Relegation Countdown: Ipswich’s Fate Could Be Sealed Sooner Than You Think
Premier League Relegation Battle: Leicester and Ipswich Running Out of Time and Chances
With the season nearing its conclusion, we examine the relegation picture at the foot of the Premier League table, as Leicester City and Ipswich Town face a race against time and dwindling opportunities to survive.
Southampton already down
Southampton became the first team to be relegated from the 2024/25 Premier League after a 3-1 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur last Sunday.
Following that loss, the club parted ways with manager Ivan Juric. After just one season back in the top flight, the Saints will return to the Championship.
Now the focus turns to which other clubs might join them—and when.
What does relegation mean?
In the Premier League, the bottom three clubs (18th, 19th, and 20th) at the end of the season are relegated to the Championship, the second tier of English football. They are replaced by the top two Championship teams and the winner of the promotion playoffs.
Current situation
Southampton are already confirmed to go down, sitting 22 points behind 17th-placed Wolves with only 21 points still up for grabs. Even a perfect finish to the season wouldn’t be enough to avoid the drop.
Leicester City, currently 19th, are in serious danger of joining them. The Foxes have picked up just three points from their last 16 matches and, in Matchweek 31, set an unwanted record—becoming the first English league side to lose eight consecutive home games without scoring.
Leicester could be relegated as early as Matchweek 33 (April 19-20). They’re 15 points behind Wolves with only 21 left to play for. If they lose to Brighton this Saturday and Wolves beat Spurs on Sunday, the gap would widen to 18 points with just 18 available—effectively confirming their relegation, especially given Leicester’s goal difference of -45 compared to Wolves’ -16.
Their fate would be sealed officially if, after Matchweek 33, the gap exceeds the points left to play for. A draw or win for Wolves against Manchester United that weekend would leave Leicester too far behind.
If Leicester manage to keep the gap at 15 or less, their next game in Matchweek 34 is against Wolves—where they will likely need a win to stay alive.
Ipswich’s survival hopes slim
Ipswich Town are slightly better off than Leicester with three more points, but their situation remains fragile. They trail Wolves by 12 points.
If that gap increases to 16 or more over the next two matchweeks, they’ll be relegated, with only 15 points remaining to play for.
However, with a possible total of 41 points still within reach, Ipswich could theoretically leapfrog Wolves, West Ham, Everton, Spurs, and Manchester United—though it would take a near-perfect finish and major slip-ups from others.
Who can confirm safety soon?
The highest point total that Leicester and Ipswich can now reach is 41. That’s the magic number teams are aiming to stay ahead of.
Manchester United need just four more points to be mathematically safe, while Spurs, just behind them in 14th, need five.
Everton and West Ham, both on 35 points, each require seven points to guarantee survival. Wolves are 10 points away from securing their top-flight status for another season.
Of course, these numbers will drop if Leicester or Ipswich continue to drop points.
Can Southampton avoid infamy?
While Southampton are already relegated, they still have a target: avoiding the lowest-ever Premier League points total.
That dubious record is held by Derby County, who finished with 11 points in 2007/08. Southampton currently sit on 10.
