This is shaping up to be the Premier League’s worst relegation fight

Is this the most intense Premier League relegation battle ever? It’s unusual to see four clubs already in danger of being left behind.

And it could potentially be five if Everton receives a 12-point deduction for alleged breaches of the Profit and Sustainability rules. But even with that penalty, they would still have a chance to catch up. Currently averaging a point per game and showing signs of improvement, Everton could surpass at least three teams ahead of them. Survival may not require a high point total this season.

For Sheffield United, Burnley, Luton Town, and Bournemouth – the three promoted clubs and the current strugglers – it’s already shaping up to be a grim battle, with only one likely to survive. Each team has managed just one win so far.

At this stage of the season, the bottom four have accumulated 20 points, equaling the record set in the 2020-21 season when Fulham, Burnley, West Brom, and Sheffield United were involved. Interestingly, two of those clubs are in the bottom four again.

Unlike two years ago, when the bottom four managed to avoid relegation, there’s a fear that this time they won’t even amass the meager point total of the previous bottom three.

There’s even dark humor suggesting they might not surpass Derby County’s lowest total of 11 points in the 2007-08 season. However, it’s unlikely as the struggling teams should, at the very least, take points off one another.

A similar situation can be observed at the top of the table. We’re hoping for a more open title race, but this weekend was ominous for those challenging Manchester City, with defeats for Arsenal and a draw for Liverpool.

If it weren’t for these surprising results, the top four would have accumulated the most points at this stage in Premier League history. This was already the case after 10 games, and there’s a growing gap between the top and bottom teams and the middle pack of clubs.

Teams like West Ham United, Crystal Palace, Nottingham Forest, and Wolves are unlikely to be dragged into the relegation fight, but they aren’t expected to challenge for European spots either. The middle ground has widened due to the struggles of the promoted clubs that usually put up a stronger fight.

Interestingly, none of these clubs would be in the top flight without their managers, which might explain why we haven’t seen any sackings yet this season. This time last year, several managers had already departed their clubs, but this season appears to be more stable so far.

As we approach the final international break, it remains a nervous time for managers. However, there’s little reason for Luton to part ways with Rob Edwards, and Burnley remains invested in Vincent Kompany despite their unexpected struggles.

Paul Heckingbottom is under pressure at Sheffield United, and there are rumors of Chris Wilder potentially returning. But considering the squad he has and the loss of key players, it’s unclear what more can be expected from Heckingbottom.

The most likely candidate for the chopping block seems to be Andoni Iraola, given the expectations and the investment in the Bournemouth squad. However, Bournemouth has had a difficult start to the season, and the underlying data suggests they are performing better than their results indicate.

Overall, this season has been strangely calm so far. While it’s still early days, it’s unlikely to match the tension of last season, which saw a close battle for survival even for teams near the bottom of the table.

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