The 2021-22 Premier League season is two-thirds complete, and everything points to Manchester City claiming their sixth league title in ten years. Only Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool, six points behind with a game in hand, has any realistic hope of catching Pep Guardiola's men. However, at the opposite end of the table, the relegation battle looks to go right down to the wire, with any three from eight struggling teams uncertain to avoid the drop.
Norwich City are the overwhelming favourites to be playing in the Championship next season. The Canaries are odds on to go down with the best online betting sites today. Norwich's form picked up a little when Dean Smith took over at Carrow Road, but they still find themselves rooted to the bottom of the Premier League table on a mere 17 points, five from safety at the time of writing.
Norwich's problems are two-fold. First, they do not score enough goals; they have 15 goals in 25 games this season. Second, they leak goals at an alarming rate, 53 in the 25 Premier League fixtures to date. Sorry Norwich fans, your team looks doomed.
A Lack of Goals Could Cost Watford and Burnley>/h3>
Current relegation odds suggest Watford and Burnley will join Norwich in the Championship next season, and it is difficult to find an argument against that. Watford's surprise 1-0 victory at Aston Villa on February 19 was the club's first three points since their shock 4-1 home win over Manchester United on November 20. They played 11 games between those two fixtures, drawing two and losing nine.
Appointing Roy Hodgson as manager ensures Watford will be much harder to beat, but they lack that special creative spark. Emmanuel Dennis' goal in the 1-0 win at Aston Villa ended a 438-minute goalless streak. If you do not score goals, you cannot win football matches, and Watford desperately needs some victories.
Sean Dyche's impressive run of keeping Burnley in the Premier League could end this campaign with his Lancashire team second from bottom of the table and five points from safety right now. Burnley do have at least two games in hand over most of their relegation-threatened rivals, but with only two league wins this season, you can bet your bottom dollar that Dyche would much prefer points on the board.
Burnley faces Tottenham Hotspur twice in their last 16 games and faces the likes of Manchester City, Chelsea, and high-flying West Ham. If Dyche can turn things around, the home game against Newcastle United on the last game of the season could prove vital.
Outside the Drop Zone, For Now
Although the current bottom three teams look the most likely to drop to the division below come the end of the season, several teams hovering over the dreaded drop zone would be wise to look over their shoulders.
Newcastle United have enjoyed something of a resurgence since Eddie Howe took over at St. James Park. Howe's men are unbeaten in six games and enjoyed a trio of consecutive victories against fellow strugglers Leeds United, Everton, and Aston Villa. You would like to think the Geordies are safe, but their run-in is tough with games against Liverpool, Manchester City, and Arsenal in their final four fixtures.
Leeds United's Premier League status is threatened with Marcelo Bielsa's men on 23 points in 15th place. Injuries have ravaged the Elland Road team, but March should see the return of their talismanic midfielder Kalvin Phillips, who the Leeds United faithful affectionately call "The Yorkshire Pirlo." Striker Patrick Bamford is also nearing a return, as is central defender and captain Liam Cooper. Leeds desperately need those three players back for what is a tough climax of the season.
You would be unwise to forget about Everton and Brentford in the relegation battle, too. Everton are only four points from safety, although they do have a game in hand. You would think they have enough quality in their squad to survive, but Frank Lampard has never faced relegation as a player or manager, so the Goodison Park fans could be in for a rude awakening.
If any team is going to get dragged into the quagmire at the foot of the table, it is newly promoted Brentford. Thomas Frank's men are seriously struggling for form after an impressive start to life in the Premier League. The Bees have lost eight of their last 13 league games and are without a win in seven.
