The current Premier League bottom three—Ipswich, Leicester, and Southampton—have just 43 points combined, the lowest total ever recorded at this stage of the season.
For context, at the same point last season, the eventual relegated teams—Luton, Burnley, and Sheffield United—had 46 points between them. They finished the campaign with a combined 66 points, the lowest total in Premier League history.
With only 13 games remaining, can this year’s struggling sides avoid setting a new unwanted record? Or are we witnessing the worst bottom three in Premier League history?
Ruud Awakening for Leicester?
Leicester’s decision to appoint Ruud van Nistelrooy raised a few eyebrows. Why choose such a relatively inexperienced manager? What is clear is that his appointment is backfiring. Leicester have lost four consecutive league games without scoring a single goal. Consequently, this has left Van Nistelrooy the bookies’ favourite to be the next manager sacked.
Southampton: Derby’s Record in Danger?
Southampton’s struggles mirror those of Burnley last season—they were dominant in the Championship and weak in the Premier League. Sacking Russell Martin and replacing him with Croatian manager Ivan Jurić has failed to spark a turnaround. With the Saints on just nine points, Derby County fans are watching closely—is their infamous 11-point relegation record about to be broken?
Ipswich: Investment Gone Wrong?
Ipswich invested heavily in the summer but have little to show for it. Their attempt to bridge the gap in quality with new signings is not paying off. As a result, they are left struggling in the bottom three and sit five points from safety.
The Championship-Premier League Divide: Bigger Than Ever?
If all three promoted clubs go down this season, it will mean SIX consecutive relegations for promoted teams.
Even more telling, Everton had eight points deducted last season, a punishment that would historically mean inevitable relegation. Yet, they survived comfortably. Despite the points deduction, they finished 14 points clear of the drop zone.
One thing is clear – the gap between the Premier League and the Championship has never looked bigger.
Spending Big: The Only Way to Survive?
If you look at the clubs that have managed to stay up after promotion, there’s a common theme – big spending. The last three clubs to get promoted and stay up:
- Nottingham Forest (2022) – Signed over 20 new players, spending £150m+ to overhaul the squad.
- Fulham (2022) – Spent around £90m, bringing in players like João Palhinha, who transformed their midfield.
- Bournemouth (2022) – They spent £50m+ in the January transfer window on crucial signings such as Antoine Semenyo.
Meanwhile, for teams that fail to spend big – like Southampton and Leicester – the gap in quality is too big to overcome.
So, is overspending the only way for promoted teams to survive? If so, are clubs being forced into unsustainable financial risks to avoid immediate relegation?
A Broken System?
If the bottom three finish with fewer than 66 points combined, they will officially be the worst bottom three in Premier League history. However, this is about more than just stats – it’s part of a broader issue:
- The Premier League is pulling away from the Championship.
- Promoted teams are dropping straight back down at record rates.
- Parachute payments are reinforcing a cycle of yo-yo clubs.
- Teams that don’t spend heavily have almost no chance of survival.
Is this an anomaly, or does the Premier League need to rethink how promotion, relegation and finances work?
One thing is clear – something needs to change.
