Well, the final set of games are here. Each Premier League team has 7-9 matches left, and while I’ve done a post on the best teams, the teams in a fight to survive need a mention too. So here I am. Let’s break down each team in the bottom half of the Premier League and see their chances of survival.
Chelsea
Current Place: 11th
Points: 39 (12 from relegation zone)
Form Table: 16th
Remaining Games Difficulty: Hard
Relegation Chance: Very Low
Who would’ve thought it? A Chelsea side which 2 years ago won the Champions League, is currently in a Quarterfinal with Real Madrid, and has spent 500 million pounds on transfers this season is in a relegation battle post. Well, just barely. While they could still move further down than 11th and their form is terrible right now with a hard schedule ahead of them featuring games against Man United, Arsenal, Man City, and Newcastle, the chance of them actually being relegated is very low. However, still a catastrophic failure for this Chelsea side was this season. Who knows, they still haven’t reached the magical 40-point mark yet.
Crystal Palace
Current Place: 12th
Points: 36 (9 from relegation zone)
Form Table: 8th
Remaining Games Difficulty: Easy
Relegation Chance: Very Low
The Roy Hodgson manager bounce is here, and it may have saved Crystal Palace. They’re looking good and with 6 of their remaining 7 games against teams below them, and on a 3-game win streak, Crystal Palace can kiss relegation goodbye.
Wolverhampton
Current Place: 13th
Points: 34 (7 from relegation zone)
Form table: 10th
Remaining Games Difficulty: Medium
Relegation Chance: Fairly Low
Wolves’ situation isn’t as straightforward as Chelsea’s or Crystal Palace’s. While they do have leeway with a schedule where they can pick up some points, but this side is an unknown package. They can thrash Liverpool one week then lose to Bournemouth. Still though, they are pretty safe at this stage.
Bournemouth
Current Place: 14th
Points: 33 (6 from relegation zone)
Form Table: 9th
Remaining Games Difficulty: Easy
Relegation Chance: Moderate
Bournemouth are on some good form after scraping a last minute win over Spurs. However, inconsistency is their recipe, as demonstrated by their 9-0 loss to Liverpool at Anfield and 1-0 win at home. While they seem in good shape right now, they are still liable to slip up.
West Ham
Current Place: 15th
Points: 31 (4 from relegation zone)
Form Table: 11th
Remaining Games Difficulty: Fairly Hard
Relegation Chance: Moderate
West Ham could realistically make the Europa League while being in the Championship. They’re the only team we’re covering who has any decent shot at relegation who are in a European competition. Results like the comeback draw vs Arsenal though, those keep you in the league. It’ll be a fight to survive, but West Ham aren’t the team in the most immediate danger.
Leeds United
Current Place: 16th
Points: 29 (2 from relegation zone)
Form Table: 12th
Remaining Games Difficulty: Moderate
Relegation Chance: Fairly High
Leeds, once again, will be in trouble until the final bell. Their schedule features Liverpool, Man City, Spurs, and the rest are 6-pointers. Those games will determine their fate. Leeds will have to steel themselves for the end that remains, as they can easily go down to the Championship again.
Everton
Current Place: 17th
Points: 27 (Out of the relegation zone on goal difference)
Form Table: 14th
Remaining Games Difficulty: Moderate
Relegation Chance: High
Everton, I’m afraid, will remain relegation battlers until they’re eventually relegated to the Championship. With how little financial muscle they can flex, as well as the FFP investigation ongoing. Everton still have Man City to play, and that could make or break their spirits for the rest of their relegation battle, and perhaps Sean Dyche can pull another team out of a relegation battle. Don’t place any money on it, though.
Nottingham Forest
Current Place: 18th
Points: 27 (In the relegation zone on goal difference)
Form Table: Tied-20th
Remaining Games Difficulty: Fairly Hard
Relegation Chance: Very High
Nottingham Forest took a while to get promoted back to the Premier League, and they hoped it would be more comfortable than this. Unfortunately, the odds are not for Nottingham Forest staying up. Only 1 game is against relegation battlers, and they have games against Arsenal, Liverpool, and Chelsea. Forest look like they’re going down, and it may not be even close.
Leicester City
Current Place: 19th
Points: 25 (2 points from safety)
Form Table: Tied-20th
Remaining Games Difficulty: Moderate
Relegation Chance: High
When I put Leicester 17th in my predictions for the Premier League, I thought I was being crazy. That’s where I believe they’ll finish now. Despite improvements from his early season form, Danny Ward is still not Premier League standard, not having kept a league clean sheet since November 12th. Leicester need a turn in their form now to stay up, with 1 draw and 4 losses in their last 5. A win is needed.
Southampton
Current Place: 20th
Points: 23 (4 points from safety)
Form Table: Tied-20th
Remaining Games Difficulty: Fairly Hard
Relegation Chance: Very High
Southampton simply needed to avoid relegation, and they haven’t done it. I would be thoroughly surprised if the Saints are in the Premier League next year. Only one of their last 7 games are vs bad opponents, and they require 2 wins at least to survive. A miracle is needed here.
That’s all folks. You have seen my thoughts to and your guide for the relegation battle in the Premier League as the season comes to a scrambling close. I’m Jim James, until next time.