Tottenham are staring down the barrel of the unthinkable: relegation from the Premier League. However, a first win of 2026 has given them hope that the tide is shifting.
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, and after Brighton scored a last-minute equaliser to put a dagger through the hearts of Spurs supporters last week, Joao Palhinha scored a priceless goal to ensure they overcame already-down Wolves.
However, Callum Wilson snatched a 92nd-minute winner at the London Stadium to ensure West Ham beat Everton 2-1, keeping Tottenham in the bottom three for now. They remain two points clear of the drop zone.
Leeds have pulled clear of the relegation zone after back-to-back victories against Manchester United and Wolves and a draw away at Bournemouth, while Nottingham Forest scored a huge 5-0 win at Sunderland on Friday evening.
Wolves have long been destined for the drop and had their demotion confirmed last Monday. They have now been joined by Burnley after the Clarets fell to a 1-0 loss at home to Manchester City to confirm their return to the Championship.
With Wolves and Burnley both relegated, here’s how the rest of the crucial relegation run-in is shaping up.
Leeds United
Position: 15th | Played: 34 | Points: 40 | GD: -7
Remaining fixtures:
- 2 May - Burnley (H)
- 9 May - Tottenham (A)
- 17 May - Brighton (H)
- 24 May - West Ham (A)
Where to pick up points? The fixtures fell fairly kindly for Leeds and after their seminal win over Manchester United – a first league victory at Old Trafford since 1981 – as well as a 3-0 home victory over Wolves and a 2-2 draw to Bournemouth, it looks probable that they will secure Premier League football next season. They have now reached 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 top-five team. Nevertheless, 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. If not, that could be a high-octane shootout for survival. Games against Brighton and Spurs immediately preceding that aren’t too unfriendly as finales go.
Nottingham Forest
Position: 16th | Played: 34 | Points: 39 | GD: -4
Remaining fixtures:
- 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 Morgan Gibbs-White hat-trick, they seized that golden opportunity. They then followed that up with a statement 5-0 thrashing of a Sunderland side who are largely on the beach. 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 three of the current top eight still await Forest with trips to Manchester United and Chelsea on the docket, plus a home finale against Bournemouth. 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 and then hosting Bournemouth on the final day also a tricky finish. A home match against a floundering Newcastle as their antepenultimate fixture could be worse though. Things could be complicated by their Europa League distraction, however.
West Ham United
Position: 17th | Played: 34 | Points: 36 | GD: -16
Remaining fixtures:
- 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, but they bounced back with the late win over Everton. Welcoming Leeds to the London Stadium on the final day looms incredibly large and could prove pivotal.
Tricky contests? The Brentford Arsenal tests do not look very friendly, though neither did the visit of Everton which they overcame. The games after that run appear to be much better chances to pick up the points the Hammers need to pull off an impressive escape.
Final straight? If West Ham can get through to mid-May with a realistic shot at survival then an away game against Newcastle and a home clash with Leeds to finish the season might just be the ticket to get them clear of the drop zone. The final-day showdown against Daniel Farke’s side could be an all-time classic but won’t be a pretty watch if both sides are still fighting for their lives. However, Leeds might already be safe by then and the fact that the Whites are coming to the London Stadium at least plays into Nuno and co’s hands.
Tottenham Hotspur
Position: 18th | Played: 34 | Points: 34 | GD: -10
Remaining fixtures:
- 2 May - Aston Villa (A)
- 9 May - Leeds (H)
- 17 May - Chelsea (A)
- 24 May - Everton (H)
Where to pick up points? Having not won for 16 league matches, with their last Premier League triumph coming against Crystal Palace back in December, Tottenham have finally found three points at once. Their trip to Wolves was a must-win and they did just that. Now, a potentially pivotal clash with Leeds at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium three matches from the end of the campaign will also be a golden opportunity. But every fixture is tough currently.
Tricky contests? Sidestepping the obvious quip of ‘every single one’, given their recent form, away games at Champions League-chasing Aston Villa and Chelsea in May don’t look too fruitful.
Final straight? Leeds at home as the third-last game is absolutely huge. Should that game go awry and Spurs head into the final two matches in the relegation zone, then a trip to Stamford Bridge and clash with Everton to finish up appear unlikely to provide succour.
Verdict?
This could genuinely go in any direction and you’d have to be a brave person to predict the outcome with any confidence.
It could still all come down to the final day when West Ham host Leeds, Spurs play Everton and Nottingham Forest host Bournemouth. Leeds generally have the kindest fixtures and should have enough to survive given the points they have recently picked up.
Forest’s last two results have been massive, given that they could have been adversely affected by their Europa League run and probably need to have survival wrapped up going into the final couple of games, while West Ham’s boosted their chances with that Everton win.
Spurs are at the very least still in touching distance of safety, if they can build on victory at Wolves and string some season-saving results together. But every team is showing fight - and it could all change within the next week.
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