With only nine points separating 12th placed Hull City from last placed Fulham, the Premier League relegation race is set to come down to the wire.
With Matchweek 28 complete, here’s where the relegation watch currently stands.
12. HULL CITY 30 PTS (28 PLD)
Remaining Matches (10): Manchester City (H); West Bromwich Albion (H); West Ham United (A); Stoke City (A); Swansea City (H); Manchester United (A); Arsenal (H); Fulham (A); Aston Villa (A); Everton (H)
League Form: LDWLWL
Other Competitions: FA Cup (v. Sunderland on March 9th)
Injuries: Robbie Brady, groin (no return date); Paul McShane, ankle (no return date)
Vegas odds to be relegated: 10/1
Verdict: With the exception of this past weekend, there is nothing about Hull City that makes them look like a side facing relegation.
13. STOKE CITY 30 PTS (28 PLD)
Remaining Matches (10): Norwich City (A); West Ham United (H); Aston Villa (A); Hull City (H); Chelsea (A); Newcastle United (H); Cardiff City (A); Tottenham (H); Fulham (H); West Bromwich Albion (A)
League Form: LWDDLW
Other Competitions: None
Injuries: Peter Odemwingie, calf (March 8th); Oussama Assaidi, knee (no return date); Robert Huth, knee (March 8th)
Vegas odds to be relegated: 16/1
Verdict: The Potters have what looks to be the easiest end of the season schedule of any relegation threatened sides. It would be shocking if they went down.
14. SWANSEA CITY 29 PTS (28 PLD)
Remaining Matches (10): Arsenal (PPD, A); West Bromwich Albion (H); Everton (A); Norwich City (H); Hull City (A); Chelsea (H); Newcastle United (A); Aston Villa (H); Southampton (H); Sunderland (A)
League Form: WLWDLD
Other Competitions: None
Injuries: Pablo Hernandez, hamstring (no return date); Jonjo Shelvey, hamstring (no return date); Michu, ankle (no return date)
Vegas odds to be relegated: 12/1
Verdict: They have a number of quality players beaten up but Swansea have too much swagger and too easy a final schedule to go down.
15. NORWICH CITY 28 PTS (28 PLD)
Remaining Matches (10): Stoke City (H); Southampton (A); Sunderland (H); Swansea City (A); West Bromwich Albion (H); Fulham (A); Liverpool (H); Manchester United (A); Chelsea (A); Arsenal (H)
League Form: DLDLWL
Other Competitions: None
Injuries: Robert Snodgrass, wrist (no return date); Ricky van Wolfsfinkle, knee (no return date); Leroy Fer, hamstring (no return date); Jonas Gutierrez, calf (March 8th); Michael Turner, hamstring (March 15th); Elliot Bennett, knee (March 29th)
Vegas odds to be relegated: 2/1
Verdict: Norwich’s season will be determined in the next six weeks via matches with relatively easy opponents. After that, the road gets darn near impossible with Liverpool, United, Chelsea and Arsenal closing out their season.
Without Snodgrass, van Wolfsfinkel and Fer it’s going to take a herculean effort from Chris Hughton’s men – and a little bit of luck – if Norwich are to stay up. I worry for the Canaries.
16. CRYSTAL PALACE 27 PTS (27 PLD)
Remaining Matches (11): Everton (PPD, A); Southampton (H); Sunderland (A); Newcastle United (A); Chelsea (H); Cardiff City (A); Aston Villa (H); West Ham United (A); Manchester City (H); Liverpool (H); Fulham (A)
League Form: WWLWLD
Other Competitions: None
Injuries: Kagisho Dikgacoi, back (no return date); Joe Ledley, hip (no return date)
Vegas odds to be relegated: 15/8
Verdict: Their brilliant run of form (winning three of four) has come to an abrupt stop and reality is setting in for Palace. They’re relatively healthy, have a game in hand and a schedule that’s favorable to staying up but it will be air tight for Tony Pulis’ side.
17. WEST BROMWICH ALBION 25 PTS (27 PLD)
Remaining Matches (11): Sunderland (PPD, H); Manchester United (H); Swansea City (A); Hull City (A); Cardiff City (H); Norwich City (A); Tottenham (H); Manchester City (A); West Ham United (H); Arsenal (A); Stoke City (H)
League Form: DLDLDD
Other Competitions: None
Injuries: Billy Jones, hamstring (no return date); Claudio Yacob, hamstring (March 8th; Nicholas Anelka, suspension (April 12th); Stephane Sessegnon, groin March 8th)
Vegas odds to be relegated: 5/2
Verdict: They’ve been horrible of late and face a difficult schedule down the line. With the unproven Pepe Mel at the helm and injuries to four key starters, Baggies fans will be low on confidence.
18. SUNDERLAND 24 PTS (26 PLD)
Remaining Matches (12): Manchester City (PPD, A); West Bromwich Albion (PPD, H); Crystal Palace (H); Norwich City (A); Liverpool (A); West Ham United (H); Tottenham (A); Everton (H); Chelsea (A); Cardiff City (H); Manchester United (A); Swansea City (H)
League Form: WDWWLL
Other Competitions: FA Cup (v. Hull City on March 9th)
Injuries: Keiren Westwood, shoulder (no return date)
Vegas odds to be relegated: 7/4
Verdict: Despite being favored to go down the Black Cats have been steadily improving and have two games in hand on their fellow relegation contenders. Bowing out of the FA Cup could prove vital for Gus Poyet’s side, who face an incredibly difficult schedule down the run.
19. CARDIFF CITY 22 PTS (28 PLD)
Remaining Matches (10): Tottenham Hotspur (A); Fulham (H); Everton (A); Liverpool (H); West Bromwich Albion (A); Crystal Palace (H); Southampton (A); Stoke City (H); Sunderland (A); Newcastle United (A); Chelsea (H)
League Form: LWLDLL
Other Competitions: None
Injuries: Craig Noon, knock (no return date); Mark Hudson, hamstring (no return date)
Vegas odds to be relegated: 1/5
Verdict: With their horrid current form and new manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer showing little signs of being able to maneuver Cardiff through this mess, the Bluebirds look destined to go down.
20. FULHAM 21 PTS (28 PLD)
Remaining Matches (10): Cardiff City (A); Newcastle United (H); Manchester City (A); Everton (H); Aston Villa (A); Norwich City (H); Tottenham Hotspur (A); Hull City (H); Stoke City (A); Crystal Palace (H)
League Form: LLDLDL
Other Competitions: None
Injuries: Brede Hangeland, head injury (no return date); Damien Duff, knock (no return date); Fernando Amorebieta, muscle injury (no return date); Matt Briggs, groin (no return date)
Vegas odds to be relegated: 1/4
Verdict: Will decent talent and Felix Magath help Fulham do the impossible? A doable end of the season schedule says there’s a chance.
