The Premier League brings us a relegation battle for the ages this season, with 13 points separating rock-bottom Southampton and Crystal Palace, who sit in 12th place.
The Premier League relegation scrap needs some serious paring down, as a remarkable nine teams sit within reach of one another with eight match weeks remaining of the 2022-23 Premier League season.
Here is a close look at their seasons, and their chances of survival.
CRYSTAL PALACE
Remaining fixtures: Southampton (A), Everton (H), Wolves (A), West Ham (H), Tottenham (A), Bournemouth (H), Fulham (A), Nottingham Forest (H)
I’d expect the Eagles to be home and dry by mid-May, with at least four winnable fixtures from their remaining eight. Crystal Palace fans were left divided on the sudden departure of Patrick Viera, but in Roy Hodgson, they can trust their survival bid be soon complete.
Roy Hodgson's Crystal Palace record 📊
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) March 21, 2023
Will he be the man to help them survive relegation?👀👇 pic.twitter.com/8yeT1a9fhO
WOLVES
Remaining fixtures: Brentford (H), Leicester (A), Crystal Palace (H), Brighton (A), Aston Villa (H), Man Utd (A), Everton (H), Arsenal (A)
Julen Lopetegui’s men occupied the relegation zone for the most part of the World Cup break but have done extremely well to avoid dropping back there since that 1-0 win over the Hammers back in January.
Disappointingly, they lost at home against Bournemouth and Leeds United before going on to defeat Chelsea and Antonio Conte’s Tottenham. All eyes will be on their much-anticipated clash with Leicester on April 22 – which could well dictate whether Wolves pull clear or get dragged back in.
WEST HAM
Remaining fixtures: Arsenal (H), Bournemouth (A), Liverpool (H), Crystal Palace (A), Man City (A), Man Utd (H), Brentford (a), Leeds (H), Leicester (A)
The Hammers kept their game-in-hand buffer intact when they drew with leaders Arsenal at home on Sunday. Prior to that, David Moyes’ side had made a habit of winning some crucial match-ups – at home to Everton, Nottingham Forest and Southampton this year – and next Sunday’s match at Bournemouth falls into that must-win category. They boast the best defence among the bottom nine, and certainly have the experience to survive the drop.
BOURNEMOUTH
Remaining fixtures: Tottenham (A), West Ham (H), Southampton (A), Leeds (H), Chelsea (H), Crystal Palace (A), Man Utd (H), Everton (A)
Bournemouth’s topsy-turvy run has at least garnered enough points to lift them out of the relegation zone for the first time since January. In their latest heroic act, the Cherries visited the Tottenham Hotspur stadium and came back with all three points and establish a ten-point gap between their 14th spot and bottom-placed Southampton.
However, with the league’s worst defence (57 goals conceded), and a difficult final-four fixtures – it could be a last-day match for the ages at Goodison Park.
Relegation-threatened Bournemouth "took a huge step" towards Premier League survival as substitute Dango Ouattara of #BurkinaFaso scored a stoppage-time winner in a stunning finish at Tottenham.
— Oluwashina Okeleji (@oluwashina) April 17, 2023
pic.twitter.com/RF5Q5oKG0o
EVERTON
Remaining fixtures: Fulham (H), Crystal Palace (A), Newcastle (H), Leicester (A), Brighton (A), Man City (H), Wolves (A), Bournemouth (H)
It goes with saying that Everton will have a hard time picking up points away from home as the season draws to a close. Their Monday night fixture with Leicester will be one not to miss, and as the league’s lowest scorers this season with 23 goals – Sean Dyche will need his forwards to step up, and Dominic Calvert-Lewin to recover from his thigh injury sooner rather than later.
LEEDS UNITED
Remaining fixtures: Liverpool (H), Fulham (A), Leicester (H), Bournemouth (A), Man City (A), Newcastle (H), West Ham (A), Tottenham (H)
A heavy 5-0 home defeat at the hands of Crystal Palace has sent Leeds United further down the log as they sit on 16th with 29 points. From third in August to 12th during the World Cup break, now they find themselves deep in the relegation conversation this season.
They will point towards home games against Leicester, Newcastle, Tottenham and even Liverpool this week as their chance to stay up, but trips to Bournemouth and West Ham could be decisive.
Last night in the Premier League - Liverpool thrashed relegation-battling Leeds United 6-1.
— playTSOGO (@playTSOGO) April 18, 2023
📹- SSFootball
Chiefs | Hotto | Havertzpic.twitter.com/y7L0gVYxuL
NOTTINGHAM FOREST
Remaining fixtures: Man Utd (H), Liverpool (A), Brighton (H), Brentford (A), Southampton (H), Chelsea (A), Arsenal (H), Crystal Palace (A)
A 2-0 home defeat to Man United marked a run of form which does not bode well for a side currently in the relegation zone, and so a shock or two is needed for Forest, who currently have the worst goal difference in the league. Their 8th of May showdown with Southampton could be the sink-or-swim moment that gives one side hope for the final three games, and hands the other a season-long date with the second tier.
LEICSTER CITY
Remaining fixtures: Man City (A), Wolves (H), Leeds (A), Everton (H), Fulham (A), Liverpool (H), Newcastle (A), West Ham (H)
No doubt that trip to Manchester City was a tough afternoon for Leicester in Dean Smith’s first match in charge, but Leicester fans must now get behind the man nicknamed “Ginger Mourinho” in their bid to avoid relegation. But that game is behind them now, and home matches against Wolves, Everton, Liverpool and West Ham make for a quartet of winnable games.
SOUTHAMPTON
Remaining fixtures: Crystal Palace (H), Arsenal (A), Bournemouth (H), Newcastle (A), Nottingham Forest (A), Fulham (H), Brighton (A), Liverpool (H)
No surprise to find the club who have made two managerial changes sitting rock-bottom of the log. Do you see the Saints surviving this season? Five matches without a win would suggest not, so too the speed in which the four-point gap to Palace became 10. They face the Eagles at home on Saturday. Lose and there could be no coming back.
Southampton have lost 10 home Premier League games this season, equalling their worst ever home form in the history of the Premier League.
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) April 15, 2023
There’s no place like home. 🏠 pic.twitter.com/8nQteuSWR5
