The Premier League relegation battle took another twist at the weekend, with victories for Burnley and Everton pulling Leeds United back into the mix for the drop from the top flight.
Defeat at home to Manchester City at Elland Road on Saturday evening made matters worse for Leeds, who looked to have pulled themselves clear of immediate danger following a run of three wins from four games in recent weeks.
With Norwich City's relegation to the Championship confirmed on Saturday, and Watford all but relegated too, the previously mentioned trio look to be fighting it out to avoid the final spot in the drop zone in the final few weeks of the 2021-22 campaign.
Here, Sports Mole takes a closer look at the remaining fixtures for each of the three sides and assesses each side's chances of survival.
Burnley
© Reuters
Current League Position: 16th
Points: 34
Goal Difference: -15
Games Played: 34
Remaining Fixtures:
May 7: Aston Villa (H)
May 15: Tottenham Hotspur (A)
May 19: Aston Villa (A)
May 22: Newcastle United (H)
Following a run of three successive wins under caretaker boss Mike Jackson, the Clarets have pulled themselves out of the relegation zone in recent weeks.
Saturday's 2-1 victory at Vicarage Road all but relegated Watford, but it looks to be crucial to Burnley's chances of avoiding the drop at the end of the season.
Jack Cork and Josh Brownhill netted inside the final 10 minutes in a dramatic turnaround against the Hornets, which was only Burnley's second win on the road all season.
Previous struggles away from home meant Burnley will have been approaching their final four fixtures with concern over the trips to Spurs and Villa, but Saturday's comeback win will have given them the confidence in those consecutive victories, whilst lifting off some of the pressure on their games against Villa and Newcastle at Turf Moor.
Burnley have hit a purple patch at the perfect stage of the season and look to be displaying plenty of confidence and character, so earning another six points from their final four games to reach the 40-point mark is certainly possible.
The home fixtures against Villa and Newcastle are sure to be targeted, with perhaps just a point from their two away days the best that they could hope for.
Verdict: Survive
Leeds United
© Reuters
Current League Position: 17th
Points: 34
Goal Difference: -34
Games Played: 34
Remaining Fixtures:
May 8: Arsenal (A)
May 11: Chelsea (H)
May 15: Brighton & Hove Albion (H)
May 22: Brentford (A)
Although they are not yet in the relegation zone, Leeds look to be in the most dangerous position of the three clubs at this stage.
Facing Arsenal and Chelsea in their next two fixtures is far from ideal, and should Jesse Marsch's side lose both against the European-chasing sides, that would leave them heading into the final two games of the season on the back of three successive defeats.
In addition, results from their relegation rivals elsewhere could leave Leeds in the bottom three before the game with Brighton at Elland Road, meaning the unwanted pressure could well and truly be placed on their shoulders.
An inferior goal difference to both Burnley and Everton by some distance also threatens the Yorkshire side's survival chances too, with it effectively acting as a one-point deduction to their current tally when being compared to their fellow strugglers.
The raucous atmosphere created by the home faithful at Elland Road could prove crucial, and with Chelsea struggling with the intensity in their defeat to Everton at Goodison Park on Sunday, Leeds will retain some confidence that they can repeat that feat and come out with a victory themselves on May 11.
In truth however, on paper it looks difficult to see Marsch's side picking up any points until their final two games of the season, which may well be too little too late by that point.
Verdict: Relegated
Everton
© Reuters
Current League Position: 18th
Points: 32
Goal Difference: -20
Games Played: 33
Remaining Fixtures:
May 8: Leicester City (A)
May 11: Watford (A)
May 15: Brentford (H)
May 19: Crystal Palace (H)
May 22: Arsenal (A)
It would be an understatement to suggest that Everton's 1-0 triumph over Chelsea on Sunday was anything less than huge for the Toffees.
The incredible amount of character and resilience on display was what the Everton supporters have been looking for all season, and what manager Frank Lampard will be expecting to be repeated in their remaining matches.
Everton are the only side of the three candidates to have five fixtures left to play, although there is obviously no guarantee that three points will be achieved in that game to lift them above both Burnley and Leeds.
Like their fellow strugglers, the atmosphere created by their home faithful could prove pivotal in the final few weeks, which was certainly the case at Goodison Park at the weekend.
A superior goal difference over Leeds is also a significant positive for the Toffees, as previously mentioned, who will be targeting maximum points from the trip to struggling Watford, as well as the successive home games against Brentford and Palace in the space of five days.
The return to fitness of Dominic Calvert-Lewin will be a huge boost for Lampard and his side too, with Everton hopeful that the England striker can put this season's injury struggles behind him to provide a significant impact over the final few weeks.
The return of the 25-year-old, and boasting arguably the favourable fixtures on paper prior to the trip to Arsenal on the final day of the Premier League campaign, mean that Lampard stands a good chance of leading the Merseyside club to survival providing they can repeat the heroics of Sunday's victory over Chelsea.
Verdict: Survive
Matthew Tranter
