Premier League 20/21 relegation predictions, odds and betting tips
Born in the south east of Ireland, Simon put his life-long love of football to good use when he started a successful independent blog in 2010. That opened up an alternative route to a career in journalism, and having had work published across a number of sites and publications, Simon joined the staff at Spotlight Sports Group in 2018.
Following on from our Premier League Winners and Top 4 predictions, we move into the lower reaches of the table as we analyse the teams that are expected to struggle to stay afloat in 20202/21.
Last season, Norwich City – who lost a miserable 27 out of 38 games – finished rock bottom after the newly promoted Canaries resisted the urge to splash the cash the previous summer.
Another of the division’s new boys, Sheffield United, enjoyed greater success with a similar transfer market mind-set and eventually finished in a hugely impressive 9th spot, while lavish spenders Aston Villa secured their top-flight status by the skin of their teeth having splurged north of £100m on new faces.
Norwich were joined in the bottom three by Watford (19th) and Bournemouth (18th) whose dismal campaigns saw them exit the Premier League after five-year stays.
In 2020/21, three new faces enter the fray as Leeds, West Brom and Fulham battle it out top flight survival against some of the other Premier League clubs trying to keep their necks above water, and the skirmish for points and places this term is certain to be intense.
Below, we take a closer look at the favourites for the drop and our picks to be relegated from the Premier League in 2020/21.
Click here for our entire 2020/21 Season Outright Predictions Schedule.
Premier League relegation odds
*All odds correct as of 10:00 on 8th September 2020 on bet365.com
West Brom 1/1
Fulham 11/10
Aston Villa 7/4
Crystal Palace 2/1
Newcastle 9/4
Burnley 3/1
Sheffield United 10/3
Brighton 7/2
Leeds 7/2
West Ham 7/2
Southampton 8/1
Premier League relegation predictions
West Bromwich Albion to be relegated
At even money, Slaven Bilić’s Baggies are the bookmakers’ favourites to go down in 2020/21, and unfortunately for Albion supporters, it’s easy to see why.
Last season’s Championship runners-up – who have been relegated from the Premier League four times since 2002 – finished their ultimately successful campaign with a whimper in 2019/20, winning just three of their final 11 fixtures to cross the line with a limp.
With COVID-led financial restraints evident, WBA have been modest market movers so far, and while they have done well to tie key duo Matheus Pereira and Grady Diangana to permanent deals from Sporting CP and West Ham respectively, Albion look light on talent and short on depth for their first top-flight adventure in three years.
It’s worth noting that WBA won less than half of their Championship fixtures at the Hawthorns (43%) last term, and with harnessing home advantage key to any struggling team’s survival hopes, that statistic is a worrying one.
Fulham to be relegated
The Cottagers have yo-yo’d their way back to the Premier League after just single season of Championship football in 2019/20, after a playoffs triumph under Scott Parker that few observers had anticipated.
Fulham are still feeling the financial pinch from their enormous transfer outlay the last time they were promoted in 2018, and with owner Shahid Khan already ruling out significant spending this summer, Parker will largely have to make do with the personnel currently at his disposal.
Unfortunately for Fulham, the crux of the squad that failed to cope with the demands of the Premier League in 2018/19 are still at Craven Cottage, and with little star quality beyond their talismanic centre-forward Aleksandar Mitrovic, they have it all to do to avoid being dumped back out of the division at the first time of asking again.
Aston Villa to be relegated
A late four-match unbeaten streak at the end of the season saved Aston Villa from relegation in 2019/20, and while their last gasp reprieve was a massive relief, the Villains had expected much more from a campaign funded by an enormous £100m+ transfer splurge the previous summer.
The club’s recruitment drive this year has been massively scaled back, with Nottingham Forest full-back Matty Cash the only signing of note so far, though retaining star-performer Jack Grealish would undoubtedly be their best bit of business.
At the time of writing, interest in the England schemer seems to have dried up, and with a full Premier League season under his belt, Grealish should be able to improve on his haul of eight goals and six assists from 2019/20 this term.
It’s hoped that the return to fitness of Brazilian striker Wesley might ease the goal-scoring burden on Grealish, however, more pressing issues linger for Villa at the opposite end of the pitch
Only bottom club Norwich City conceded more goals in the Premier League than Villa last term, and with manager Dean Smith has yet to address the team’s priority problems in centre-defence, the Villains’ inability to stem the flow might prove fatal.
Premier League 2020/21 Relegation Treble at 18/1
The Premier League landscape promises to shift considerably between now and next May, but all three of the aforementioned sides look like they could face serious trouble this season.
With that considered, backing WBA, Fulham and Aston Villa to go down in 2020/21 looks a fantastic price at 18/1. You can add our relegation treble to your betslip by clicking the banner below.
More FST News:
Premier League club by club guide part 1
Premier League club by club guide part 2