The battle for safety is taking shape with the EPL season coming to a near conclusion. Many teams are separated by a single point in the drop zone. Thus every game against a team in the relegation zone now appears like a final–a case in point was the match between Arsenal and Southampton which ended all square.
Southampton are once again caught in a protracted EPL survival quest and hope they can fight their way out of the relegation battle. Will the Saints – perennial relegation battle fighters alongside Everton that survived by a whisker last season survive the drop?
Here is our review of the PL relegation battle which has also seen Nottingham Forest risk a journey back to the second tier after a season in the top-flight.
Southampton @ 1/40
Southampton remains the bookmakers’ favourite to face the axe at 1/40 as they are rooted at the bottom of the EPL table. Southampton is yet to win an EPL game in six attempts. With four games remaining, it will be difficult for the Saints to save itself from the humiliation of being relegated this season. Besides, it has three games against teams in the top half of the table and eyeing European places next season. The teams have a lot to play for and will utilize Southampton's poor form to achieve their targets.
Leeds @ ½
Leeds has found life tough in the Premier League as the season approaches its conclusion–earning a single point from fifteen available in the last five games. The bookies price it at ½ as a favourite to drop the Championship. Three of its remaining four games are against teams pushing for the Champions League positions next season. It is a matter of time before Leeds will be rooted to the drop zone.
Everton @ 4/6
Life at Goodison Park has become unbearable for Everton's fans as their team is rooted in the drop zone. A single win in ten games is the reason the bookmakers price Everton at 4/6 as the favourite to drop to the Championship Division. There is little hope for the Toffees to save themselves the humiliation of being dropped to the second-tier league since it has two of the remaining matches against teams pushing for European spots next season.
Nottingham Forest @ 10/11
Nottingham Forest’s Second stint in the Premier League has faced an uphill turn–occupying position 18 in the league table. There was hope among the Forest faithful after their side hammered Brighton 3-1. However, the Forests proved they are inexperienced enough to compete in the EPL by going in the 94th minute against Brentford. These reasons have prompted the bookmakers to price Nottingham Forest at 10/11 as a favourite to face the drop. Besides, Forest’s three games are tricky as they are against teams which are desperate to redeem themselves (Chelsea and Southampton) or eyeing a bigger price (Arsenal).
Leicester @ 9/5
Leicester finds itself in the drop zone mix despite shining in recent seasons. A single win from the last five matches marks Leicester's run of five games. Since the Foxes could not claim maximum points from fellow relegation-threatened teams like Everton and Leeds, the bookmakers have priced Leicester at 9/5 as a favourite team to be relegated to the Championship. With four games remaining, three are against teams in the top half of the EPL table, it will be an uphill task for the Foxes to avoid relegation this season.
The new head coach, Dean Smith, is under pressure to deliver the Foxes from a protracted battle against relegation. He has been in charge of four games, registering 1 win, 2 draws and 1 defeat. Leicester plays away from home against Fulham in their next PL match.
This article was most recently revised and updated 1 year ago
