Who’s Going Down? Comparing the Run-In for Relegation Candidates

The Premier League season is nearing its end. We already know who's going to win the title, but who's going down?


There are just six points between 15th and 19th, so it's all to play for as we approach the final eight fixtures.


Let's take a look at each side's chance of survival.



Brighton & Hove Albion (32 Points)


Brighton have a nice cushion ahead of the relegation zone

Remaining Fixtures:

Leicester vs Brighton (23 June)
Brighton vs Man Utd (30 June)
Norwich vs Brighton (4 July)
Brighton vs Liverpool (8 July)
Brighton vs Man City (11 July)
Southampton vs Brighton (15 July)
Brighton vs Newcastle (18 July)
Burnley vs Brighton (26 July)


Brighton currently sit five points clear of the relegation zone, but that could all be about to change in the coming weeks as the fixture list is not kind to Graham Potter's men.


Four of their next five fixtures will come against Leicester, Manchester United, Liverpool and Manchester City, with only Norwich offering some form of respite on 4 July.


If their relegation rivals can pick up points, the Seagulls could get dragged down the table in the blink of an eye, meaning their final three games against Southampton, Newcastle and Burnley could be cagey affairs.



Watford (28 Points)


Watford will have a tough end to the season

Remaining Fixtures:

Burnley vs Watford (25 June)
Watford vs Southampton (28 June)
Chelsea vs Watford (4 July)
Watford vs Norwich (7 July)
Watford vs Newcastle (11 July)
West Ham vs Watford (15 July)
Watford vs Man City (18 July)
Arsenal vs Watford (26 July)


Watford's run-in is a real mixed bag. Judging by the fixture list, the Hornets are going to have to pick up their points early.


Ending the season against Manchester City and Arsenal is hardly ideal for a relegation-threatened side, but Watford will have the chance to climb away from the drop zone if they can come out on top against West Ham, Norwich and Southampton.


With Gerard Deulofeu still sidelined through injury, Watford don't exactly come with much firepower these days, so the likes of Ismaïla Sarr will need to step up.



West Ham United (27 Points)


West Ham have some friendly fixtures to look forward to

Remaining Fixtures:

Tottenham vs West Ham (23 June)
West Ham vs Chelsea (1 July)
Newcastle vs West Ham (5 July)
West Ham vs Burnley (8 July)
Norwich vs West Ham (11 July)
West Ham vs Watford (15 July)
Man Utd vs West Ham (18 July)
West Ham vs Aston Villa (26 July)


Difficult clashes with Tottenham and Chelsea will create a nervy atmosphere around the London Stadium in the next week, but West Ham's remaining fixtures will fill them with hope for the future.


Games against Norwich, Aston Villa and Watford all look like relegation six-pointers, and the Hammers will be quietly confident of coming out on top against all three - although defeats against any would be catastrophic.



Bournemouth (27 Points)


Bournemouth's 5-year stay in the Premier League is under threat

Remaining Fixtures:

Wolves vs Bournemouth (24 June)
Bournemouth vs Newcastle (1 July)
Man Utd vs Bournemouth (4 July)
Bournemouth vs Tottenham (9 July)
Bournemouth vs Leicester (12 July)
Man City vs Bournemouth (15 July)
Bournemouth vs Southampton (18 July)
Everton vs Bournemouth (26 July)


Bournemouth are below all of their upcoming opponents in the table, and they won't be favourites to win any of them.


Wolves, Manchester United, Tottenham, Leicester and Manchester City will all be confident of beating the Cherries, so Eddie Howe's hopes of survival could come down to whether Bournemouth can get results against Newcastle, Southampton and Everton.


Bournemouth did beat Southampton and Everton earlier in the season, but that was a long time ago and plenty has changed since then.



Aston Villa (26 Points)


Aston Villa will be boosted by their defensive performance against Chelsea

Remaining Fixtures:

Newcastle vs Aston Villa (24 June)
Aston Villa vs Wolves (27 June)
Liverpool vs Aston Villa (5 July)
Aston Villa vs Man Utd (9 July)
Aston Villa vs Crystal Palace (12 July)
Everton vs Aston Villa (15 July)
Aston Villa vs Arsenal (18 July)
West Ham vs Aston Villa (26 July)


The end of this season is going to be rough for Aston Villa. Wolves, Manchester United, Liverpool, Everton and Arsenal will all be confident of taking three points against Dean Smith's side.


That leaves Newcastle, Crystal Palace and a final-day meeting with West Ham on the schedule, so winning all three of those games could be crucial, with that last game looking particularly important.


Villa defended well against Chelsea and will hope to have a little more fortune against the rest of the big teams, but they might have given themselves too much work to do.



Norwich City (21 Points)


Norwich are already 7 points adrift

Remaining Fixtures:

Norwich vs Everton (24 June)
Arsenal vs Norwich (1 July)
Norwich vs Brighton (4 July)
Watford vs Norwich (7 July)
Norwich vs West Ham (11 July)
Chelsea vs Norwich (15 July)
Norwich vs Burnley (18 July)
Man City vs Norwich (26 July


Frustratingly for Norwich, they have perhaps the kindest fixture list out of all their rivals, but the Canaries are surely too far gone already.


Everton and Arsenal will make life tough early on, but Norwich will then have the chance to climb clear of the drop with meetings with Brighton, Watford and West Ham, while Burnley may also be beatable if Norwich can step their game up.


There's also a tough game against Chelsea to prepare for, and Norwich will end the season with a trip to face Manchester City. They beat Pep Guardiola's men earlier in the season - could they do it again?



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Source : 90min