Who will survive the Premier League relegation battle?

With only a quarter of the 2025-26 Premier League campaign remaining, the fight to avoid the drop has crystallised into a nerve-shredding duel that could still drag as many as half-a-dozen clubs into the mire. While the summit of the table has its own intrigue—Arsenal cling to top spot ahead of Aston Villa, Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool—financial futures and second-tier fates are being decided at the opposite end.

Wolves and Burnley already appear condemned. Wolves have collected a solitary victory all season and, despite a modest uptick under Rob Edwards, are playing only for pride and the hope of eclipsing Derby County’s infamous 11-point low. A summer exodus of talent followed by January sales has hollowed out the squad; relegation is considered a formality. Burnley, too, flirted with history during a winless streak stretching from late October until a recent revival against Palace, and no side has shipped more goals. The Clarets look set for an immediate return to the Championship.

That leaves one vacancy in the bottom three, yet the list of realistic candidates is swelling. Nottingham Forest, on their fourth manager of the season, epitomise instability: an impulsive owner has repeatedly pressed the reset button, and survival now depends on whether the new voice in the dressing-room can coax goals and belief from a fractured roster. West Ham have nudged themselves above the dotted line after smart winter recruitment and a subtle lift in performances, but they remain within striking distance of danger and still eye revenge on the Forest hierarchy after last summer’s public spat.

Leeds, back in the top flight after a season away, recovered from a wretched start under Daniel Farke, whose tactical clarity has coaxed consistency from an exuberant squad. A forgiving run-in offers hope, yet nothing can be taken for granted. Tottenham, meanwhile, have become the league’s punch-line: two wins since December cost Thomas Frank his job and left the club staring at an unprecedented scenario—Champions League participants relegated in the same campaign. A new-manager bounce is desperately required.

Beyond the obvious strugglers, two formerly comfortable clubs risk being sucked into the vortex. Brighton’s post-New Year form has collapsed; the Seagulls have forgotten how to win and must rediscover their swagger to preserve a buffer that once looked unassailable. Crystal Palace appear even more vulnerable. Having lifted the FA Cup last May, the Eagles have since seen star names depart, confirmed their manager’s summer exit, and allowed frustration to fester around Selhurst Park. A spiral into the relegation scrap is no longer unthinkable.

With points still plentiful and momentum capable of shifting inside a single match-week, the identity of the third relegated club remains anyone’s guess. Forest and West Ham start the run-in as bookmakers’ favourites, but Leeds, Spurs, Brighton and Palace each know that a single lapse could flip the narrative. The stakes—financial, sporting, emotional—have never been higher, and the Premier League’s greatest survival drama is only just beginning.