On a weekend of incredible Premier League results, that saw defeats for Liverpool, Man City and Chelsea, we also witnessed all three newly promoted sides claim huge wins. Leeds got the weekend off to a successful early start by beating a dismal West Ham 2-1 on Friday night. Sunderland then stunned Chelsea by claiming a late win at Stamford Bridge on Saturday before Burnley completed the hat-trick on Sunday with a winner in the 95th minute away at Wolves.
We are less than a quarter of the way through the 2025/26 season so it remains early days. However, the three newcomers to the top flight have defied expectations thus far and have made a mockery of claims that all three were essentially relegation fodder. The three new clubs went straight back down last season and the campaign before that, something that had never happened back-to-back before.
What’s more, they weren’t just relegated but went down without any real fight, miles adrift of the rest of the division. Last season was especially bad, as Southampton, Ipswich and Leicester amassed just 59 points between them, fewer than Brighton who finished eighth. The Saints almost set a new low for points in a PL season, while the best of that woeful trio, the Foxes, still finished 13 points short of safety.
Given Spurs finished 17th, Man United 15th, West Ham 14th and Everton 13th, the task facing Leeds, Burnley and Sunderland looked almost impossible this term. Those four were predicted to improve this season, so many wondered who, aside from each other, any of the former Championship outfits could finish above.
Had all three been relegated, there might have been questions asked about the widening gap between the second tier and the top flight. But, incredibly, after nine matches, and following their wins at the weekend, all three now find themselves out of the bottom three. Moreover, Sunderland are, somewhat incredibly, up in fourth place, while Burnley, the worst-performing of the trio, have twice as many points as Nottingham Forest, who are currently occupying the final relegation spot!
Can All Three Really Survive?
The early evidence suggests that it might just be possible for three teams who were in the Championship in 2024/25 to retain their Premier League places for next term. The last time that happened was recently, in 2022/23, when Fulham, Bournemouth and Forest all avoided relegation. Last term that trio finished 11th, ninth and seventh, so that just shows what is possible.
It is, perhaps, not as rare as one might think for all three newcomers to survive either. If it happens again in 2025/26, that will be the fifth time it has occurred in the Premier League. Let’s take a look at each side’s chances.
Sunderland
Current position – 4th- Points – 17
- Relegation odds – 15/2
- Survival odds – 1/7
- Our prediction – Survival and possibly a top-half finish
The Black Cats have not been lucky this season, they have been brilliant. Having finished down in fourth in the Championship last term, 24 points behind Burnley and Leeds, few gave them any real hope. They have been a bit of a laughing stock in recent years but despite selling some of their best players in the summer, manager Regis Le Bris has done a truly outstanding job.
Retaining their current lofty position is surely beyond them. However, anything can happen in football and a top-seven spot may not be beyond them if they are lucky with injuries. Ending up in the top 10 is more realistic though and would still be a stunning achievement.
Leeds United
Current position – 15th- Points – 11
- Relegation odds – 10/3
- Survival odds – 1/4
- Our prediction – Should stay up with relative ease
Leeds were brilliant in the Championship last term and by most assessments easily the best side in the second tier. However, the same could be said about Leicester the season before and they struggled badly in the PL.
There were doubts over whether the club would stick with their excellent German boss Daniel Farke. He took Norwich into the PL twice but then twice oversaw bad relegations. The faith of the owners seems to have been repaid though and the West Yorkshire side should have more than enough to stay up. Like Sunderland, their vocal home support could prove key.
Burnley
Current position – 16th- Points – 10
- Relegation odds – 4/7
- Survival odds – 6/4
- Our prediction – Relegation but it could well go to the wire
Burnley’s win away at Wolves, thanks to a stoppage time strike from sub Lyle Foster, was massive in a game that has to be viewed as a six-pointer. Wolves were perhaps the one side that many predicted could be in the relegation battle with Burnley and their former Championship “league-mates” and so it has proved.
Wanderers lost some key players in the summer and are rock bottom with just two points to their name. They trail the Clarets by eight which highlights what a big win it was for Scott Parker’s men. However, Burnley still face a huge fight to stay up, one we feel they will ultimately lose. It could well go to the final day of the season, but the Lancashire outfit just look a little short on class at this level.