Premier League news: Analysing the relegation battle and predicting who will go down
The end of the Premier League season is fast approaching, with the relegation battle heating up as teams scramble to avoid the drop.
Wolves and Burnley are almost certain to return to the Championship as it would take a miracle for them to stay up – being 13 and 10 points, respectively, behind 17th-placed Tottenham Hotspur.
In this article, Sports News Blitz writer Elliot Ward instead focuses on the four teams at risk of going down in 18th place.
The relegation contenders
West Ham United currently sit in 18th place with a tough run-in coming up, including games against Arsenal, Newcastle United, and Brentford as well as a home clash with relegation rivals Leeds United on the last day of the season.
In 17th place is Tottenham, who have an equally hard final stretch, featuring match-ups with Sunderland, Aston Villa, and Chelsea.
With a defeated spirit permeating the camp, Spurs look to be in serious trouble, and many fans believe Tottenham could make the drop down to the Championship.
Nottingham Forest are in 16th place and have the hardest run-in, with Aston Villa, Chelsea, Newcastle, and Manchester United still to come.
Forest also have Europa League games to factor in as they’ve qualified for the quarter-finals – this will be a huge distraction to their league form.
Finally, in 15th position, we have Leeds.
The Whites boast the easiest run-in out of these four teams thanks to home games against Burnley and Wolves, both huge opportunities to pick up points.
Leeds are, however, still firmly in the battle for survival and will need to distance themselves from the trailing pack.
Who will survive?
I think Leeds will manage to stay up in the end, but the other three are in for a much harder battle.
Given West Ham’s recent performances and the form of players like winger Crysencio Summerville, who has played a massive part in the Hammers picking up points, they should have enough momentum to survive.
Tottenham are a huge club and were highly successful under Mauricio Pochettino not that long ago, but times have changed.
In the last two years, Spurs have slipped down the Premier League table as confidence and positivity have evaporated from the club and its fanbase.
Despite that, I think they’ll have the quality to avoid relegation, albeit by the skin of their teeth.
By a process of elimination, in my opinion, Nottingham Forest will drop down to the Championship.
Their run-in is incredibly difficult and I cannot see many points being picked up – therefore, they will be relegated.
READ MORE: Premier League news: Five ways the international break could help Leeds Utd avoid relegation
Predicted final standings
15th – Leeds United
16th – West Ham United
17th – Tottenham Hotspur
18th – Nottingham Forest
19th – Burnley
20th – Wolves
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Liverpool news: Mohamed Salah’s five most memorable moments in a Reds shirt
