The Arsenal legend has spoken about Leeds United’s Championship play-off mission

Arsenal legend Ray Parlor has given his verdict on the team he believes will win the Championship play-offs. Leeds United will face Norwich City in the first leg of the semi-final on Sunday.

Southampton and West Bromwich Albion are the other two teams fighting for the bottom Premier League spot for next season, with their first meeting set to begin shortly after the Norwich-Leeds game ends on Sunday.

Leeds will head into the clash at Carrow Road (kick-off 12pm) with a degree of confidence, having secured all six points in the first meetings between the two sides this season. Daniel Farke’s side won 3-2 on their last visit to the Canaries’ ground in October before winning 1-0 at Elland Road in early 2024.

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Former Arsenal midfielder Parlor echoed that confidence after tipping Leeds past Norwich, which could set up a clash with Southampton in the final at Wembley Stadium. “I think it will be between Southampton and Leeds to be honest,” he told talkSPORT. “The result Southampton had will give them confidence.”

The prospect of facing Southampton could be a slightly more daunting task for Leeds. The Whites faced Russell Martin’s side in the final game of the 2023/24 season when hopes of securing automatic promotion to the Premier League were still alive.

Adam Armstrong opened the scoring for Saints in the 18th minute before Joel Piroe equalized in front of the Elland Road crowd just minutes later. Will Smallbone’s second-half effort ultimately decided the game.

Ipswich Town defeated Huddersfield Town, confirming their place in the top flight of English football for the first time since 2002.

Although Leeds won’t be thinking about the possibility of facing Southampton in the final just yet, the result at the end of the season will be on the minds of the team, should it come to pass. For now, a tough two-legged clash against Norwich looms and Farke’s side must focus on booking a place at Wembley on May 26.