While there’s plenty of interest in the battle between Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool for the Premier League title, there’s an intriguing scrap at the bottom end of the table to avoid the drop.
With rock-bottom Sheffield United looking set to be playing their football in the Championship next season, there are a handful of clubs determined to make sure they don’t finish in the dreaded bottom three alongside the South Yorkshire outfit this term.
Trio Desperate To Avoid Swift Championship Return
All three clubs who were promoted from the Championship last season find themselves in the thick of the relegation battle this term. Luton Town, who are 1/3 in the betting online to be relegated this season, went up via the playoff final, while Burnley and Sheffield United were promoted automatically from the second tier. Every game feels like a cup final for all three of these sides, with Burnley up against it at 1/10 in predictions with Paddy Power News to go down. There seems to be little hope for Sheffield United, with the Blades managing just three wins in their opening 33 games of the campaign.
This season has seen a return to more of the norm after the last Premier League campaign, in which all of the newly promoted sides managed to retain their top-flight status. It was a remarkable achievement for Bournemouth, Fulham and Nottingham Forest all to stay up, at the cost of Southampton, Leeds United and Leicester City, who all dropped down to the Championship. This season has again shown how difficult it can be for teams from the second tier to make the step up, but for Burnley and Luton there is certainly still hope of survival.
Big Names Looking Over Their Shoulders
Everton supporters have been through some tough times in recent years and once again the Merseyside outfit find themselves teetering on the brink. The Toffees managed to win 10 of their first 33 games of the season but a points penalty for breaching financial fair play regulations has seen them thrust into the battle to avoid the drop once again. Everton would be clear of trouble
were it not for the points deduction, while Nottingham Forest find themselves in a similar situation.
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Forest have also had a turbulent season and their own points deduction has given them work still to do to make sure they are not leapfrogged by Burnley or Luton before the end of the campaign on May 19th. Seven wins from their first 34 Premier League games is a disappointing return for a Forest side that would have been hoping to kick on after a strong first campaign back in the top flight.
This season’s Premier League relegation fight is one that is brimming with plots and sub-plots that makes it a fascinating watch for the neutrals. For the fans involved a nail-biting conclusion to the season likely awaits, with the final day possibly deciding the long-term fates of a handful of clubs.
