The Premier League trapdoor is getting ever nearer to opening with golf equipment operating out of time to safe their standing within the top-flight subsequent season.
Crystal Palace and Wolves seem to have pulled away from the relegation battle, with Roy Hodgson and Julen Lopetegui having overseen an upturn in outcomes since taking cost of the respective sides.
Whereas Bournemouth are only a level behind each golf equipment, supervisor Gary O’Neil has insisted his staff should exceed their present tally of 36 factors to make sure their survival. West Ham, Leeds United and Nottingham Forest at the moment have their heads above water heading into their closing 5 Premier League matches – six within the case of the Hammers.
Premier League stalwarts Everton and Leicester are within the backside three and face a crunch head-to-head conflict on Monday, whereas Southampton appear to have been lower adrift.
Because the marketing campaign enters its closing weeks, Mail Sport takes an in-depth have a look at the relegation image to see who will probably be enjoying within the Premier League or Championship subsequent season.
Southampton look destined to be relegated with Ruben Selles’ aspect six factors from security
14th: Bournemouth – 36 factors
The Cherries had been seen because the overwhelming favourites to be relegated firstly of the season, not least after Scott Parker questioned the membership’s ambition and recruitment after their 9-0 loss to Liverpool again in August.
Gary O’Neil appears to be like to have steered Bournemouth to a different season within the top-flight in his first managerial function.
Bournemouth loved a bumper April to spice up their survival hopes with O’Neil’s aspect having recorded 4 wins of their final six Premier League video games.
Whereas wins over Fulham and Spurs have been surprising, the Cherries have crucially triumphed in six-pointers with 1-0 wins away at Leicester and Southampton.
O’Neil insisted after the win at St Mary’s on Thursday night time that there have been no celebrations within the camp, regardless of transferring seven factors away from the relegation zone.
‘It is a large win for us, after all, the efficiency was pleasing. I assumed we have been by far the higher aspect,’ O’Neil stated.
The lads are recovering for Sunday. There is not any celebration, there’s not discuss of factors tallies. I can simply see 36 factors taking place this 12 months. We cannot be resting.’
A victory over Leeds United on Sunday would absolutely rubber stamp Bournemouth’s Premier League standing subsequent season.
With matches towards a Chelsea aspect in freefall, Crystal Palace and a closing day journey to Everton, Bournemouth will really feel assured of including additional factors to their tally even when they go away Elland Highway empty handed.
![Bournemouth appear set to defy pre-season predictions by preserving their top flight status](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/04/28/12/70347223-12024679-image-a-39_1682682241489.jpg)
Bournemouth seem set to defy pre-season predictions by preserving their prime flight standing
fifteenth: West Ham United – 34 factors
A 4-0 house defeat by West Ham was a uncommon aberration in Bournemouth’s excellent April, however the consequence eased the Hammers personal relegation considerations.
David Moyes’ aspect seem to have turned a major nook this month after incomes essential wins to maneuver as much as fifteenth within the desk.
A pair of 1-0 wins over Southampton and Fulham edged the Hammers away from the drop firstly of the month, both aspect of a dismal 5-1 house defeat by Newcastle.
The fightback from 2-0 down to attract towards Arsenal and the crushing win away at Bournemouth have given West Ham respiration area, whereas Moyes was left seething at having been denied a possible penalty to safe a draw towards Liverpool on Wednesday.
West Ham seem safe with a five-point cushion and a sport in hand on their rivals. Victory over Crystal Palace on Saturday would ease any lingering doubts, notably with rivals Bournemouth and Leeds going head-to-head on Sunday, earlier than Everton and Leicester meet the next day.
Defeat might but go away West Ham sweating with Man Metropolis and Man United on subsequent week’s schedule, earlier than rounding off the league season towards Brentford, Leeds and Leicester.
West Ham definitely will wish to keep away from needing leads to these closing two fixtures, with the hope that their sights will as an alternative be set on Europa Convention League glory.
![West Ham captain Declan Rice has played a key role in their battle against relegation](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/04/28/12/70347241-12024679-image-a-40_1682682282386.jpg)
West Ham captain Declan Rice has performed a key function of their battle towards relegation
sixteenth: Leeds United – 30 factors
Javi Gracia’s aspect have been in a position to snap their three match shedding run with a degree towards Leicester on Tuesday. Leeds followers will probably be questioning about how pricey Jamie Vardy’s late equaliser and Patrick Bamford’s evident miss may very well be to their hopes of avoiding the drop.
Leeds sit precariously one level above the relegation zone and will probably be peering forward to some unkind fixtures within the closing weeks.
A frightening journey to the Etihad to face a Man Metropolis aspect stream rolling everybody of their path, adopted by Eddie Howe’s free scoring Newcastle visiting Yorkshire will not be ultimate fixtures to have.
West Ham and Tottenham as the ultimate two video games also needs to characterize robust opposition, sparking considerations over Leeds prospects of including to their factors tally.
These fixtures imply that Sunday’s journey to the Vitality Stadium to play Bournemouth appears to be like like a must-win if Leeds are to remain up.
Leeds have did not preserve a clear sheet within the Premier League since a 1-0 win over Southampton again in February. Whereas Gracia’s aspect have solely scored greater than as soon as in one in every of their final six Premier League matches.
Both, or ideally, each must change if Leeds are to remain afloat.
