Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson believes that Leeds United will go into the end of season play-offs at a disadvantage to their opponents, despite finishing in the highest position.

Leeds are guaranteed to finish in third place but, unlike Aston Villa and West Brom, they do not yet know who they will be facing in the semi-finals with sixth place yet to be decided.

“Villa and West Brom sort of know each other they are going to be playing each other," Merson said on Sky Sports on Sunday.

"Leeds won’t have a clue who they are playing yet.

"Because there are three teams, they have got to wait to literally the last day of the season to know if it’s going to be Bristol City, Derby or Middlesbrough.”

Derby County are currently in control of sixth place but face a midweek trip to Swansea City to play their extra game, knowing a win during would all but secure their spot.

However, if they lose and Bristol City win their game in hand against Millwall on Tuesday night then control switches back in the Robins' favour.

Middlesbrough currently find themselves level on points with the Rams but know that a win for Derby in South Wales will all but end their hopes, barring a sizeable goal swing on the final day.

The verdict

Merson does actually have a point here.

We have seen how meticulously Bielsa likes to plan for games so you would bet that he would much rather know already who they are going to be facing.

But at the same time you would also guess that he has already planned meticulously for any eventuality, so it is unlikely to have too big an impact.