As the expiration of the 2022/23 Premier League season draws nearer, the destiny of teams is being decided and such is the battle to avoid the drop.
Southampton were the first side to rubber stamp their relegation from the Premier League to the Championship for the first time in 11 years.
The Saints lost to Fulham at the Saint Mary’s and that albeit spelled doom on their stay in the top-flight.
They have amassed 24 points having lost 24 games, drawn 6, and won a miniature 6 matches so far in the 2022/23 campaign.
That certainly is a form that would send any team packing out of the Premier League in any season.
Anyway, theirs has been confirmed but there are still several sides whose fate is yet to be decided.
A pot-pourri of traditional modern-day English Premier League sides alongside other historical sides are still in the mix.
Everton sit one point ahead of Leeds United and the drop zone after Sunday’s 3-0 loss received at the hands of Manchester City.
Identically, Leicester City lost to Liverpool 0-3 at the King Power Stadium, and that has cast their status in the top flight in great doubt.
The Foxes could be relegated next Monday when they travel to Tyneside to face Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United.
Both sides definitely have a lot to fight for in the dying embers of the campaign and seeing Liverpool breathe down the neck of Manchester United and Newcastle United, Eddie Howe would want to leave no stone unturned as they aim to end up in the top four.
Only four points set apart Nottingham Forest, Everton, Leeds, and Leicester City which certainly indicates that there is much more drama to be seen.
A season where it looks all but settled in the race for the English Premier League title as Manchester City appears to have stolen the title away from seeming “bottlers” Arsenal.
The majority of the attention would turn to the battle to avoid the drop, alongside keeping an eye on the race for the top four.
West Ham United
The hammers are three points away from the traditional guaranteed 40-point mark which many times confirms the place of teams in the Premier League for the following season.
Nottingham Forest
Forest who returned to the first tier of English Football for the first time in 23 years last summer sit 16th, 6 points away from the 40- points mark and just 3 points ahead of Leeds United who sit at the summit of the drop zone.
Everton
Sean Dyche, who has battled through the murky waters of relegation a lot of times when he was manager of Burnley occupies the 17th spot and we have to watch how the next few games would pan out to see if he has lost the midas touch.
Leeds United
Leeds United despite the appointment of Big Sam, Sam Allardyce who is another experienced head in the relegation squabble still sit in the relegation zone on the 18th spot with two games left to play.
It is certainly looking like a herculean task in view for the Whites who have only spent three seasons in the Premier League since they gained promotion from the Championship in the 2019/20 season under the tutelage of Marco Bielsa after a 16-year absence.
Leicester City
Leicester City sit 19th and the 2015/16 season Premier League winners appear set to return to the Championship after gaining promotion in the 2013/14 campaign.
Who would beat the drop?
Honestly, that question appears to be a million-dollar question but I fancy Leicester City returning to the Championship alongside Leeds United.
That certainly means Everton, Nottingham Forest, and West Ham United would remain in the top flight.
