The Premier League fixtures list appeared on the internet today. It wasn’t leaked by Gabriel Jesus’ friend or whispered about behind the Spain Football Federation’s back and rushed to publication. It was a planned, orchestrated release that Premier League fans look forward to every season. And the League released it on the day the World Cup kicked off, making it about the fifth most important thing that happened today in the soccer community.
Quick power rankings before the power rankings. Most important news of the day (6/14):
- World Cup is here.
- Robbie Williams flipped off a FOX camera before the match.
- Mohamed Salah is “almost 100%” likely to play tomorrow. So, like, 99%?
- Vladimir Putin, FIFA King Gianni Infantino and Saudi Arabia King Salman shrugged five times, once after each Russia goal.
- Russia beat Saudi Arabi 5-0.
- Real Madrid’s new coach Julen Lopetegui cried during his press conference after being fired as Spain’s coach two days ago.
- The Premier League fixtures list was released.
Okay, I lied. The fixtures list was the seventh most important thing to happen today, but let’s stop prancing around the topic at hand.
By taking the final five fixtures of the season, we can examine who is the most screwed if they find themselves in a regulation battle. I considered where clubs finished last season, who was promoted and if the matches are home or away. Here. We. Go.
14. Fulham
Everton (Home)
Bournemouth (Away)
Cardiff (Home)
Wolverhampton (Away)
Newcastle (Home)
Fulham is an old-time Premier League club who have survived for years in the top level of English football. If you believe in any of that historical good ju-ju, then Fulham should be fine.
13. Southampton
Wolverhampton (Home)
Newcastle (Away)
Bournemouth (Home)
West Ham (Away)
Huddersfield (Home)
12. Wolverhampton
Southampton (Away)
Brighton (Home)
Watford (Away)
Fulham (Home)
Liverpool (Away)
Wolverhampton are far away from their glory years, but with new investment from Chinese owners, they’re built to hang around. Besides the Liverpool obstacle on Matchday 38, the final games align nicely for Wolves to scrap enough points together to stay safe.
11. Bournemouth
Brighton (Away)
Fulham (Home)
Southampton (Away)
Tottenham (Home)
Crystal Palace (Away)
10. Newcastle United
Leicester (Away)
Southampton (Home)
Brighton (Away)
Liverpool (Home)
Fulham (Away)
9. Watford
Arsenal (Home)
Huddersfield (Away)
Wolverhampton (Home)
Chelsea (Away)
West Ham (Home)
8. Crystal Palace
Manchester City (Home)
Arsenal (Away)
Everton (Home)
Cardiff (Away)
Bournemouth (Home)
7. Brighton & Hove Albion
Bournemouth (Home)
Wolverhampton (Away)
Newcastle (Home)
Arsenal (Away)
Manchester City (Home)
Brighton have the toughest last two matches of the season. I still have them seventh because this team brings back a lot of talent from last season, have a strong manager in Chris Hughton and could achieve safety before heading to The Emirates.
6. Everton
Fulham (Away)
Manchester United (Home)
Crystal Palace (Away)
Burnley (Home)
Tottenham (Away)
5. Cardiff City
Burnley (Away)
Liverpool (Home)
Fulham (Away)
Crystal Palace (Home)
Manchester United (Away)
Cardiff are the favorites to get relegated this season. Last year saw all three promoted clubs stay safe from the drop for the first time in Premier League history so there is a glimmer of hope. With a trip to Old Trafford on the last day, they better get the job done in April.
4. West Ham
Manchester United (Away)
Leicester (Home)
Tottenham (Away)
Southampton (Home)
Watford (Away)
3. Burnley
Cardiff (Home)
Chelsea (Away)
Manchester City (Home)
Everton (Away)
Arsenal (Home)
Three clubs that finished in the Top 5 last season play Burnley in their last four games. They’ll pray Cardiff at home secures another season in the Premier League.
2. Huddersfield Town
Tottenham (Away)
Watford (Home)
Liverpool (Away)
Manchester United (Home)
Southampton (Away)
1. Leicester City
Newcastle (Home)
West Ham (Away)
Arsenal (Home)
Manchester City (Away)
Chelsea (Home)
Believe it or not, the 2016 Champions are on the hot seat when it comes to their fixture list. Their last three games are against clubs seriously contending for Champions League qualification. The Foxes are on the margin, though, for what this blog is. As you know, they won the League in a few years ago and finished 14 points away from the relegation line last season. They did swerve relegation two seasons ago and if they lose Riyad Mahrez, a massive hole in the attacking half will emerge.
PS- I might update this on a monthly basis during the season. We’ll see. Can’t promise anything at this point.
