Remaining fixtures, key clashes and predicted finishes as West Ham, Everton and Leeds battle to avoid the drop

The Premier League relegation battle looks set to be the most exciting in years, with nine teams locked in a desperate survival bid.

Demotion to the Championship is not only a terrible thing for fans and players to experience, but it can lead to job losses and huge cuts to playing and non-playing staff.

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But three teams have to go, and with ten points separating 12th to 20th, we are in for an incredible end to the season.

Most teams fighting for their lives have eight games left, but due to various postponements, West Ham have one more, meaning there is set to be drama right to the very end.

Here, talkSPORT.com looks at the 2022/23 relegation battle in detail…

Crystal Palace – 12th

Palace have turned to former boss Roy Hodgson in their hour of need.

The Eagles endured a terrible run of form to start 2023 and responded to their perilous position by replacing Patrick Vieira with Hodgson, who is once again the Premier League’s oldest manager.

Ultimately, Palace should have enough to stay up, and their remaining games, bar two, are against sides below them.

And things couldn’t have started much better as Hodgson has won his first two games in charge to move the Eagles six points clear of the drop zone.

Predicted finish – 15th

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Wolves – 13th

Wolves are one of the lowest goalscorers in the Premier League and that’s why they are in danger.

Bruno Lage was heavily backed over the summer, but a poor start saw Julen Lopetegui come in and the Spaniard has steadied the ship.

Four defeats in seven had dragged the Old Gold back into the relegation mix, but a 1-0 win over Chelsea has eased some of the tension.

Wolves should be fine, but they face many challenging games, including against Brentford, Brighton, and Manchester United, while they end the season with a trip to Arsenal.

Predicted finish – 12th

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West Ham – 14th

West Ham should be too good to go down, but plenty of squads have said that before and ended up being relegated

David Moyes’ side have won eight games all season and have turned in a few poor displays that have worried Irons supporters.

The club has probably left it too late to sack David Moyes, and they could sleepwalk into relegation.

The Hammers face Liverpool, City and Arsenal in their final matches while they are also trying to juggle the Europa Conference League.

Predicted finish – 18th

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Bournemouth – 15th

Bournemouth always expected to be in a relegation battle this season, and the Cherries have performed admirably.

After a 9-0 defeat to Liverpool and Scott Parker being sacked, they could have thrown in the towel and started planning for life in the Championship.

But Gary O’Neil has found a way to grind out points, while new signings in January are starting to make a difference.

And with eight games to go, Bournemouth have a good chance of staying in the top-flight after picking up three wins in their last five.

Predicted finish – 16th

Leeds – 16th

Leeds are embroiled in a relegation battle for the second consecutive campaign, but things are starting to look better.

The west Yorkshire side survived on the final day of the season last year after a win over Brentford relegated Burnley.

But Jesse Marsch wasn’t able to build on that and was sacked earlier this year, and ex-Watford manager Javi Gracia is the new man at Elland Road.

The Spaniard has won three of his first seven league games, but some tough fixtures are coming up.

Leeds sealed a massive win over Nottingham Forest before being thrashed by Palace, and still have to play Liverpool, Manchester City, Newcastle and end the year with the visit of Tottenham.

Predicted finish – 13th

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Everton – 17th

Everton looked doomed under Frank Lampard, but they acted quickly and decisively to replace the Chelsea legend with Sean Dyche.

Dyche worked wonders on a limited budget at Burnley and has already won three games as Toffees boss – as many as Lampard managed until he was dismissed in January.

The home ties will be crucial for the Toffees, and they will be targeting Fulham and Newcastle, while on the road, they face Wolves and Crystal Palace in two massive fixtures.

Dyche has done this before and that experience will make a difference.

Predicted finish – 14th

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Nottingham Forest – 18th

Forest have endured a strange season back in the Premier League that started with a crazy summer.

Steve Cooper’s men saw a huge influx of players, leading to some disjointed performances, particularly away from home.

The World Cup break helped settle everything down, and they have been impressive at the City Ground but have the league’s worst away form.

And given that four of their last eight matches are on the road, they will need home wins against Brighton and Southampton.

Predicted finish – 19th

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Leicester – 19th

From title winners to relegation candidates in seven years, it’s been a strange journey for Leicester and could end badly.

Brendan Rodgers has left and Dean Smith is in, and despite having a squad packed with quality players, including James Maddison, poor defending has seen them lose 19 times.

And with eight games to go, the Foxes face some big fixtures against Wolves, Everton and West Ham at home, while they also play Man City, Liverpool and Newcastle.

Those home matches against fellow relegation candidates will decide the Foxes’ fate – although they will have to be better than they were against Bournemouth.

Predicted finish – 17th

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Southampton – 20th

The Saints have been bottom of the Premier League since New Year’s Eve and are onto their third manager of the season in Ruben Selles.

Ralph Hasenhuttl and Nathan Jones failed to get much from this group of players, but they have been better under Selles and have beaten Chelsea and nicked a point against Tottenham.

However, if they are to stay up this year, they need to beat the teams around them.

In their final eight matches, Southampton host Palace and Bournemouth while they visit Forest, and these will be the games they need points, but they are four points from safety and starting to look like certainties to go down.

Predicted finish – 20th

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