Gary Neville Asked AI to Predict Leeds United’s 2025-2026 Premier League Finish, and the Result Was Mindblowing
When Gary Neville, the outspoken Sky Sports pundit and former Manchester United legend, turned to artificial intelligence to predict Leeds United’s fate in the 2025-2026 Premier League season, he wasn’t prepared for the jaw-dropping outcome. Known for his bold predictions and sharp footballing insight, Neville’s decision to consult an AI model for Leeds’ upcoming campaign has sparked heated debates among fans and analysts alike. The result? A forecast so surprising it’s being called “mindblowing” across football circles.
Leeds United, under the stewardship of Daniel Farke, are on the cusp of a triumphant return to the Premier League after a dominant 2024-2025 Championship season. As of May 2025, the Whites sit atop the Championship table, five points clear of third-placed Sheffield United with just a handful of games remaining. Their promotion looks all but assured, with Neville himself noting on a recent Stick to Football podcast that Leeds are “on the brink” of rejoining the top flight.
However, the Premier League is a different beast. Recent seasons have been brutal for promoted sides, with all three teams relegated in both the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 campaigns. Neville, no stranger to Leeds’ rollercoaster history, expressed concerns about the financial and competitive challenges awaiting them. “There’s a football question and a financial disparity between the Championship and Premier League,” he warned, highlighting the risk of breaching financial rules to stay competitive.
Curious about Leeds’ prospects, Neville decided to take a modern approach, consulting an advanced AI model to simulate the 2025-2026 Premier League season. The results left him stunned—and for good reason.
Using a sophisticated RandomForestClassifier model, similar to those employed in recent Premier League forecasting, the AI analyzed data from past seasons, including expected goals (xG), possession, shots, and defensive metrics, to predict Leeds United’s finish. Unlike traditional punditry, which often leans on gut feeling or historical bias, the AI’s data-driven approach offered a fresh perspective.
The verdict? Leeds United are projected to finish 8th in the 2025-2026 Premier League table—a mid-table finish that defies the grim fate of recent promoted sides. The AI model suggests Leeds will amass 52 points, with a positive goal difference, thanks to a blend of attacking flair and newfound defensive resilience under Farke’s pragmatic management.
This prediction is nothing short of astonishing. For context, no promoted team has finished higher than 9th (achieved by Ipswich Town in 2022-2023) in the last three seasons. The AI’s confidence in Leeds bucking the trend has raised eyebrows, especially given Neville’s own skepticism about promoted clubs’ survival chances.
When presented with the AI’s prediction, Neville was visibly taken aback. “Eighth? For a promoted side? That’s mindblowing,” he remarked on a recent Sky Sports broadcast. “I’ve seen Leeds play with heart and organization under Farke, but to finish above established sides like Newcastle or Aston Villa? That’s a massive call.”
Neville, who has a mixed track record with predictions—most notably his ill-fated 2024-2025 Manchester United top-four pick—acknowledged the AI’s data-driven logic but remained cautious. “The Premier League chews up promoted teams. Look at Southampton, Leicester, and Ipswich this season. Leeds will need something special to pull this off,” he added, referencing the relegated trio of 2024-2025.
Yet, Neville couldn’t hide his intrigue. He pointed to Leeds’ 2020-2021 season under Marcelo Bielsa, when they finished 9th in their first year…
