With less than a quarter of the season to go, time is ticking for the likes of Everton, Burnley and others looking to avoid the Premier League drop.
The bottom four teams at the foot of the table are separated by seven points and while Norwich look destined to be going down, Watford, Burnley and Everton will all still be hopeful of playing in the top tier come next season.
As it stands
- 16 Leeds United P32 W8 D9 L15 PTS 33
- 17 Everton P30 W8 D4 L18 PTS 28
- 18 Burnley P31 W4 D13 L14 PTS 25
- 19 Watford P32 W6 D4 L22 PTS 22
- 20 Norwich City P32 W5 D6 L21 PTS 21
Table updated on 18 April
Everton’s slim advantage
With the points advantage as well as a game in hand, it is Everton who have the upper hand in the survival race.
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Currently occupying 17th spot, three points ahead of 18th-placed Burnley and having played a game fewer, Frank Lampard’s men’s Premier League future is still not secure given their fixtures:
- Everton vs Leicester City, 20 April
- Liverpool vs Everton, 24 April
- Everton vs Chelsea, 1 May
- Leicester City vs Everton, 8 May
- Watford vs Everton, 11 May
- Everton vs Brentford, 15 May
- Everton vs Crystal Palace, 19 May
- Arsenal vs Everton, 22 May
The Toffees have by far the hardest run-in and their form going into the final games will hardly fill their fans with confidence, despite the recent win over Manchester United. In their last 10 matches, only Norwich and Watford have recorded fewer points.
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While games against Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal seem unlikely to yield any points, Lampard will be targeting the fixtures against fellow strugglers Watford alongside Brentford and Crystal Palace who will likely have little to play for.
Managerless Burnley
The decision to sack Sean Dyche with eight games to go and seemingly no replacement waiting in the wings was seen as an odd one but Burnley began life post-Dyche with a point away at West Ham.
Burnley’s fixtures are the best on paper, with Tottenham their only “big six” opponent. Here is how their run-in looks:
- Burnley vs Southampton, 21 April
- Burnley vs Wolves, 24 April
- Watford vs Burnley, 30 April
- Burnley vs Aston Villa, 7 May
- Tottenham vs Burnley, 15 May
- Aston Villa vs Burnley, 19 May
- Burnley vs Newcastle, 22 May
Burnley’s visit to Vicarage Road on 30 April looks to be a relegation six-pointer.
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Watford look doomed
For Watford, it is looking like the greatest of great escapes is needed. Six points adrift from safety having played two games more, the Hornets have won just six games all season. They face Manchester City next before ending the campaign away to Chelsea.
Given they have won that many games all season, that seems unlikely and that it even more implausible considering they face Manchester City next before ending their campaign away at Chelsea. Here are their fixtures in full:
- Manchester City vs Watford, 23 April
- Watford vs Burnley, 30 April
- Crystal Palace vs Burnley, 7 May
- Watford vs Everton, 11 May
- Watford vs Leicester City, 15 May
- Chelsea vs Watford, 22 May
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