Premier League Relegation Battle Tips

Following on from our Premier League Title Run In Tips, we have all the predicted action from the other, often more exciting, end of the Premier League table.

Aston Villa look sure fire favourites to go down, but can north east neighbours Sunderland and Newcastle avoid the drop? Can Norwich survive and make it so all three promoted teams survive the drop?

Here we’ll run you through the remaining six gameweeks of the Premier League season and predict whether the bottom three will change:

Aston Villa – Current Points: 16

It’s been an horrendous season for Aston Villa. Two managers have tried and failed to dig them out of the huge hole they are in, and some promising signings have failed to make a mark. They are mathematically still able to avoid relegation, but a 15 point gap between them and safety means they are sure fire favourites to start next season in the Championship, marking the first time in their history that they have been out of the Premier League.

Saturday marks one of the very few occasions that Aston Villa could get something for the remainder of the season. They host a Bournemouth side who looked like passengers against Manchester City, and the Villains could grab a point. Apart from that I expect them to lose every other game, apart from a hosting of Newcastle. This could be absolutely crucial for Newcastle, but they could already be relegated as well, and even Aston Villa should be able to avoid defeat at home to Newcastle.

Predicted Finish – 20th – 18 Points

Newcastle – Current Points: 25

It could be a very bad year for Newcastle. Another failure in summer resulted in them once again battling against relegation. This led to a massive spending spree in January that is yet to help them at all. They have improved under new manager Rafa Benitez, but their 3-2 defeat to Norwich at the weekend will have damaged them enormously, despite Aleksandar Mitrovic’s one-man effort to keep Newcastle in the Premier League.

A trip to St Mary’s Stadium is likely to be fruitless for Newcastle, but they could manage a point at home to Swansea. Manchester City and Liverpool should both be easily winning against them, although a potential saviour for the Toon could be a win at home to the out of form Crystal Palace. Even with their away record they can get a point at Villa Park, but a final day defeat to Spurs could resign them to a season in the Championship.

Back Newcastle to go down at 1/7 Here!

Predicted Finish – 19th – 30 Points

Sunderland – Current Points: 27

It looked over before it began at the start of the season for Sunderland. They were hammered in their opening few games and looked sure fire favourites for the drop, and have remained there or thereabouts for the majority of the season. However, the appointment of Big Sam could prove crucial for them. The experienced manager is excellent in these situations and has already seen vast improvements within the squad. They could have a chance of survival yet.

So, a home match against Leicester isn’t likely to yield any good results, but they have a few promising fixtures on the horizon. Norwich away should see them limit the gap between then two sides, and although I’ve predicted them to lose at home to Arsenal the Gunners always have the capability to squander these sorts of games. Stoke and Chelsea could both provide points to the struggling side, whilst back to back wins against Everton and Watford in the final two games of the season certainly isn’t out of the question. That match against Arsenal could prove absolutely crucial.

Back Sunderland to stay up at 9/4!

Predicted Finish – 17th – 36 Points

Norwich – Current Points: 31

Norwich’s up and down season is drawing to a close. They enjoyed a fairly good first half of the season as their attacking players surprised the Premier League old boys and allowed them to pick up some impressive results. However, it’s all gone downhill since then, and they now find themselves in relegation trouble. Their last minute winner in their crucial 3-2 win over Newcastle on Saturday was the lifeline they needed though, and that should spur the Canaries on to survive.

There are a few crucial matches coming up for Norwich, and winnable ones as well. Nobody expects them to get anything from the likes of Arsenal and Manchester United, but games against Palace, Sunderland, and Watford could all see them pick up valuable points. A win against Watford in the penultimate game of the season has the potential to save them, although they could boost their chances much earlier than that against Sunderland.

Predicted Finish – 16th – 38 Points

Crystal Palace – Current Points: 34

Crystal Palace had faint hopes of challenging for Europe a few months into the season, but an injury crisis to their already small strikeforce has led to a massive downturn in form, and they now look incapable of picking up a win. They are still in the FA Cup to give credit to them, but they are without a win in the Premier League since the middle of December. This has seen them fall down the table rapidly, and they now find themselves as outsiders to be relegated. Some seriously difficult and important matches are coming up.

It’s not looking good for Palace. They come up against a Norwich side fresh off the back of a dramatic winner against Newcastle on Saturday which will have lifted their spirits enormously. A defeat for them would see the Canaries draw level on points with them, and despite Everton’s troubles this season I think they can bag a win as well. Arsenal and Man United should both be winning home matches and a Newcastle side who have been improving could grab some precious points at St James’. I think their only remaining points of the season will come against Stoke at Selhurst Park, and that might not be enough to save them. They just don’t seem to have a crucial win in their lockers.

Get on Crystal Palace to be relegated from the Premier League at 16/1 here!

Predicted Finish – 18th – 35 Points

Final Table Prediction

Back Aston Villa, Newcastle, and Crystal Palace to all be relegated at 33/1!

Follow all of our Premier League Predictions for the rest of the season!