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David Flett

How the relegation picture looks after Leeds United slump to Chelsea defeat and Everton held

Ten-man Leeds United's 3-0 defeat to Chelsea tonight has heaped the pressure on Jesse Marsch's men to pick up maximum points against Brighton on Sunday. The hosts went down to Mason Mount, Christian Pulisic and Romelu Lukaku goals with matters not helped by Dan James' 24th-minute red card when the score was 1-0 to the reigning Champions League winners.

The most points the Whites can now finish the season on is 40, while relegation rivals Burnley and Everton, who both have vastly superior goal differences, can accumulate 43 and 45 respectively. The situation could have been worse for United had Everton not been held to a 0-0 draw at already-relegated Watford.

But anything less than victory at the weekend could mean that the Whites will be relegated with a game still left to play. The Elland Road club's awful goal difference means that a loss to the Seagulls would see Burnley, who are currently level on points, become uncatchable, barring a mathematical miracle, should the Clarets win either of their next two games - at Tottenham on Sunday or their game in hand at Aston Villa a week tomorrow.

READ MORE: Leeds United player ratings as Daniel James and Rodrigo sum up alarming Chelsea defeat

Everton are still in the shake-up for the drop after their Vicarage Rod stalemate this evening but extended the gap on United to two points which is, in all intents and purposes, three given the significant gap in goal difference between the two clubs. And, should Leeds lose to Graham Potter's in-form side at the weekend, goal difference means the Merseysiders would be all but uncatchable if they can collect a solitary point from any one of their final three games - at home to Brentford on Sunday, followed by another Goodison Park clash against Crystal Palace a week tomorrow and a final-day trip to Arsenal.

A draw against Brighton could temporarily lift Leeds out of the bottom three should Champions League hopefuls Spurs beat Burnley this weekend but, if the Turf Moor club then went on to get a point against Villa, Leeds would need to better the Lancastrians' final-day result. Burnley host Newcastle on the final day, while Leeds travel to Brentford. Winning on Saturday and then hoping for favourable results elsewhere this weekend and a week on Thursday, therefore, remains Leeds' best chance of avoiding a return to the Championship after just two campaigns back at football's top table.

Fixtures left to play:

EVERTON

P 35 Pts 36

Sunday, May 15: Brentford (H)

Thursday, May 19: Crystal Palace (H)

Sunday, May 22: Arsenal (A)

BURNLEY

P 35 Pts 34

Sunday, May 15: Tottenham (A)

Thursday, May 19: Aston Villa (A)

Sunday, May 22: Newcastle (H)

LEEDS

P 36 Pts 34

Sunday, May 15: Brighton (H)

Sunday, May 22: Brentford (A)

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