The Premier League relegation battle looks already to be firmly set in place between five teams scrambling to remain in the division. There has been a clear divide between teams that have settled at the start of the new campaign, and those that have been off the boil. Although there is still a long way to go in the season some sides are already in concerning positions.
At the time of writing, the odds were firmly stacked against Sheffield United, who claimed only one point from their opening eight matches. Burnley were equally struggling in 19th place with two points to their name. West Brom made up the bottom three, one point adrift of safety to Fulham in 17th place.
Placing a bet against one of these sides to be relegated from the Premier League would not be worthwhile at the moment given their current standings. However, value could be found by backing one of the bottom three to remain in the English top flight. There are opportunities for Kenyan football supporters to place a wager with SBO’s online bookmakers on one of these teams to survive this term.
There are offers that provide up to 10,000 KES to bet by signing up to certain bookmakers, while gaining the best value for money on the market. There are no increased fees for using bookmakers overseas, which cannot be found by using certain betting sites located within the country. If you have a hunch and can find good value by monitoring the odds available on Premier League survival there could well be money to be made. However, a few tips along the way could be useful and we’ll now give our assessment of which teams are best suited to avoid the drop.
Sheffield United
The Blades perhaps have the best manager in the scrap at the bottom of the table. Chris Wilder guided the club all the way from League One up to the Premier League, including a ninth-place finish in their return to the top flight. Fortune has not been on their side this term, facing a brutal run of fixtures that has resulted in seven defeats in their eight games. Chelsea eased past them, as predicted, at Stamford Bridge, putting four goals past the Blades.
There is quality in their ranks with Rhian Brewster leading the line, while Sander Berge has proven his talent in the middle of the park. The difference between this term and last season has been at the back. Jack O’Connell has been ruled out for the season, while John Egan and Chris Basham have struggled for form. An abundance of goals is being scored at the other end, a fatal flaw to overcome. With Wilder there is hope, but they need to fire sooner rather than later.
Burnley
Sean Dyche’s men look tired due to their exploits in the Premier League over the past five years. It appears that the squad has reached their limit in the top flight, while matters off the field are not helping the Clarets’ cause. Dyche’s team have always punched above their weight and he has performed brilliantly to get the most out of unheralded players.
The board have not been supportive in the transfer market, signing only Dale Stephens in the summer. It could be their downfall this term. Burnley are relying on the same players across the pitch that have given their all in the past. It has worked for five seasons, but this one might just be one year too far, especially due to a slew of defensive injuries. Dyche and his team might conjure some magic out of nowhere, although on this occasion it might even be beyond him.
West Brom
The Baggies have been the proverbial yo-yo team in the Premier League era. They have bounced between the top flight and the Championship more than any other club in the modern era. Slaven Bilic’s men appear to be on course to do so once again. There’s a lack of experience within the ranks of the division and that was evident when they failed to see out a 3-0 lead against Chelsea, drawing 3-3 on home soil. West Brom do not have that clinical edge required in the final third to trouble their opponents on a consistent basis.
At the other end of the pitch, their defense has been solid at times but they only kept one clean sheet in their opening eight matches – which came against Burnley. The omens are not good for the Baggies, while their manager is perhaps the weakest of the three currently in the relegation zone.
If you’re looking for a team to beat the drop that are currently residing in Premier League’s bottom three, it must be Sheffield United – their manager and the will of a young team might have the edge when it matters the most down the stretch run of the campaign.
