Avoiding the Drop: Predicting the Premier League Relegation Battle
19th-placed Aston Villa (25 pts, -22 GD)
Fixtures: SHU (H), CHE (A), NEW (A), WOL (H), LIV (A), MUN (H), CRY (H), EVE (H), ARS (H), WHU (A)
Villa is the only side in the relegation dogfight that have ten Premier League games left, with the other five teams having nine. They also have the services of the best player from the bottom half of the league in Jack Grealish. The return of John McGinn from injury will also be a huge boost to their survival hopes.
Like Norwich, however, they have defensive issues, despite the solid performances from Tyrone Mings. Villa’s forwards have also flattered to deceive, and as a result, Grealish has been the team leader in goals and assists. If you stop Grealish, you stop Villa, and their survival hopes are squarely on his shoulders.
Predictions: D – L – W – L – L – L – D – D – L – W, 34 pts
18th-placed Bournemouth (27 pts, -18 GD)
Fixtures: CRY (H), WOL (A), NEW (H), MUN (A), TOT (H), LEI (H), MNC (A), SOU (H)
Bournemouth, currently occupying the last spot in the relegation zone, face a horrendous set of fixtures to close out the season. That means Eddie Howe’s side needs to take maximum points wherever possible.
With Callum Wilson and Josh King leading the line, Bournemouth has a proven pair of Premier League strikers to rely on, but the difficult fixture list might just be too much for them to overcome. This one may come down to the final day fixture against Southampton, with results needing to go their way in other games in order to secure another season of Premier League football.