Jermaine Jenas names three teams he thinks will be relegated from the Premier League

Jermaine Jenas names which three teams he thinks will be relegated from the Premier League with the season’s end around the corner.

The former footballer turned pundit believes Southampton are too good to go down this season ahead of Saints’ clash with the Blades.

Ralph Hasenhuttl will take on bottom of the table Sheffield United for his 100th game in charge, but both go into the game inconsistent and needing a win.

Southampton are currently on a nine-game winless streak in the Premier League, which has seen them drop from being in contention to qualify for European football to now finding themselves just seven points above the relegation zone.

Chris Wilder’s men beat Aston Villa in their previous game, their first victory in seven games (all competitions, leaving them 12 points from safety with 11 games to go.

While Southampton’s form of late is the worst in the Premier League over the last ten games, former Tottenham midfielder Jermaine Jenas has said that he thinks Hasenhuttl’s men will have enough to avoid being dragged into the battle at the bottom.

“They shouldn’t be where they are, and in my opinion, they are not going to go down,” he said, speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live.

“Fulham are playing very well, but they are not getting the points, and we have been saying that for a bit too long now. Crystal Palace was the one, I thought this was the game to go and make that point, but they didn’t have the ability to do it.

“Southampton are sinking like a ship, there’s no doubt, but I have no more confidence in Brighton or Newcastle picking up enough results to go past them.

“They won’t be comfortable, but I don’t see how they go down, personally.”

Another ex-top flight footballer in Michael Dawson agreed, saying that he did not see the Saints going down, but he said that the rot needs to stop sooner rather than later, with the pressure building for Hasenhuttl and his players.

“Fulham have got no pressure on them at this moment,” he said.

“Scott Parker has done a wonderful job when you look at the expectations when they came up, people expected Fulham to be nearer the bottom.

“Southampton, because they are on this run and where they were before Christmas, that has brought on more expectations for them and now they will be starting to get worried.

“Sheffield United at the weekend is a must-win for them to stop this rot. One point in nine games, that is where it starts coming in to the dressing room, I have been there in a relegation battle and I know they will be talking about it and thinking they need to go and win there, and they will be thinking ‘if we win there, we will be safe.’

“But if they don’t, the results will start dictating and if the gap gets closer and closer, they will be thinking ‘we are going to get caught here’ and then if they drop into the bottom three, it can be hard to get that win to get out of it.

“Southampton have got enough quality in the dressing room to stay up, but their performances aren’t showing it and the confidence, I have been in dressing rooms when it is rock bottom and you wonder how you are going to get out of this rut.”

LAWRO’S MATCH PREDICTION

Southampton’s freefall continued with their defeat against Everton on Monday and they have now taken just one point from nine matches.

This slump needs to stop soon if they are going to stay up, because the 30 points they have so far will not be enough for survival.

Saturday won’t be easy for Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side either, especially now key midfielder Oriol Romeu has been ruled out for the rest of the season. He is like Kalvin Phillips at Leeds – the heartbeat of their team.

Sheffield United are in a much worse situation in the table, but they got a great win over Aston Villa on Wednesday and have clearly not given up hope yet.

It will be close but I think Southampton will get something out of the game, and even a point would be something for them to build on.

Prediction for Southampton v Sheff Utd: 1-1

As Jermaine Jenas names three teams he thinks will be relegated from the Premier League… here is a look at that relegation odds.

Sheffield Utd (Jenas’ choice) – 1/33
West Brom (Jenas’ choice) – 1/33
Fulham (Jenas’ choice) – 5/6
Newcastle – 13/8
Burnley – 6/1
Brighton – 9/1
Southampton – 33/1
Crystal Palace – 40/1
Leeds – 250/1
Wolves – 250/1