Last season just six points separated eighth place and 17th place in the Premier League. Although Hull City ended up finishing six points behind Watford in 18th place as the final team to be relegated, three teams were in the reckoning to go down; Swansea City, Crystal Palace and Hull. Additionally, throughout the season Leicester, the Premier League champions, and Burnley, also flirted with the relegation zone, suggesting any team can be involved in a relegation scrap during the season.
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In the forthcoming season, the three promoted teams will be battling for their lives, but it’s very likely other teams will also be in a relegation battle next season.
Here, we look at five teams who could be in a relegation battle next season:
#5 Huddersfield Town
Huddersfield are the most likely team to be relegated from the Premier League next season, and the betting odds back that up, with them the front runners as the worst price in the market.
David Wagner managed a thin budget and squad last season and somehow completed the unthinkable by gaining promotion to the Premier League. Chelsea loanee’s Issy Brown and Kasey Palmer both performed wonderfully last season, along with Manchester City loanee Aaron Mooy, who has now signed permanently, and Liverpool goalkeeper Danny Ward, who made some match winning saves.
Also read: Huddersfield Town: How the Terriers became the Big Dogs
However, that is where the problem lies for Huddersfield, a lot of their match winners and best performers from last season were players on loan. Even though they have now signed Aaron Mooy and added more depth to their attack with Tom Ince, their budget remains very thin. Without some miraculous loan deals again, it seems like they are inevitably going to be a part of a relegation battle.
#4 Watford
Although many may argue Watford shouldn’t be a part of this list, they finished in 17th place last season, one place above the drop zone. The Hornets picked up just three wins and a draw in their final 14 Premier League games last season, and those points came against teams in 10th place and lower.
Their safety was confirmed when they reached the 40 point mark, but they still showed no signs of togetherness as a team while losing their final six games consecutively.
They have appointed Marco Silva, who is a very good manager, but their team is very uninspiring. There is a long way to go in the transfer market, but currently with their defence and the players they have, a relegation battle is going to be likely.
Finally, although Marco Silva did a good job when he took over at Hull City, he picked up just three points away from home, which would suggest the Hornets could also struggle for form away from home next season.
#3 Brighton & Hove Albion
Brighton, who automatically gained promotion to the Premier League finishing in second place in the Championship, are another team who will be in a relegation battle in the 2017/18 season.
Brighton have yet to make much of an impact in the transfer market, considering they have made the huge jump to the Premier League. Currently, they will be relying on Glenn Murray, Anthony Knockaert and Sam Baldock for goals. Players who performed terrifically in the Championship last season, but they are unlikely to light up the Premier League. If they don’t sign any established players and spend some money, they will be staring the drop in the face as it looks like a lot of their players are not up to Premier League standard.
Also read: Anthony Knockaert's journey to the top with Brighton & Hove Albion punctuated by hardship
The Seagulls built a strong team and some great team spirit in their 2016/17 campaign, but the Premier League is very different to the Championship in terms of quality, it is a huge step up where teams need to rely on quality. Therefore, if they are to avoid a relegation battle, they will need players with Premier League experience. With their current squad, they are almost certainly going to be involved in a relegation battle.
#2 Newcastle United
A lot of people are expecting Newcastle United to kick on this season and steer themselves away from a relegation battle. But, any newly promoted team very likely to be involved in a relegation battle and not impress straight away due to the obvious difference in quality.
Additionally, with Rafa Benitez leading the way in betting in the Premier League sack race, it could be a hard season for the Magpies. Although the season hasn’t started, for the Spaniard to be leading the betting it must suggest the relationship between him and the board must not be very stable, which will put some strain on the relationship with Benitez and his players.
Out of all three promoted teams, their team is certainly the best, but with Mike Ashley as owner, it could be difficult for Benitez to make additions and the Newcastle team at the moment is one that will be a part of a relegation battle.
#1 Stoke City
The final team on this list is a surprising one; Stoke City. Unlike the other teams, they have been in the league for a long time (nine consecutive seasons) and a lot of fans believe them to be an established Premier League side.
However, almost any side in the Premier League can be drawn into a relegation battle in the Premier League. Next season, Stoke are likely to be one of those sides.
In their last Premier League campaign in 2016/17, they had just five wins in their final 25 games, and three of those were against the three relegated teams. Furthermore, before last season, Stoke had notoriously given Arsenal huge problems with their physicality and togetherness on the days they played the Gunners. But, they rolled over and lost 4-1 to Arsenal at home in their final home game of the 2016/17 season.
The Potters have lots of individual quality with players like Xherdan Shaqiri, Bojan, Ibrahim Afellay and Saido Berahino, as well as talented goalkeeper Jack Butland. However, the team doesn’t blend well enough to be successful.
Stoke are a very inconsistent side and it will lead to them being part of a relegation battle in the forthcoming season.
