The Sports Buff ⚽️ ⚾️ 🏈

Hello good afternoon sports fans, I hope you’re well, looking after yourselves and are in good health. We need to talk to football fans, about this year’s Premier League relegation battle.

True to form, it appears that Burnley, Sheffield United and Luton Town are in the thick of a relegation dogfight, but teams like Nottingham Forest, and Everton are maybe not too surprising entrants in the bottom half of the table, especially after last year’s survival heroics.

I am however surprised that Brentford, who finished in the top half and Crystal Palace who finished in a healthy mid-table position, both appear to be in this year’s relegation tussle.

The usual rule of thumb is that one side will be in the relegation dogfight for the majority of the season and then pull away from the bottom come the business end of the season.

If there is any team that looks like they can do that, it has to be said it’s Rob Edwards’ Luton Town. Yes The Hatters are going through a slight wobble of late, but they have played some of the top sides in the League and even then, they didn’t do themselves a disservice in those defeats.

Another team who could also be dragged into the relegation mire is AFC Bournemouth, but the way Andoni Iraola’s side clicked in 2024 and the late part of last year, I just think they have enough to survive.

Why I have included The Eagles, Crystal Palace and The Bees, Brentford, is because their recent win/loss record is identical in the past five games. Both teams, I think appear to be doing a Leicester (dragging themselves into the relegation places).

So, to answer the key question. Sheffield United, I feel will be relegated. That’s hardly a bold assumption, I know but I am also going to go on a limb and say that Burnley could survive, but seems unlikely.

So, they and Nottingham Forest would be the other two teams to go down. My counterargument or suggestion would be Crystal Palace, and Nottingham Forest would join The Blades in next season’s Championship.

I know some will be screaming for Everton, which on one hand they have a point. The Toffees have had their Achilles heel of not scoring enough goals for a good couple of seasons, but they always seem to find a way.

PS, Everton have been in England’s top tier for the last 50 years, I wouldn’t bet against them. Ivan, that’s not an encouragement for you to bet against them and the same goes for you as well Harry Troffolo.

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