham man is a proven Premier League striker and could be the man to fire Farke’s side to safety this season.

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