With the international break approaching next month, the Premier League’s battle to beat the drop is set to intensify in the coming weeks.
A number of the sides in the bottom seven are set to face matches against one another, meaning the table could have a much different feel about it in just a few weeks.
Following a tough run of results, Leeds United are one of the sides who will be looking to muster up some victories to avoid dropping into the bottom three.
So ahead of a vital few weeks in the calendar, here is a look at each of the bottom seven’s fixtures up until the international break, assessing which of the sides have the trickiest upcoming run.
14th : Brentford – 24 points
Brentford will be looking to arrest their recent free-fall as they approach a run of matches where they face a number of teams around them.
A run of Newcastle, Norwich and Burnley in successive weeks could make or break their season given that they all occupy positions just below them in the table.
They then make the trip to an inconsistent Leicester side in their final outing before the international period – which is certainly another game they will be targeting points from.
February 26: Newcastle (h)
March 5: Norwich (a)
March 12: Burnley (h)
March 19: Leicester (a)
15th: Leeds United – 23 points
Similarly, to Brentford, Leeds will be looking to use this period as a time to get their season back on track after four defeats in five.
Following another clash against one of the ‘big six’, Tottenham Hotspur, their next three matches are all against sides they can target points from.
They then conclude the run of fixtures with a difficult looking trip to Wolves, however if their performance in the return match is anything to go by, they shouldn’t be fearful.
February 26: Tottenham (h)
March 5: Leicester (a)
March 10: Aston Villa (h)
March 13: Norwich (h)
February 18: Wolves (a)
16th: Everton – 22 points
After bouncing back from their disappointment against Newcastle with an emphatic 3-0 win over Leeds, it appears Everton are back to square one.
The Toffees will have been desperate to take something from their trip to Southampton with matches against Man City, Tottenham and Wolves to come in their next three.
They then face huge matches against two teams below them, Newcastle and Watford, which could go a long way to deciding their fate.
February 26: Man City (h)
March 7: Tottenham (a)
March 13: Wolves (h)
March 17: Newcastle (h)
March 20: Watford (a)
17th: Newcastle United – 22 points
It appears as though the feel-good factor is back at St. James’ Park after a run of 11 points from their last five matches.
And they will certainly be targeting more points from their next three games with clashes against Brentford, Brighton and Southampton to come.
Following a tough trip to Chelsea, they then face Everton and Crystal Palace in quick succession, fixtures which certainly appear winnable on paper.
February 26: Brentford (a)
March 5: Brighton (h)
March 10: Southampton (a)
March 13: Chelsea (a)
March 17: Everton (a)
March 20: Crystal Palace (h)
18th: Burnley – 20 points
Burnley have thrown themselves right back into contention for survival after two excellent consecutive wins against Brighton and Tottenham.
The Clarets have overcome a tricky run of fixtures and now games against Crystal Palace and Leicester where points could certainly arrive.
Following a home match, they then face a huge trip to the capital to face Brentford, before concluding their pre-international break run-in against Southampton.
February 26: Crystal Palace (a)
March 1: Leicester (h)
March 5: Chelsea (h)
March 12: Brentford (a)
March 19: Southampton (h)
19th: Watford – 18 points
Roy Hodgson has enjoyed a reasonable start to life in the dugout at Watford but a 4-1 home defeat against his former club Crystal Palace will have been a real kick in the teeth.
That is especially considering their next few matches – with very tough looking encounters with Man United, Arsenal, Wolves and the in-form Southampton.
When their home game against Everton arrives next month, it is likely that they will be in must-win territory.
February 26: Man United (a)
March 6: Arsenal (h)
March 10: Wolves (a)
March 13: Southampton (a)
March 20: Everton (h)
20th: Norwich City – 17 points
Norwich have found themselves cut adrift of safety again following a testing run of results which saw them face Manchester City and Liverpool consecutively.
Following a clash with Southampton, they then face two teams in and around them – Leeds and Brentford – where they will need a decent points return.
That is when you consider they then host Chelsea – a side they were dismantled 7-0 by in the return match.
February 25: Southampton (a)
March 5: Brentford (h)
March 13: Leeds (a)
March 19: Chelsea (h)
On paper, it looks like Watford have the toughest run of fixtures as they face three consecutive sides all vying for a place in the top four.
Everton are also set to face a difficult couple of weeks, as they are the only side in the bottom seven to play one of the top two – Manchester City and Liverpool.
On the other hand, Brentford will be targeting this period as a time where they can open up some breathing space as they face three sides below them in the table.
Having said that, they could find themselves in major trouble if wins don’t arrive.
