BIG SAM IS SINKING, BUT CAN HE KEEP PALACE UP?
REDKNAPP KEOWN SUTTON
JUST two points separate the Premier League’s bottom six — and Bournemouth’s poor form has seen them dragged into the relegation scrap.
We asked Sportsmail’s three wise men to assess who will beat the drop — and who should be making plans for playing in the Championship next season...
BOURNEMOUTH
KEOWN: The alarm bells are ringing when you concede six in a match, as they did at Everton, and Bournemouth must stop presenting goals to their opponents. But the sides below them would love to have 26 points. They have less to do to secure safety than their rivals but will be looking over their shoulders. VERDICT: p STAYING UP
REDKNAPP: Their summer signings have not made the impact Eddie Howe would have wanted. Their best players are those who have been at the club for years. Since Nathan Ake returned to Chelsea, their defenders have kept making individual mistakes. But Bournemouth have wins in them and they have enough to stay up. VERDICT: p STAYING UP
SUTTON: They have not recovered from making all those changes against Millwall in the FA Cup. They have been leaking goals at an alarming rate and have been dealt a massive blow with Callum Wilson’s cruciate injury ruling him out for the season. But Howe’s team has a positive style, they seem to nick results against better sides and they have a big enough cushion on the teams below. VERDICT: p STAYING UP
MIDDLESBROUGH
KEOWN: The fans are getting frustrated with their lack of tempo. Adama Traore could be the real deal but he does not know where he’s going. He is like a Ferrari with a learner driver behind the wheel. Aitor Karanka feels he has to control him — he switches Traore to the other wing at half-time so he is always on the same touchline as the manager. Boro need a big result and are the most likely team to fall into the bottom three. VERDICT: qGOING DOWN
REDKNAPP: They are not an exciting team to watch but they have picked up great results, drawing at Manchester City and Arsenal. It is not as if they lack players in attacking positions. Alvaro Negredo has been a great signing and Traore gives them pace going forward. They just seem a little scared to make mistakes. That could prove costly but I can see them just about staying up. VERDICT: p STAYING UP
SUTTON: They are the division’s lowest scorers and, though they have kept things tight at the back, their lack of creativity will become a problem should they start leaking goals. Karanka made a mistake criticising the fans. When you are on the slide you need everyone pulling in the same direction. VERDICT: qGOING DOWN
LEICESTER CITY
KEOWN: From beating the drop in 2015 to winning the title, Leicester played like champions for 18 months. Now they have fallen off a cliff and the players must go back to that fighting mentality that saw them escape relegation. They are playing as individuals and must come together. They are in trouble but I see them just about staying up. VERDICT: p STAYING UP
REDKNAPP: Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez need to pull their fingers out and show they are still the players who dragged Leicester to the title. With one or two magic moments from those two, Leicester should stay up. VERDICT: p STAYING UP
SUTTON: Their slide is alarming. They haven’t scored in the last five league games and their defence is all over the place. Wes Morgan looked like he was in quicksand against Manchester United. Robert Huth has spoken of invoking the spirit of their escape in 2015 but they may find it harder this time. VERDICT: qGOING DOWN
SWANSEA
KEOWN: They are in a false position. Gylfi Sigurdsson (below) will be playing Premier League football next season regardless of whether Swansea stay up and they have settled down at the back. The new manager has given them hope and they have the momentum to get out of trouble. VERDICT: p STAYING UP
REDKNAPP: Paul Clement has breathed life into a team who looked dead and buried three weeks ago. In Sigurdsson they have a matchwinner but they may still go down. They have conceded the most goals in the division and didn’t do enough to address their defensive worries in the transfer window last month.
VERDICT: qGOING DOWN
SUTTON: Clement has made smart signings in Luciano Narsingh, Tom Carroll and Martin Olsson. While they have good players in forward areas, I feel Swansea missed a trick by not bringing in a centre half. There is a still a nagging doubt about them defensively but they look a side on the up. VERDICT: p STAYING UP
HULL CITY
KEOWN: Having lost their star performers in Robert Snodgrass and Jake Livermore, it is remarkable they are still fighting. Marco Silva deserves credit for getting the best out of his players. But I don’t think they have the firepower to get out of trouble. A lot is riding on Oumar Niasse to keep up his scoring form. VERDICT: qGOING DOWN
REDKNAPP: The League Cup win over United has given them the confidence to go on a good run but I don’t think they have the bodies to turn this around. Losing Snodgrass was a big blow and, although they were busy in the transfer window, they lack strength in depth. It would be one of the greatest escapes if they stay up but they could be in trouble. VERDICT: qGOING DOWN SUTTON: When they sold Snodgrass and Livermore I thought this was a side resigned to relegation, but their signings have worked wonders. They look more organised, more threatening and have shown real belief in the manager. He has galvanised everybody and for the first time this season they look like staying up. VERDICT: p STAYING UP
CRYSTAL PALACE
KEOWN: If it was anyone other than Sam Allardyce in charge, I’d be saying Palace were gone. If he keeps them up it will be his greatest achievement. He will be marking Middlesbrough at home at the end of the month as the match to kickstart the Houdini attempt. He will fight and scrap to get a response from these players. VERDICT: p STAYING UP REDKNAPP: I cannot see them going down. They have too many good players and in Allardyce they have a manager who has been down this route before. His challenge is to stop Palace playing with fear. Victory in their next home game against fellow strugglers Middlesbrough would give them that belief they have lacked. VERDICT: p STAYING UP
SUTTON: Palace have spent a fortune this season and I feel a bit sorry for the owners! Allardyce has got to sort out his defence. Signing Mamadou Sakho is a risk given his lack of game time but Palace have enough going forwards. Wilfried Zaha coming back is a big plus and Christian Benteke is a handful. Allardyce has pulled off escape acts before and I feel Palace will get it together. VERDICT: p STAYING UP
SUNDERLAND
KEOWN: Sunderland are making it interesting at the bottom but I don’t think they have the quality to stay up — especially with Jack Rodwell and John O’Shea picking up hamstring injuries against Palace last week. VERDICT: qGOING DOWN
REDKNAPP: With Jermain Defoe firing, you always feel they have a chance. It defies logic that a striker playing for the team at the foot of the table is the Premier League’s jointthird top scorer. I am a big fan of David Moyes but he has too much to do. Sunderland have ridden their luck season after season and I feel this would be one escape too far. VERDICT: qGOING DOWN
SUTTON: Improved performances of late have given the fans hope but I don’t think Sunderland did enough in the transfer window. The fact Bryan Oviedo and Darron Gibson were not getting games for Everton is not good — and they could not get a deal for Leicester’s Leonardo Ulloa over the line. I feel for Moyes but Sunderland do not have the strength in depth to stay up. VERDICT: qGOING DOWN