Friday 17 April 2015 11:37, UK
With the Premier League relegation battle heating up, we asked Soccer Saturday pundit Charlie Nicholas to assess each team’s task.
Leicester are currently bottom of the table but the bookmakers give them a decent chance of staying up, with Sky Bet making Queens Park Rangers, Burnley and Sunderland all more likely for the drop.
From the bottom of the table upwards, here’s Charlie’s verdict on who will stay up and why.
Current position: 20th
Relegation odds: 1/1
Charlie says: “I thought Leicester were dead and buried, but after their game last weekend with that Jamie Vardy goal, I’m not so sure now. Looking at the fixture list, Leicester probably have the best opportunity of them all, so I can understand the odds, but I still think there are a few twists and turns. They create chances and the teams that do that at this stage of the season at the bottom tend to survive. The goal difference is all pretty even – there’s not much difference between any of them – but Leicester are a team with momentum and the best fixtures. Still though, I fancy Burnley over Leicester, but I wouldn’t be too surprised if that’s not the case.”
Verdict: Gone, but only just
Current position: 19th
Relegation odds: 8/13
Charlie says: “I’m still anticipating that at least one of the bottom three will get themselves out of this situation, and I give Burnley the best chance. There are goals in Sam Vokes, Ashley Barnes and, of course, Danny Ings, and that gives them the edge. They’ve had some tough fixtures lately, but they always look as though they’re capable of nicking something. I actually think Burnley will finish above Leicester, but I can understand how the favouritism has swung back Leicester’s way. Burnley would be the one, out of the bottom three, that I expect to survive.”
Verdict: Staying up
Current position: 18th
Relegation odds: 1/7
Charlie says: “I don’t give QPR much of a chance. Their fixtures are really tough. The fact that they went away from home and scored quite a lot of goals, but didn’t take two victories from their games with West Brom and Aston Villa, says a lot. I think last weekend showed that they’re more suited to playing without the pressure away from home. So, ironically, they’re now looking stronger away from home, but their away games are against Liverpool, Man City and Leicester on the last day, so I just can’t see them staying up.”
Verdict: Gone
Current position: 17th
Relegation odds: 1/1
Charlie says: “Hull have been ravaged with injuries, but for some reason I’ve always trusted Steve Bruce when he gets into these situations. He’s fairly calm and even when he’s picking his team he looks at different shapes, different options and different qualities – dropping Allan McGregor last week for example was a big, big call – so my opinion is that Steve Bruce will be brave enough to stay calm and keep his team from going under.”
Verdict: Staying up
Current position: 16th
Relegation odds: 10/11
Charlie says: “I think they’re going to go, I think Sunderland are ready to sink. The derby was perfectly suited to them – the crowd were really supportive – but then they were absolutely smashed by Palace, and I mean smashed. Sunderland, with a new manager, were supposed to be the team with the momentum, but their last two games are Arsenal away and Chelsea away, so I don’t see many more points for them.”
Verdict: Gone
Current position: 15th
Relegation odds: 8/1
Charlie says: “I’d say both West Brom and Aston Villa are one win away from security, I really do feel that’s how close they are. Villa are still the great unpredictables but they’ve got Christian Benteke scoring goals at the moment, and that’s so important. This is a timing issue – Benteke has clicked into form at the right time – and for that reason Villa will be safe.”
Verdict: Staying up
Current position: 14th
Relegation odds: 14/1
Charlie says: “I think West Brom have got enough to stay away from all this. As soon as the final whistle went last week between West Brom and Leicester, the first thing I said on Soccer Saturday was 'by tomorrow morning Tony Pulis will be saying to his players that they’re taking this situation for granted' and I stand by that. His teams don’t defend like that, it won’t be happening again in the next couple of games. I think he’ll have them well fired-up, well drilled and organised, so West Brom will be safe.”
Verdict: Staying up
