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How is the Premier League relegation battle shaping up?

How is the Premier League relegation battle shaping up?
© Reuters
Sheffield United and West Brom appear doomed but Fulham, Newcastle, Brighton, Burnley and Southampton are all still in the thick of things.

Newcastle's 3-0 defeat at fellow strugglers Brighton on Saturday plunged them deeper into the Premier League's survival battle.

With bottom two Sheffield United and West Brom appearing destined for relegation, the PA news agency looks at the other clubs scrambling to avoid the trapdoor.

Who is involved?

Sheffield United's recent 5-0 loss at Leicester was their 23rd Premier League defeat of the season
Sheffield United's recent 5-0 loss at Leicester was their 23rd Premier League defeat of the season (Molly Darlington/PA)

For Sheffield United and West Brom the race is all but over. The Blades, 14 points from safety, have never recovered after making the longest winless start to a Premier League season (17 matches), while the Baggies, 10 points from safety, have fared little better. Fulham's hopes of leap-frogging Newcastle out of the bottom three last weekend were dashed by defeat to Leeds. But the Magpies failed to capitalise and lost further ground on fellow relegation rivals Brighton. Burnley and Southampton, both on 33 points, are not yet safe.

Who is safe?

Leeds all but guaranteed another season in the Premier League with victory at Fulham on Friday
Leeds all but guaranteed another season in the Premier League with victory at Fulham on Friday (Matt Dunham/PA)

Leeds, in 11th place, celebrated Friday's win at Fulham with extra gusto as it lifted them to 39 points, 13 above the Cottagers, with nine games to play. Crystal Palace, 12th, and Wolves, 13th, are 11 and nine points above the bottom three respectively and both should comfortably reach the 40-point mark, which would require Fulham to win at least five of their remaining eight games to overhaul them. It would appear that this season's survival battle has boiled down to a seven-horse race.

What about each club's run-in?

As the bottom two gear for life back in the Sky Bet Championship next season, the run-in could prove decisive for the five clubs clambering above. FA Cup semi-finalists Southampton face five sides in the bottom half of the table in their last nine matches, while Burnley have still got to play the Saints, Newcastle, Fulham and Sheffield United. Brighton, who come up against Manchester United, Chelsea, West Ham, Manchester City and Arsenal in their last nine fixtures, have arguably the toughest run-in.

What about Newcastle and Fulham?

Newcastle, two points above Fulham with a game in hand, also have a daunting run-in. They must play top-six sides in four of their last nine games, plus Liverpool at Anfield and Arsenal. The Magpies will also face Burnley and Sheffield United and a potentially decisive trip to Fulham in their final match. Scott Parker's side have eight games left and have yet to play at London rivals Arsenal and Chelsea, plus Manchester United, before survival could all hinge on Newcastle's visit on the final day of the season.

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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd21145230111945
2Leeds UnitedLeeds21126337152242
3Burnley2111822681841
4Sunderland21117332171540
5Blackburn RoversBlackburn2011452517837
6Middlesbrough21104735251034
7Watford2010462926334
8West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom2171132416832
9Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds218582630-429
10Swansea CitySwansea217682322127
11Bristol City216962626027
12Norwich CityNorwich216873632426
13Millwall206772018225
14Derby CountyDerby216692626024
15Coventry CityCoventry216692730-324
16Preston North EndPreston2141162127-623
17Stoke CityStoke215792328-522
18Queens Park RangersQPR2141072127-622
19Luton TownLuton2164112337-1422
20Oxford UnitedOxford Utd2046102133-1218
21Cardiff CityCardiff2046101932-1318
22Portsmouth193882134-1317
23Plymouth ArgylePlymouth2045111942-2317
24Hull City2137111930-1116


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