Credit: Imago

Oliver Walton

Thu 30 April 2026 13:34, UK

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Leeds United have been boosted by Scott Parker’s Burnley sacking as the two sides prepare to face off at Elland Road on Friday night.

Parker was relieved of his duties as Clarets boss on Thursday morning, just a week after their immediate relegation to the Championship was confirmed.

He led Burnley to the top flight in his first season in charge, but has been unable to guide them to safety, with Leeds sitting well ahead of their old promotion rivals as it stands.

Daniel Farke should be pleased that Parker has been sacked just a day before they were due to face off, given his poor previous record when managing against the Englishman.

Leeds’ next match is vital to their Premier League survival hopes, with a win on Friday likely to see them all but safe for another campaign.

Scott Parker has had the better of Daniel Farke in Leeds vs Burnley games

Parker led his Burnley side to just four wins in the Premier League prior to his sacking, with the second of those coming at Turf Moor in October as they beat Leeds 2-0.

Goals from Lesley Ugochukwu and Loum Tchaouna gave the Clarets all three points, with Leeds unable to break down the hosts’ resolute backline.

As shown above, Farke has only emerged victorious in one of the four games that he has managed against Parker, and has not beaten him as Leeds boss up to now.

The Whites scored 95 goals last term as they won the Championship, but failed to score across 180 minutes against Burnley and were limited to a combined five shots on target in both games.

Farke may well have been apprehensive of facing Parker on Friday, despite the teams’ differing fortunes this season, but he will surely fancy his chances of getting the better of interim boss Mike Jackson now that the 45-year-old has been dismissed.

Football Insider recently revealed that Sean Dyche is a leading contender to be Burnley’s next boss, but Jackson will be in position until the end of the season at least.

Can Leeds be safe from relegation after this weekend’s fixtures?

Leeds will certainly be fancying their chances of staying up this season, as they have already reached 40 points, and only once in the previous 22 top-flight seasons has that not been enough to avoid relegation.

They will move onto 43 points with a win on Friday, and could end the weekend nine points ahead of 18th-placed Spurs if they lose to Aston Villa on Sunday.

That would not quite be enough to see the Whites mathematically safe, with three games left to play, but then a win or draw against Tottenham on 11 May would confirm their place in the Premier League for next season.