Staying in the Premier League is fundamental for every side taking part in the division, with the financial implications of dropping down to the Championship potentially disastrous for clubs.
The Championship is a hugely competitive league, filled with superb teams but the Premier League is the undisputed holy grail and the battle for survival in 2021/22 is already starting to intensify.
Newly promoted sides often head up the market when it comes to predicting which sides will be relegated each season but in recent times, sides such as Leeds United, Wolves and Aston Villa defied the early season predictions to comfortably avoid the drop.
It has been a tough campaign for the likes of Burnley, Watford, Newcastle United and Norwich City, who have only managed to win 11 games between them this term – with the Clarets standing out with just one Premier League win so far.
Sean Dyche is a manager known for conjuring up the goods when it matters but he hasn’t been able to inspire Burnley to previous heights this term.
The departure of star striker Chris Wood to fellow strugglers Newcastle United in the January Transfer Window is an obvious moot point and the fact that Burnley have played as many as 5 fewer league games this season due to COVID 19 cannot go unnoticed.
However, at the halfway point in the campaign, their points haul of just 12 is concerning and they need to start putting points on the board very quickly.
The Clarets currently have a 4 point gap to Premier League safety above them and at 1.50, the bet365 clearly feel they are a serious relegation contender this season.
Elsewhere, Norwich City have seen results and performances perk up significantly since the arrival of Dean Smith before Christmas, however they are still immersed in relegation trouble.
The Canaries have 16 points from 22 games played, with back to back wins over Everton and Watford in their last two games certainly improving the mood at Carrow Road.
It is a big ask for them to stay up however, with their financial and pulling power incomparable to some of the teams around them and they are the favourites to go down at 1.20.
Watford’s pen champs for changing manager hasn’t notoriously worked out so much in recent seasons but that hasn’t deterred them from employing their third manager this term already.
Their poor early season form saw them decide to sack Xisco Munoz and replace him with former league winner Claudio Ranieri – who also got the boot after Christmas, to be replaced by Roy Hodgson.
It does feel too little, too late for the Hornets however – who are also heavily backed to drop back down into the Championship at 1.33.
Having the financial clout to get out of trouble is often as important as any managerial appointments and Newcastle United’s reported unlimited transfer budget could be a decisive factor.
Eddie Howe’s side have only won 2 games this season but with the likes of Chris Wood and Kieran Trippier coming in, they have been able to strengthen their squad significantly.
At 2.50, it would be somewhat of a shock to see Newcastle drop back into the Championship but with plenty of football to be played, anything can happen in the Premier League.
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