Tottenham are staring down the barrel of the unthinkable: relegation from the Premier League. Results this weekend did not go their way, and it could be about to get worse, as well.
Relegation for a Spurs side that won the Europa League last season, reached the Champions League knockout stage this term and has spent just one season outside the top flight since 1950 would go down as one of the biggest shocks in Premier League history. Roberto De Zerbi is now the man tasked with engineering an escape, but Brighton scoring a last-minute equaliser at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday evening felt like a dagger into the heart of Spurs supporters.
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Leeds have pulled clear of the relegation zone after back-to-back victories against Manchester United and Wolves, while Nottingham Forest and West Ham have both done what Tottenham have failed to do in recent weeks and pick up three precious points.
With Burnley and Wolves doomed, here’s how the crucial relegation run-in is shaping up.
Position: 15th | Played: 33 | Points: 39 | GD: -7
Remaining fixtures:
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9 May – Tottenham (A)
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17 May – Brighton (H)
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24 May – West Ham (A)
Where to pick up points? The fixtures have fallen fairly kindly for Leeds and after their seminal win over Manchester United – a first league victory at Old Trafford since 1981 – and a 3-0 home victory over Wolves it now looks probable that they will secure Premier League football next season. Leeds just need one more point to reach the 40-point mark and they’ll be eyeing up the home fixture against Burnley to get over the line. Away games against relegation rivals Tottenham and West Ham also look like prime opportunities to get results on the board.
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Tricky contests? They’ve passed their toughest test on paper with flying colours by beating United, which was their last game against a team currently above 10th in the standings. Nevertheless, a trip to Bournemouth in April and hosting European football-chasing Brighton in their penultimate fixture won’t be easy. Will a FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea this weekend prove to be a welcome distraction or a hindrance?
Final straight? Leeds look safe, but they will be desperate to have that secured by the time they travel to West Ham on the final day but if not, that could be a high-octane shootout for survival. Games against Brighton and Spurs immediately preceding that are too unfriendly as finales go.
Position: 16th | Played: 33 | Points: 36 | GD: -9
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Remaining fixtures:
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2 May – Chelsea (A)
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9 May – Newcastle (H)
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17 May – Manchester United (A)
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24 May – Bournemouth (H)
Where to pick up points? Forest had to make the most of a home fixture against doomed Burnley and, inspired by a 15-minute Morgan Gibbs-White hat-trick, they made the most of that golden opportunity on Sunday. That could be enough to get over the line. If not, a home game against a struggling Newcastle side who may have nothing to play for could be their best chance.
Tricky contests? Games against two of the current top six still await Forest with trips to Manchester United and Chelsea on the docket. Forest also have to negotiate a Europa League semi-final with Aston Villa, which may prove a distraction.
Final straight? It’s not the best with a journey to Old Trafford on the penultimate day of the season far from ideal although, as mentioned above, hosting Bournemouth on the final day could offer a chance to snatch the points required if things aren’t wrapped up by then. A home match against a floundering Newcastle as their antepenultimate fixture could also be worse. Things could be complicated if they are still going in the Europa League by that point, however.
Position: 17th | Played: 32 | Points: 32 | GD: -17
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Remaining fixtures:
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17 May – Newcastle (A)
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24 May – Leeds (H)
Where to pick up points? Their impressive form since hugely damaging back-to-back defeats to Wolves and Nottingham Forest at the start of the year have seen West Ham go from doomed to having a genuine chance of survival – even climbing out of the bottom three by thumping Wolves 4-0 straight after the international break. They may well be questioning exactly where the form that has seen them claim five wins and three draws from their last 11 league games was earlier in the season but a trip to struggling Crystal Palace next suddenly looks like a golden chance to keep the momentum going. Welcoming Leeds to the London Stadium on the final day also looms incredibly large.
Tricky contests? The Everton (H), Brentford (A), Arsenal (H) run from late April to early May does not look very friendly. The games before and after that run appear to be much better chances to pick up the points the Hammers need to pull off an impressive escape.
Final straight? If West Ham can get through that three-game stretch with a realistic shot at survival then an away game against Newcastle and a home clash with Leeds to finish the season might just be the ticket to get them clear of the drop zone. The final-day showdown against Daniel Farke’s side could be an all-time classic but won’t be a pretty watch if both sides are still fighting for their lives. However, the fact that the Whites are coming to the London Stadium at least plays into Nuno and co’s hands.
Position: 18th | Played: 33 | Points: 31 | GD: -11
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Remaining fixtures:
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25 April – Wolves (A)
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2 May – Aston Villa (A)
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9 May – Leeds (H)
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17 May – Chelsea (A)
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24 May – Everton (H)
Where to pick up points? At the moment, Spurs can’t pick up points from anywhere… They haven’t won for 16 league matches, with their last Premier League triumph coming against Crystal Palace back in December. Spurs looked set to end that miserable run after Xavi Simons fired the hosts ahead against Brighton on Saturday but Georginio Rutter struck at the death to deny Roberto de Zerbi’s side. On paper, a game away to Wolves next has to end up with three points, and a potentially pivotal clash with Leeds at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium three matches from the end of the campaign is also a golden opportunity. But every fixture is tough currently.
Tricky contests? Sidestepping the obvious quip of ‘every single one’, given their recent form, away games at Champions League-chasing Aston Villa and Chelsea in May don’t look too fruitful.
Final straight? Leeds at home as the third-last game is absolutely huge. Should that game go awry and Spurs head into the final two matches in the relegation zone, then a trip to Stamford Bridge and clash with Everton to finish up appear unlikely to provide succour.
This could genuinely go in any direction and you’d have to be a brave person to predict the outcome with any confidence.
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It could still all come down to the final day when West Ham host Leeds , Spurs play Everton and Nottingham Forest host Bournemouth. Leeds generally have the kindest fixtures and although the goals have dried up for them recently, they should have enough to survive given the current cushion.
Forest could be adversely affected by their Europa League run and will probably need to have survival wrapped up going into the final couple of games, while West Ham’s boosted their chances with that Wolves win.
Meanwhile, Spurs could be in real trouble if De Zerbi doesn’t flip the club’s fortunes and fast. He isn’t known as the fastest starter at new clubs – and with injuries piling up, we are beginning to really fear that the worst is probable rather than just possible for Spurs. But things can change within the week.
