How many points will be required to avoid relegation in the Premier League this season?

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The new Premier League season has already delivered some memorable moments at both ends of the table. While the likes of Manchester City, Liverpool, and Arsenal challenge for the title, the relegation battle is equally intense. The race to secure safety from the drop zone is often as gripping as the fight for European places, with several teams looking to prove football betting odds wrong and beat the drop. 

Among the three new teams promoted from the Championship, Leicester City stand in the best stead to survive after successfully avoiding a points deduction, but the Premier League’s unpredictability means nothing is assured. 

Despite narrowly escaping a significant penalty, Leicester have performed well under the circumstances, giving themselves a chance to remain in the top flight, while Ipswich Town and Southampton will know they have to start picking up points quickly. 

The impact of Premier League relegation cannot be overstated. The snowball effect of the drop can have disastrous consequences for clubs unable to bounce back at the first attempt.

The longer a club stays out of the top flight, the harder it becomes to regain momentum, and the dream of promotion fades into an almost impossible goal, with a conveyor belt of new players and managers each season.

For every team that manages to make an immediate return – as the Saints and Foxes did last term – there are countless other clubs that spiral into mediocrity or even lower leagues. 

Teams like Swansea City, Stoke City, and Portsmouth once graced the Premier League, only to drop down the divisions and face an uphill battle to return. 

The ‘magic 40 points mark’ is usually referenced as the benchmark for survival in the Premier League. Traditionally, reaching 40 points would be enough to secure safety from relegation, though this figure has fluctuated in recent seasons.

By surpassing the 40-point threshold, teams can typically breathe a sigh of relief, but in a league as unpredictable as this, it’s never a guarantee. Given the quality throughout the division and the nature of relegation battles, clubs may need to surpass this milestone to secure their place.

For some clubs, avoiding relegation has often required a “great escape” effort, and this season could be no different for Southampton and Ipswich this term. Both are fighting to avoid the drop and may need a historic push similar to some of the most memorable escapes in Premier League history. 

The likes of West Bromwich Albion, who managed to stay up against all odds in 2005, or Sunderland’s miraculous survival under Gus Poyet in 2014, provide inspiration. 

However, some teams have been incredibly unlucky in their attempts to beat the drop. Blackpool, for instance, were one of the most entertaining teams in their maiden Premier League season in 2010/11. Under Ian Holloway, they amassed 39 points, but it wasn’t enough to avoid relegation.

Similarly, West Ham United managed 42 points in 2002/03, only to see their efforts fall short as they suffered the drop.

For the newly promoted sides, securing survival will require making their home grounds a fortress and consistently picking up points against teams around them. 

The atmosphere and energy from the home support can often tip the balance in crucial matches, and newly promoted clubs must utilise.  

The games ahead will be challenging for all the relegation candidates, but the newly promoted sides may not be the only ones drawn into the fight. 

Crystal Palace have made a sluggish start in Oliver Glanser’s second season at Selhurst Park and could find themselves in a battle for survival if they don’t turn their form around. Similarly, Everton’s inconsistency has been a recurring theme, and as they prepare for their move to the new Bramley Moore Dock Stadium, a string of poor results could see them dragged into the relegation scrap once again.

Overall, it may take a monumental effort for the newly promoted sides to avoid relegation this season, especially when competing against more established Premier League clubs. 

The magic 40-point mark may not be enough to secure safety as the relegation battle grows fiercer and teams at the bottom push for every last point. 

Whether it’s a great escape, capitalising on key matches, or simply hoping for a bit of luck, the race to avoid the drop remains as unpredictable as ever.