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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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2Burnley126511751223
3Leeds UnitedLeeds126511981123
4Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd12732146822
5West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom12552137620
6Blackburn RoversBlackburn125431612419
7Watford126151619-319
8Norwich CityNorwich124622216618
9Middlesbrough125341412218
10Millwall124441512316
11Bristol City123721416-216
12Derby CountyDerby124351515015
13Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds124351318-515
14Oxford UnitedOxford Utd123541515014
15Hull City123541416-214
16Preston North EndPreston123541317-414
17Swansea CitySwansea1234588013
18Coventry CityCoventry123361417-312
19Stoke CityStoke123361317-412
20Cardiff CityCardiff123361118-712
21Plymouth ArgylePlymouth123361322-912
22Luton TownLuton123271420-611
23Queens Park RangersQPR121651119-89
24Portsmouth121561225-138


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