It's not been an easy start to 2023 for Leeds United. Three different managers over the last month has meant a turbulent time at Elland Road in the midst of a relegation battle that hasn't been kind to them.
But despite that, the Whites are still finding ways of clawing back and have a good chance to create a gap between themselves and the drop zone this weekend when they host high-flyers Brighton.
A lot of the teams in the bottom-half of the table, Leeds included, have tough matchups over the next few days but if Javi Gracia's men can be the ones to get an upset, it could be the start of a big push up the league table.
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With that, Leeds Live has looked at the best and worst case scenarios that could happen to the Whites this weekend...
Best case
The best case scenario for Gracia's side is firstly to beat Brighton on Saturday. While it's undoubtedly his biggest test so far in the Elland Road dugout, it makes everything a lot easier heading into some important fixtures over the upcoming weeks.
The best case scenario would also see Leeds lifted up to 15th in the league table, with all other teams around them losing their respective matches as no one in the bottom half of the table faces each other - other than Aston Villa and West Ham.
This would mean an Everton loss at Goodison Park to top-half Brentford, while Southampton, Wolves and Bournemouth face tough matches against Manchester United, Newcastle United and Liverpool respectively.
Elsewhere, Leicester host a Chelsea side that are looking to continue their new-found spark of form under Graham Potter, Crystal Palace host Manchester City and Nottingham Forest travel to Tottenham meaning both those sides have a chance of dropping points as well.
If that happens, it'd leave the Whites just two points off the Eagles and Wolves 12th, a far better position than what they were in before this weekend.
Worst case
Ultimately, the worst case scenario is the complete opposite of the best one. Leeds, in fact, could drop to the bottom-of-the-league if enough results go against them this weekend due to the closeness of the teams amongst the relegation zone.
With a loss to Brighton, they'd stay at least 17th but that would require the Toffees to at least lose although they could stay out of the drop zone with Saints and Cherries draws due to their superior goal difference.
However, if every team around Leeds were to win, they'd see themselves three points at the very least away from safety and would slip to eight points behind their furthest contenders Crystal Palace.
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