We’re not even a third of the way through the new Premier League season, but it already feels like a crucial weekend at the foot of the table, as the Premier League relegation battle intensifies.
Premier League Relegation Battle: Will the bottom three break their ducks?
There’s still a long way to go, but the bottom six are already in danger of getting cut off from the rest – with each of Ipswich Town, Southampton and Wolves still searching for their first victory of the campaign. It’s worth noting that Sheffield United were the final side to get off the mark last season and did so on this weekend 12 months ago, for all that they had played one game more.
The Blades would go on to record a miserable tally of just 16 points and finish bottom of the pile, a worrying stat for the bottom three. Each of the winless trio will be hopeful of turning a corner this weekend, as all three face home ties against sides in the bottom six. With that in mind, we’ve taken a look at the respective chances each side has of finally getting off the mark.
Premier League Relegation Battle: Southampton v Everton
Southampton returned to the Premier League at the first attempt through the Championship play-offs last term, though they have collected a solitary point from their first nine games. The Saints have managed just six goals in the league this season but can perhaps count themselves unfortunate to be winless, throwing away a two-goal lead against Leicester in October and conceding a stoppage-time equaliser against Ipswich a month earlier.
Russell Martin’s side are going to have to improve fast if they are to avoid the drop, with kwiff already pricing them up at 1.10 to go straight back down. History is on their side however, as they stayed up in 1998-99 despite being winless after nine games. The Saints got that elusive victory in their tenth game 26 years ago and they couldn’t really have picked a better opponent to repeat the feat against here, facing an Everton side that has won just once on the road this calendar year.
The Toffees arrive here unbeaten in five after a slow start, though they are hardly prolific in front of goal themselves and are yet to score more than twice in a league game in 2024. Southampton can draw confidence from the fact that they dumped Everton out of the Carabao Cup on penalties in September, but this seems likely to be on a knife edge. With that in mind, taking the 1.90 about there being under 2.5 goals seems like an attractive proposition.
Premier League Relegation Battle: Ipswich v Leicester
Ipswich ended a 22-year absence from the top flight when securing back-to-back promotions from League One last term and they have had a fairly good go at establishing themselves so far. Opening games against Liverpool and Manchester City is about as unforgiving a start as you can ask for, though they have had a good go at things since, drawing four and losing three.
Ipswich’s biggest problem is at the back, with their tally of 20 goals conceded outdone only by Wolves, while they surrendered a two-goal lead when losing 4-3 at Brentford last week. It’s the fourth game in which The Tractor Boys have been in a winning position this season which ought to give them hope, as will the five league goals so far from £20 million man Liam Delap.
Premier League Relegation Battle: Honours Even
Meanwhile, Leicester have picked up two wins since promotion at the first attempt, though they were more than a bit fortunate to see off Southampton a fortnight ago and shipped five goals in midweek at Manchester United in the cup – for all that they made nine changes.
It’s worth noting that Ipswich have won all three of their previous Premier League home games against the Foxes, though the most recent of those was all the way back in 2001. A much better barometer is last year’s Championship form, when both sides were separated by just one point in the table, with both games between the pair ending in a draw. All the emphasis will be on the hosts to win, but the 3.15 on offer for another stalemate feels like the way to go.
Premier League Relegation Battle: Wolves v Crystal Palace
Wolves have rarely been in serious danger since sealing promotion six years ago, though their seventh straight season of Premier League football has seen their worst ever start to a top flight campaign. There have been mitigating factors though, with the Wanderers having to play each of the current top seven sides in the table, while manager Gary O’Neil has been vocal about their recent bad luck in terms of refereeing decisions.
It took a stoppage time goal from John Stones to deny Wolves a point against champions Manchester City a fortnight ago and it certainly felt as though their luck turned away at Brighton last week, when they scored two late goals to pinch a point after soaking up plenty of pressure.
Premier League Relegation Battle: Whimpering Wolves
Gary O’Neil’s side certainly haven’t lacked in effort and there’s a feeling that they are the most likely to hoist themselves out of trouble – particularly when you consider that eight of their next nine fixtures come against sides in the bottom half at the time of writing. Crystal Palace broke their own duck by defeating Tottenham at home last week and while they backed that up with an impressive Carabao Cup victory at Aston Villa in midweek, they have hardly dazzled themselves this term.
Oliver Glasner’s side finished last season brilliantly but were rocked by the summer departures of Joachim Andersen and Michael Olise, while Marc Guehi continues to be pursued by Newcastle. Both Adam Wharton and Eberechi Eze limped off at Villa Park in midweek and bearing in mind that Palace have just one point on the road, this feels like Wolves’ moment.
Premier League Relegation: Weekend Selections
Southampton v Everton Under 2.5 Goals @ 1.90 with kwiff
Back the Draw in Ipswich v Leicester @ 3.15 with kwiff
Back Wolves to beat Crystal Palace @ 2.35 with kwiff
By Nick Seddon
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