As attention focuses on the crisis at Manchester United, they are just one of six clubs at the bottom of the Premier League table, nervously looking back.
While the Championship can be a thrilling league for fans, it represents a financial abyss for Premier League clubs. To avoid relegation, expect to see managerial sackings, significant January spending, and various other measures. So, which of these six clubs faces the greatest risk of dropping to the second tier?
6. Tottenham Hotspur
Despite the dismay of talkSPORT producers, Tottenham appear to have weathered their crisis. A string of league victories has lifted the club to 14th place, with favourable fixtures on the horizon. Unlike the Manchester side, Spurs have a manager proven in the Premier League. Roberto De Zerbi may not be an elite coach, but he’s skilled enough to amass 38 points with a squad that has cost hundreds of millions to assemble. The loss of James Maddison, however, is a significant blow, and questions loom about who will assume creative duties in his absence. On paper, the Londoners’ squad vastly outclasses those in the relegation mix.
5. Manchester United
Chaos reigns at the club, and Michael Carrick’s employment is likely hanging by a thread. Nonetheless, the genuine threat of relegation seems unlikely. Recalling their 15th place finish in the 2024/25 season, it was significantly impacted by a Europa League run, but it’s clear that with their current squad, they won’t go far in the Champions League. They boast more quality players than half the league. Sacking Carrick and appointing a competent manager could see them revive their fortunes. While they may not reach the heights they believe they deserve, a comfortable distance from the drop zone is within reach.
4. Nottingham Forest
Back-to-back losses to Leeds at the start of the season raised eyebrows about why Oliver Glasner took the job at all. Since then, there has been tangible improvement. Unfortunately, Forest players have been woeful in converting chances. They rank fourth in the league for clear goal-scoring opportunities created but sit third for missed chances, squandering 20 out of 25. This is understandably causing Glasner anxiety on the touchline, but it’s a better predicament than managing a side that creates nothing. With the experience of their manager and solid defensive performances, there’s hope they can steer clear of the relegation battle, having conceded fewer goals than only Arsenal based on xG metrics. After salvaging draws with Liverpool and Tottenham, as well as an away win against Aston Villa, if Liam Delap and his teammates find their scoring boots, they’ll be fine.
3. Crystal Palace
Speculation surrounding a potential Sean Dyche appointment is a sure sign that Palace are nervously eyeing the relegation zone. Pierre Sages has inherited a multitude of issues, leading Glasner to opt for Forest instead. The club’s defence has been decimated. Maxence Lacroix moved to Chelsea, while Takehiro Tomiyasu and Axel Disasi were recruited to replace central defenders. Daniel Munoz followed his former manager out the door, and the club has taken a gamble on 21-year-old Anan Khalaili from the Belgian league as a viable substitute. As a result, Palace are conceding goals in droves. They’ve shipped 19 goals already, and Sages stubbornly sticks to a three-defender formation for which he has no suitable personnel. Jean-Philippe Mateta attempted to terminate his contract but found himself in the attacking trio that could only muster one goal across all outings. The writing seems to be on the wall for Sages; barring Adam Wharton and Ismaila Sarr, their squad is lacking. Without reinforcements in January, they may find themselves in deep trouble.
2. Sunderland
The club has become yet another victim of a packed European schedule with Thursday and Sunday matches but this coinciding with issues in other areas. Last summer’s transfer window was heralded as a historic success for the newly promoted side, but this second window proved far less effective. After a seventh-place finish, Sunderland looked an attractive project, yet they managed only to sign three players under the age of 21 and a 34-year-old Tom Meunier. Kevin Danso, loaned in, was deemed surplus to requirements by a Tottenham defence that conceded more goals last season than Sunderland. Regis Le Bris is struggling to maintain last season's momentum. A defeat to Ipswich in the first round was the first alarming sign, with Nordi Mukiele openly blaming teammates for their arrogance. While their European campaign is going well, their league form is faltering. A four-match losing streak ended in a goalless draw against Leeds, but many key players from last season have yet to return to form. Concerns are mounting that seventh place was merely a fluke. Le Bris’ future hangs in the balance, with midweek matches leaving him little time for training.
1. Coventry City
This summer, the club welcomed numerous new signings, yet none have the Premier League experience offered by Ipswich. Frank Lampard isn’t the first Championship-winning manager struggling to adapt to the top tier. Coventry netted 97 goals in the second division, becoming the sixth highest-scoring team in history, and the distribution of goals among players inspired hope for continued attacking excellence in the Premier League. However, finishing has emerged as their Achilles' heel. They currently share the status of the least prolific team in the league, compounded by their inability to retain possession. This year, they're averaging only 37% possession — better only than Hull City. Lampard has stressed the Premier League standard his squad must meet, but many newcomers seem increasingly distant from safety. Their home game against Sunderland looms as a crucial six-pointer. A loss could make it very difficult to figure out where else this team might find points for survival.
