Leeds United face one of their biggest tests of the opening weeks of the Premier League season when Brentford arrive at Elland Road on Sunday, and Chris Sutton has already delivered his verdict on what promises to be a fascinating contest.

Daniel Farke’s side will head into the fixture knowing that Brentford have started the campaign in impressive fashion. Keith Andrews’ team have wasted little time making their presence felt, collecting victories in their last two matches while producing an attacking display that has caught plenty of attention.

The Bees have already found the net nine times this season, including three goals against Tottenham, while their defensive record has been equally encouraging with only one goal conceded across those two victories.

That makes Sunday’s encounter a particularly intriguing one for Leeds.

The Whites have shown that they are capable of making life extremely difficult for opponents defensively, with back-to-back meetings against Nottingham Forest ending without Leeds conceding.

However, Farke’s players have also left questions surrounding their attacking performance after a couple of difficult outings.

And that could be the biggest storyline heading into the Brentford clash.

Sutton refuses to back against Leeds

Despite Brentford’s flying start, Sutton does not believe Leeds will be beaten at Elland Road.

The former Premier League striker has predicted that the two sides will cancel each other out, pointing towards a tight encounter rather than a comfortable victory for either team.

Sutton believes Leeds have already demonstrated enough resilience to avoid defeat, particularly after proving their doubters wrong last season.

However, he also acknowledged that the Whites have not always been at their most convincing going forward.

Their recent Premier League meeting with Nottingham Forest was particularly cautious, with Leeds struggling to create the kind of opportunities that would have allowed them to dominate the contest.

The EFL Cup provided a different story, with Farke’s team finding their attacking rhythm and ultimately getting the result they wanted.

That improvement could be crucial against Brentford.

The visitors have shown that they can punish teams quickly when given space, particularly through their ability to transition from defence into attack.

Brentford could cause Leeds major problems

There is little doubt that Leeds will need to be considerably sharper in possession if they are to claim all three points.

Brentford have already demonstrated their ability to score heavily, and their counter-attacking approach could create problems if Leeds commit too many players forward.

At the same time, the Bees have shown enough defensively to suggest that Farke’s attack will not be handed easy chances.

That puts considerable pressure on Leeds’ attacking players to find solutions.

The Whites enjoyed an unbeaten record against Brentford in the Premier League last season, with both encounters ending in draws.

But past results will count for very little on Sunday.

Both teams have changed and developed since those meetings, while Brentford’s impressive opening to the campaign has raised expectations around what they could achieve this season.

For Leeds, playing at Elland Road could prove decisive.

The atmosphere inside the stadium is likely to give Farke’s players another significant boost, particularly if they can start quickly and put Brentford under pressure.

An early warning sign for Farke?

Although the season is still in its infancy, matches such as this can reveal plenty about where a newly established Premier League side stands.

Leeds have already shown defensive discipline, but their attacking output will need to improve if they are serious about pushing themselves further away from another relegation battle.

That makes Brentford an ideal measuring stick.

If Leeds can break down a side that has already demonstrated impressive defensive organisation while also dealing with the threat of the Bees on the counter, it would provide Farke with an important indication that his team are developing in the right direction.

Sutton’s prediction may therefore offer encouragement to Leeds supporters, but the underlying message is clear: this will not be an easy afternoon.

Brentford have arrived at Elland Road in confident mood, while Leeds will be determined to prove that their recent struggles in front of goal were only temporary.

Farke now has the opportunity to turn Elland Road into a statement-making stage.

And if Leeds can finally combine their defensive solidity with the attacking quality they showed in midweek, Sutton’s prediction of a close contest could look very different by the final whistle.