Tottenham are staring down the barrel of the unthinkable: relegation from the Premier League. The tide is not shifting after last-gasp heartbreak was compounded by results not going their way this weekend.Relegation for a Spurs side that won the Europa League last season, reached the Champions League knockout stage this term and has spent just one season outside the top flight since 1950 would go down as one of the biggest shocks in Premier League history. Roberto De Zerbi is now the man tasked with engineering an escape, but Brighton scoring a last-minute equaliser at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday evening felt like a dagger into the heart of Spurs supporters.
Leeds have pulled clear of the relegation zone after back-to-back victories against Manchester United and Wolves, while Nottingham Forest and West Ham have both done what Tottenham have failed to do in recent weeks and pick up precious points. Morgan Gibbs-White hat-trick inspired a 4-1 win over Burnley for Forest on Sunday, while the Hammers ground out a goalless draw at Crystal Palace the night after - a result which confirmed Wolves’ demotion.With Wolves down and Burnley doomed, here’s how the crucial relegation run-in is shaping up.Leeds UnitedPosition: 15th | Played: 33 | Points: 39 | GD: -7Remaining fixtures:25 April - Bournemouth (A)2 May - Burnley (H)9 May - Tottenham (A)17 May - Brighton (H)24 May - West Ham (A)Where to pick up points?
The fixtures have fallen fairly kindly for Leeds and after their seminal win over Manchester United - a first league victory at Old Trafford since 1981 - and a 3-0 home victory over Wolves it now looks probable that they will secure Premier League football next season. Leeds just need one more point to reach the 40-point mark and they’ll be eyeing up the home fixture against Burnley to get over the line. Away games against relegation rivals Tottenham and West Ham also look like prime opportunities to get results on the board.Tricky contests?
They’ve passed their toughest test on paper with flying colours by beating United, which was their last game against a team currently above 10th in the standings. Nevertheless, a trip to Bournemouth in April and hosting European football-chasing Brighton in their penultimate fixture won’t be easy. Will a FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea this weekend prove to be a welcome distraction or a hindrance?Final straight?
Leeds look safe, but they will be desperate to have that secured by the time they travel to West Ham on the final day but if not, that could be a high-octane shootout for survival. Games against Brighton and Spurs immediately preceding that are too unfriendly as finales go.Dominic Calvert-Lewin celebrates scoring a penalty to wrap up a 3-0 win for Leeds over Wolves (PA Wire)Nottingham ForestPosition: 16th | Played: 33 | Points: 36 | GD: -9Remaining fixtures:24 April - Sunderland (A)2 May - Chelsea (A)9 May - Newcastle (H)17 May - Manchester United (A)24 May - Bournemouth (H)Where to pick up points?
Forest had to make the most of a home fixture against doomed Burnley and, inspired by a 15-minute Gibbs-White hat-trick, they made the most of that golden opportunity on Sunday. That could be enough to get over the line. If not, a home game against a struggling Newcastle side who may have nothing to play for could be their best chance.Tricky contests?
Games against two of the current top six still await Forest with trips to Manchester United and Chelsea on the docket. Forest also have to negotiate a Europa League semi-final with Aston Villa, which may prove a distraction. Final straight?
It’s not the best with a journey to Old Trafford on the penultimate day of the season far from ideal although, as mentioned above, hosting Bournemouth on the final day could offer a chance to snatch the points required if things aren’t wrapped up by then. A home match against a floundering Newcastle as their antepenultimate fixture could also be worse. Things could be complicated if they are still going in the Europa League by that point, however. (Getty)West Ham UnitedPosition: 17th | Played: 33 | Points: 33 | GD: -17Remaining fixtures:25 April - Everton (H)2 May - Brentford (A)9 May - Arsenal (H)17 May - Newcastle (A)24 May - Leeds (H)Where to pick up points?
Their impressive form since hugely damaging back-to-back defeats to Wolves and Nottingham Forest at the start of the year have seen West Ham go from doomed to having a genuine chance of survival – even climbing out of the bottom three by thumping Wolves 4-0 straight after the international break. Another point at Crystal Palace may be seen as two lost rather than one gained considering the Eagles’ form, however, and they now enter a run of tricky tests. Welcoming Leeds to the London Stadium on the final day looms incredibly large and could prove pivotal.Tricky contests?
The Everton (H), Brentford (A), Arsenal (H) run from late April to early May does not look very friendly. The games before and after that run appear t