BBC Sport pundit Matt Piper says Leeds United have to beat Leicester City on Friday due to the ‘psychological aspect’ of the game.

Piper was speaking on the BBC’s When You’re Smiling Podcast, where he claimed a Leicester win over one of their closest challengers in Leeds would make it difficult for the rest of the Championship from a mental perspective.

Thanks to a much smoother summer transfer window, though, Leicester have started the season considerably better than Leeds, winning an incredible 13 of their 14 opening matches.

That has already put them 14 points clear of Leeds in third place, who know that only a win will do in order to keep the Foxes within their grasp.

Piper says Leeds need win for ‘psychological’ reasons

Due to the gap that has already been established by Leicester from the rest of the chasing pack, Piper says Leeds simply have to pick up three points due to the ‘psychological aspect’ of what a home win would do.

“I think with Leeds being in third place and already sort of 14 points adrift of our position, there is more on this game just because of the psychological aspect. I know this is early in the season, but if you have a good performance and beat Leeds, the rest of the division will be thinking ‘wow’. There is more of a psychological aspect to this game than just three points.”

If Leeds were to be beaten by Leicester on Friday, it would all but end their hopes of catching them, even at this early stage of the season.

Leicester have been relentless under Enzo Maresca so far and a win against arguably the second best squad on paper in the division, would send a huge message to the rest of the Championship.

If any side was to have the players to go to Leicester and cause them problems, it would be Leeds. However, Daniel Farke’s side will have to be at the top of their game