![Leeds face a daunting run-in with fixtures against Man City and Newcastle on the horizon](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/04/28/12/70347287-12024679-image-a-41_1682682346327.jpg)
Leeds face a frightening run-in with fixtures towards Man Metropolis and Newcastle on the horizon
seventeenth: Nottingham Forest – 30 factors
The aid on the Metropolis Floor was clear on Wednesday as Steve Cooper’s aspect beat Brighton 3-1 to document their first win in 12.
The shock consequence lifted Forest out of the underside three and gave a a lot wanted injection of perception into their battle for survival. Particularly for the reason that hosts fought again from 1-0 down having earlier seen Brennan Johnson’s penalty saved be Jason Steele.
Cooper admitted the consequence boosted the temper within the dressing room, however insists his aspect should take care of their very own leads to their closing 5 video games.
‘It’s a vibrant dressing room and it was a superb night time, however we’ve received to get straight again to the coaching floor and put together for an additional essential sport on Saturday,’ Cooper stated. ‘I stated earlier than the sport that issues can change rapidly, for higher and for worse, we’ve received to maintain on doing all the things we will to make change for the higher.’
A serious concern for Forest followers will probably be that three of their closing 5 matches are away from the Metropolis Floor.
Cooper’s aspect have earned solely six factors on the highway this season, a Premier League low, with their sole victory coming at all-time low Southampton again in January.
Forest might must get one thing from their journeys to Brentford, Chelsea and Crystal Palace to forestall a right away return to the Championship.
Whereas Forest won’t wish to look past Saturday’s away fixture at Brentford, their house match towards Southampton will certainly have been earmarked as a sport they must win.
Followers might hope the title race has been wrapped up by the point Arsenal come to the Metropolis Floor on the penultimate weekend of the season. Whereas the fixture appears to be like robust, Forest have proved a troublesome nut to crack for the Premier League’s greatest sides at house. Simply ask Manchester Metropolis and Liverpool.
![Victory over Brighton saw Steve Cooper's Nottingham Forest boost their survival hopes](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/04/28/12/70347313-12024679-image-a-42_1682682404289.jpg)
Victory over Brighton noticed Steve Cooper’s Nottingham Forest increase their survival hopes
18th: Leicester Metropolis – 29 factors
Forest’s win over Brighton noticed Leicester slide again into the underside three, regardless of taking 4 factors from Dean Smith’s three matches in cost.
The hard-fought level at Elland Highway in midweek has saved Leicester in contact with Leeds, leaving two sides only a level above them.
Monday night time’s house match towards Everton appears to be like seismic for each aspect’s prospects. Victory and survival will really feel inside attain, whereas defeat would deepen the gloom.
Leicester will hope the standard of James Maddison can shine by, whereas the presence of Kelechi Iheanacho and Jamie Vardy on the scoresheet in latest matches presents come optimism. Can Vardy present one other storyline regardless of fading as a Premier League drive?
The Foxes will enter the essential conflict in higher form than Everton after a victory and a draw this week.
Leicester’s subsequent two matches might go a protracted option to figuring out their destiny, with an bettering Liverpool aspect and an away journey to Newcastle representing robust fixtures within the run-in.
The Foxes ought to although have sufficient to flee the drop. Boasting a significantly better aim distinction than their nearest rivals might show essential.
![James Maddison could play a crucial role as Leicester seek to move out of the bottom three](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/04/28/12/70347345-12024679-image-a-43_1682682995710.jpg)
James Maddison might play a vital function as Leicester search to maneuver out of the underside three
nineteenth: Everton – 28 factors
The Toffees look in an more and more sticky spot, with Sean Dyche’s aspect two factors from security after the 4-1 house defeat by Newcastle on Thursday.
Dyche claimed his staff ‘went beneath too simply after the second aim’ towards Newcastle, with the guests scoring three objectives in a six-minute spell at Goodison Park.
Everton merely can not afford a defeat within the six-pointer at Leicester, as the result would see one in every of their nearest rivals open up a 4 level hole with simply 4 video games remaining.
Dyche’s aspect should look to choose up factors on the highway of their closing 5 matches, with Manchester Metropolis’s go to to Goodison Park trying ominous regardless of their house assist.
Everton’s combat for survival appears to be like prone to go right down to the ultimate day of the marketing campaign when Bournemouth journey to Merseyside.
Having scored simply 25 objectives of their 33 matches, a league low, Everton’s prospects of avoiding a primary relegation from the highest flight since 1951 look more and more bleak.
![Everton are staring at the prospect of suffering a first relegation from the top flight since 1951](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/04/28/12/70347351-12024679-image-a-44_1682683029334.jpg)
Everton are staring on the prospect of struggling a primary relegation from the highest flight since 1951
twentieth: Southampton – 24 factors
Regardless of bloodying the nostril of a number of of the Premier League’s prime sides throughout the season, the writing seems to be on the wall for Southampton following their 1-0 loss to Bournemouth.
Saints are actually six factors from security and have a worse aim distinction than Everton, Leicester and Leeds.
The determined state of affairs most likely requires Ruben Selles’ aspect to must go to Newcastle and win on Sunday.
Given each side respective type and the very fact solely Liverpool have received within the Premier League at St James’ Park this season, Southampton are very a lot consuming within the final probability saloon.
Saints face three away matches of their final 5 video games and a closing day house match towards Liverpool.
It will take a exceptional run of leads to their closing 5 fixtures for Southampton to keep away from enjoying Championship soccer subsequent season.
![Southampton will need to prove a remarkable run to avoid dropping to the Championship](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/04/28/12/70347695-12024679-image-a-46_1682683127932.jpg)
Southampton might want to show a exceptional run to keep away from dropping to the Championship