At the final international break of 2023, Leeds United hold the third spot in the Championship table and are trailing eight points behind league leaders Leicester City in the race for promotion. Former Foxes winger Matt Piper considers Leeds and Leicester as the top contenders for securing promotion to the Premier League this season, with Southampton and Sunderland also in the mix.
Despite suffering consecutive defeats, Leicester City maintains their position at the top of the table, while Leeds secured a hard-fought victory at the King Power Stadium and then saw their loanee Sam Greenwood assist Middlesbrough to a close win. With Daniel Farke’s team now eight points behind Leicester, Ipswich Town has caught up to the Foxes in terms of points.
Southampton is in the fourth spot, trailing Leeds by just one point, while Preston and Sunderland occupy the remaining playoff positions as the final international break of 2023 approaches. Piper views Leeds as the main threat to Leicester’s promotion hopes and has raised doubts about Sunderland’s ability to remain competitive throughout the entire season.
Speaking on BBC’s When You’re Smiling podcast via Inside Futbol, Piper stated: “I like Leeds, I like Sunderland and Southampton. Sunderland are very similar to us; there are quite a lot of young lads and you just think have Sunderland got the staying power? I don’t know they have. I think Leeds are a powerhouse and I think we are. We have got some experience throughout the squad as well that will help us later in the season.”
