CHRIS SUTTON’S BOTTOM OF THE TABLE WORRYOMETER!
12TH CRYSTAL PALACE
ROY HODGSON’S appetite to want to work at the age of 75 is admirable. Roy was my manager at Blackburn in 1997-98 when I won the Golden Boot. Palace need a goalscorer themselves (I’m not sure if you can afford me, Roy, but you’ve got my number). Their lack of goals contributed to Patrick Vieira’s sacking, which was harsh given their fixture list before the international break. Palace now face a string of teams below them and I expect they will stay up, as they would have under Vieira.
13TH WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS
WOLVES benefited from that new-boss bounce under Julen Lopetegui, with a change in performance level when he arrived in November. He is a fiery character who demands his players give everything. If only referees gave his team everything, then they wouldn’t face the fury of the manager so often! Lopetegui says he could write a book on the decisions that have gone against his team. Scoring has been a big problem and losing 4-2 at home to Leeds was bad. Still, I expect Wolves will have enough.
14TH LEEDS UNITED
JESSE MARSCH brought stability towards the end of last season. From March to May, Leeds secured four wins under the American, including a last-day defeat of Brentford which saw them survive at Burnley’s expense. Javi Gracia (below) needs that, too. Arsenal are next, but then come games at Elland Road against Nottingham
Forest, Crystal Palace and Liverpool which will tell us more about where they stand in this relegation race. That superb 4-2 win at Wolves before the international break was a game-changer. Leeds have talented young players, from Wilfried Gnonto to Brenden Aaronson, and it promises to be a hell of a fight.
15TH EVERTON
OF ALL the teams down there, Everton have the toughest run-in, starting with a Tottenham team who have a point to prove after Antonio Conte’s sacking. I would be surprised if their race doesn’t go down to the last day at home to Bournemouth. There has been a boost under Sean Dyche. He has improved their intensity and they are unbeaten in three, drawing with Chelsea and Nottingham Forest and beating Brentford. But Dyche will not be getting ahead of himself. I bet his worryometer reading is higher than mine!
16TH NOTTINGHAM FOREST
IN A Premier League home table Forest are 12th, very respectable for a newly promoted club. In an away table, however, they are bottom and that is where their problems lie. Steve Cooper’s side have scored only four goals away all season. With six of Forest’s 11 fixtures being away from home, I’d be worried if I was a fan. You can be confident in your fortress, but if your team are not going to match that intensity when away, you’re in bother.
17TH LEICESTER CITY
ON PAPER, Leicester have too many talented players to go down, from Harvey Barnes to James Maddison. The question is, do they have the stomach for it? Talents such as Maddison are expected to leave in the summer, but while they are there they need to dig deep and do the dirty work. Leicester have not kept a clean sheet since November. Of their last 11 games, they face six direct rivals. The good news, Foxes fans, is that I’m more worried about the rest!
18TH WEST HAM UNITED
DAVID MOYES is probably sick of hearing how close he is to the sack. One loss can be the end of you and West Ham’s next game against Southampton is as big as they come. Moyes knows the pressure he is under. Third bottom in the Premier League, West Ham are another team who cannot buy a win away from home. They have been relying on the London Stadium, but the atmosphere could turn ugly if they lose to Southampton. Still, I expect West Ham to be safe.
19TH BOURNEMOUTH
THE worst defence in the Premier League, having conceded 54 goals. I like the look of Dango Ouattara, the January signing who can get them up the pitch. He gives them a different dimension. Of Bournemouth’s last 11 games they face six relegation rivals, four of them on the road. They need to pick up wins from those six-pointers to stay up, which is a big ask. I’ve written off Bournemouth before, then they beat Liverpool 1-0! But I’m worried.
20TH SOUTHAMPTON
SAINTS were right to get rid of Nathan Jones. He was only in charge for three months — and that included the World Cup — but they are still trying to bounce back from the damage. Ruben Selles has taken over and picked up a few nice results, including a 1-0 win at Chelsea. They need bravery and to take risks if they are to survive. Ultimately, I think they have too much to do and that’s why my worryometer is off the charts.