So the transfer window has been wrapped up and for some sides, it has been more successful than others.
Chelsea shocked the world with a deal to bring David Luiz back to England whilst Bournemouth secured the unbelievable season-long capture of Jack Wilshire. It’s always an interesting couple of months but now the teams need to sort themselves out on the pitch.
It’s going to be a long season ahead and as for some teams, we’ve already seen worrying signs. Whilst Crystal Palace, Bournemouth, Watford and Stoke City are all yet to win, we think they’ve shown enough so far to steer clear of the trap door.
It’s actually teams above them that have shown some concerning signs and as they come up against the better sides, could it get even worse?
So with that in mind, we’re going to try and ambitiously predict five teams that could face a relegation scrap at the end of the Premier League this season…
Sunderland
If there’s a team that has been in and around the trap door over the past few seasons, it’s been Sunderland.
They’ve been through a fair few managers in that time too but this season, David Moyes is at the helm and some believe they’ve got a better chance of survival this time round.
They’ve have only picked up one point from their opening three games and goals still look like they might be a problem this season.
Jermain Defoe is getting no younger and they might be in for a scrap this season, yet again.
Burnley
Steven Defour and Jeff Hendrick have both been brought in this summer at great expense to try and keep relegation a thought rather than reality, but some still fear for the Clarets this season.
They picked up a fantastic win against Liverpool but were put to the sword by Chelsea last week. They’ll be relying on Andre Gray and Patrick Bamford to get the goals but with both relatively unproven in the top flight, we’re tipping them to struggle too.
Swansea City
Perhaps one of the biggest sides in this list, we really think the Swans will struggle this season. There’s is nothing about them that is going to set the league on fire and in seasons past they’ve had the likes of Michu to lead their line.
They squeezed past Burnley in their only win of the season so far but again, it was a scrappy affair that could have ended in a stalemate. This could be Swansea’s year to go down.
West Brom
The deadline day signings of Nyom and Robson-Kanu were decent additions but Tony Pulis wanted five signings and he only got four.
They’ve managed to keep hold of Saido Berahino but it’s a move that still has a bitter taste and you have to wonder whether he really wants to be there. In a league where you all need to come together, it’s tough if there are outsiders and Berahino seems that way inclined.
They’re a team we’ll be keeping an eye on but we reckon Pulis’ record of keeping teams in the league might be over.
Hull City
Out of everyone in this list, it may surprise you that we think the Tigers will be the furthest away from the trap door.
Caretaker boss Mike Phelan seems to have instilled a real sense of belief in a side that had only thirteen fully-fit players at the start of the campaign.
They’ve signed the likes of Will Keane, Dieumerci Mbokani, James Weir & Markus Henriksen this window and they’re looking a whole lot better than when the season started.
They will be okay, but only just.
