Worst Relegation Battle the Premier League has Ever Seen

As the Premier League pauses for the November international break, a worrying narrative unfolds at the bottom of the table.

Luton Town, Sheffield United, and Burnley, all freshly promoted, find themselves embroiled in what could be described as the most challenging relegation battle in recent history.

Having completed about a third of the 2023-24 season, these teams have accumulated a mere 15 points between them from 36 games. Luton Town sits at 18th with six points, Sheffield United at 19th with five, and Burnley at the bottom with only four points. This marks the lowest collective tally at this stage of the season for promoted teams since the Premier League's inception.

Burnley's plight is particularly startling. After a triumphant Championship season with 101 points and 87 goals, they are now on a five-game losing streak, the worst in the league. This sharp contrast highlights the steep challenge of transitioning from lower-tier success to Premier League survival.

Historically, no Premier League team has started worse than Burnley's four points in 12 games. The record was previously held by Fulham, Sunderland, and Swindon Town, with each managing five points. By comparison, the highest points tally for a newly promoted team at this stage was 27, achieved by Nottingham Forest and Sunderland in different seasons.

The current scenario echoes the struggles faced in the 2014-15 season when Leicester City, Burnley, and Queens Park Rangers, all new entrants, were at the bottom after 12 games. However, they had collectively earned 28 points, significantly more than this season's trio. Leicester's remarkable turnaround in the subsequent season, winning the Premier League, offers a glimmer of hope amidst the gloom.

The situation is starkly contrasted by the 1995-96 season when only two teams were promoted, yet they amassed more points in their first 12 games than the current three. The 2007-08 season also saw a low collective point haul for promoted teams, but even then, it was higher than what is seen in the current campaign.

Despite the grim outlook, Burnley, with their meager four points, still has a chance to avoid the fate of Derby in 2007-08, which set the record for the lowest points haul across a season. As the season progresses, there remains a sliver of hope that these teams can find form and escape the depths of the relegation zone. For now, the stark reality is a testament to the challenging nature of the Premier League, where past successes offer no guarantees, and every new season writes its own unique narrative.