Why half the teams in the Premier League should fear relegation

Who will face the drop this season?

Swansea
Swansea © GEPA pictures

Three clubs will drop into the Championship this season although it’s anyone’s guess as to which three will be relegated

Crazy times in the English Premier League considering that well over £1 billion was spent by the twenty clubs during the summer transfer window.

The influx of television money from Sky Sports and BT Sport meant that every outfit could afford to splash far more cash than usual and it’s never been more important to remain a top flight outfit in the age of mega money.

However, the rules remain the same. Three teams must leave the Premier League come May, with Aston Villa, Newcastle and several other sides queuing to get back into the big time and knowing that some space will be made at the end of the season.

It’s hard to pick three sides, even if the promoted pair of Burnley and Hull City head the Premier League relegation market, with the Tigers heavily punted before a ball was even kicked.

Mike Phelan’s team then beat Leicester and Swansea before nearly nabbing a point against Manchester United although they are no bigger than 10/11 (Coral) to be among the trio of clubs biting the bullet.

Meanwhile, the Clarets have already beaten Liverpool this term although they are also odds-on to become a yo-yo club by dropping down to the second tier within the space of twelve months.

Both clubs will feel they can finish 17th or higher, especially with Sunderland, Watford, Swansea, West Brom, Middlesbrough and Bournemouth having similar sized budgets.

David Moyes didn’t take long to admit that his side could be in for a relegation scrap this term, not the words that the Black Cats supporters wanted to hear after Sam Allardyce had steered them out of choppy waters last term.

Watford are clearly an unknown quantity under Walter Mazzarri although early performances have been bright, while Swansea allowing Andre Ayew and Ashley Williams to leave in the summer could be telling for the Welsh club despite the new ownership at the Liberty Stadium.

Does Tony Pulis do relegation? He managed to keep Stoke in the top flight every season and has done the same with Crystal Palace and West Brom so far. However, the Welshman admits that a lack of signings could lead to a struggle this season and the Midlands side seem short of goals.

Twelve months ago, we might have considered Leicester City as relegation material, although their title success surely suggests they are immune from the drop, although the likes of Southampton and Stoke are certainly not.

The Potters captured Wilfried Bony on deadline day although the early signs have not been particularly encouraging and Mark Hughes is under pressure to deliver. Meanwhile, the Saints have been shipping players for the past few seasons and Claude Puel has a tough act to follow after Mauricio Pochettino and Ronald Koeman.

If push comes to shove, we will nominate Burnley, Swansea and Southampton as the three sides that could find the going tough this season but it’s anyone’s guess.

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