The favourites for Premier League relegation – London Business News | Londonlovesbusiness.com

As the 2024-25 Premier League season approaches, the anticipation and excitement are palpable. Yet, for some clubs, this season heralds a daunting challenge — the fight to avoid relegation.

With new signings, key player departures, and, in some cases, managerial changes, pressure mounts on teams expected to struggle.

In this article, we examine the clubs most likely to face the drop. From newly promoted teams bracing for the top-flight test to established clubs aiming to rebound from previous disappointments, we highlight the favourites for relegation and the hurdles they must overcome to secure their Premier League survival.

Leicester City

Crowned champions of England in 2015-16 and FA Cup winners in 2021, Leicester City, had built a reputation for being more than just a mainstay in the topflight.

That’s why it came as such a shock when the Foxes were relegated from the Premier League two years ago, finishing 18^th in a disappointing campaign.

Leicester have bounced back to the promised land at the first attempt, but their stay in the Premier League might not last long as they are the favourites in the relegation odds.

The Midlands outfit are set to start the season with a hefty points deduction, which will leave them with an uphill battle, while Enzo Maresca and Kieran Dewsbury-Hall have both left for Chelsea.

Ipswich Town

Ipswich Town fans must be in dreamland, as their club achieved back-to-back promotions to climb from League 1 to the Premier League in just two seasons.

The 2024-25 campaign will be the first time the Tractor Boys have featured in the top flight in 22 years, but staying up will be no easy feat for the Suffolk side.

Ipswich will likely not have the squad depth or finances to improve their squad enough to compete against England’s elite.

However, the fact that their highly-rated manager, Kieran McKenna, committed his future to Portman Road despite interest from Chelsea and Manchester United is a massive boost.

Southampton

All three newly promoted sides — Luton Town, Burnley and Sheffield United — went straight back down again last year, and lightning could strike twice, as Southampton join Leicester and Ipswich as favourites for the drop in the Premier League outright odds.

The Saints were stalwart in the top flight for over a decade after earning promotion back to the Premier League in 2012, but after successive 15^th-place finishes, they capitulated and ultimately finished rock bottom in 2022-23.

Russell Martin steadied the ship after three different managers took to the dugout in their final Premier League season, winning the Championship play-offs with a 1-0 victory over Leeds United at Wembley.

However, this will be Martin’s first taste of Premier League football as a coach and it will be interesting to see how he fares in unfamiliar waters.

Everton

While Everton are still one of the select few sides to never be relegated from the Premier League, it’s fair to say that the Toffees have clung on by the skin of their teeth in recent seasons.

Saved by just a matter of points in the 2021-22 and 2022-23 campaigns, Sean Dyche’s side deserve credit for successfully navigating a difficult season that included points deductions to finish in 15^th.

That may be just three places above the relegation zone, but Everton were comfortable 14 points clear of Luton Town and would have finished much higher had it not been for their rule breaches.

If the Toffees can emulate the season they just had, they should avoid relegation comfortably and start the 2025-26 Premier League campaign in their new stadium.

The above information does not constitute any form of advice or recommendation by London Loves Business and is not intended to be relied upon by users in making (or refraining from making) any finance decisions. Appropriate independent advice should be obtained before making any such decision. London Loves Business bears no responsibility for any gains or losses.