A lot can change in one season in the Premier League, where only around a third of teams can really be considered safe from relegation at the start of the season.

Even Burnley, who finished seventh last year, have been tipped by many to go down this time around. So where is the smart money going on the Premier League’s survival scrappers, and who should you pick out as a surprise candidate for the drop?

The New Boys

The teams coming up from the Championship are usually the favourites to bounce straight back down, but this year is a little different.

Wolves, who came up as champions, have strengthened their squad with a whole host of European talents, and their opening game against Everton suggested that they are more than comfortable at this level. Ruben Neves, who anchors the team’s midfield, is a real talent, while new faces Leander Dendoncker and Adama Traore will add some physicality and flair to the team. There are questions marks in defence, but they have the quality to push for a top-half finish.

Fulham, promoted via the play-off last year, enjoyed a similar spending spree this summer. They signed Aleksander Mitrovic on a permanent deal, and his form at Craven Cottage last year suggests that he’ll provide the target man that every bottom-half club needs. Despite an opening day loss, captain Tom Cairney and new arrival Jean-Michael Seri looked comfortable in midfield, and Fulham haven’t compromised on their attractive, free-flowing style of play.

Cardiff City, however, look to be in far more trouble. Premier League betting has them as favourites for the drop, and a squad made up mostly of Championship players will have a hard time proving that logic wrong.

AFC Bournemouth

Many neutrals have a soft spot for the seaside club who play attacking football, but Bournemouth’s impressive spell in the top flight could be in danger of ending this year. Midfielder Jefferson Lerma was the only big name to sign this summer, and the team found themselves in a relegation fight for much of last season. Much will depend on the health of frontman Callum Wilson, who gives the team a strong point of attack when he’s on the pitch, and the form of Josh King, whose pace can cause problems when he’s on his day.

Burnley

They’re a surprise name on this list, given their incredible success last season. But Sean Dyche’s defensive mode of football, which frustrated even big teams last year, will be harder to maintain for a second consecutive term as teams figure out how to unpick the back line. The side is also missing creativity in attack, an area which they weren’t able to strengthen over the summer, so they could be a clever dark horse pick for relegation this season.

Teams like Newcastle, Watford, Brighton and Huddersfield are likely to find themselves in a scrap and are many people’s favourites to go down, but anything can happen in the Premier League – and a team free-falling into a relegation battle is very possible indeed.

Posted on August 17th, 2018 by scott
Filed under: Article