Manchester United are 17th. Sunderland, who finished seventh last season, are bottom with five points. This Premier League relegation battle has already thrown up some strange sights, and it sits alongside a tight title race at the top. Only six points separate 20th place from 12th after nine games.
Here’s why fans should pay attention. Three big names are in trouble, and several managers are under pressure. This guide covers the bottom three, the clubs hovering just above and the fixtures that could swing things. Everything is correct as of 3 November 2026.
The bottom of the table after nine games
First, the numbers. Sunderland are 20th with five points from one win, two draws and six defeats. Nottingham Forest are 19th on six points, and Crystal Palace are 18th on seven. Manchester United are 17th, also on seven, so goal difference is the only thing keeping them out of the bottom three.
Beyond that, the next group isn’t safe either. Coventry City and Fulham both have nine points. Ipswich Town, Newcastle United, Leeds United and Hull City each have 11. In other words, only six points separate 20th from 12th.
That’s a tight picture. A couple of wins can lift a club out of trouble, while a bad week can drag one in. Because of this, every match in November carries extra weight.
Why this Premier League relegation battle is so open
Last season’s drop was clear-cut. West Ham finished 18th with 39 points, while Burnley and Wolves ended on 22 and 20. Those totals show how far the bottom three fell behind. This year looks different, since the gaps are small.
Meanwhile, plenty of clubs have a history of flirting with danger. Tottenham finished 17th last season on 41 points. They stayed up on the final day, and they’ve ended one place above the drop zone two years running. Nottingham Forest were 16th on 44 points, and Crystal Palace were 15th on 45.
At the same time, the league is unsettled off the pitch. Nine clubs began the season with new managers, according to several reports. New coaches need time, and the bottom clubs haven’t had much of it.
Sunderland: from seventh to bottom
Sunderland’s slide is the biggest surprise. They were seventh last season on 54 points and qualified for the Europa League. Now they sit bottom after losing 3-1 at Coventry on 31 October. That defeat was their sixth in nine games.
Even so, there are small signs of life. Sunderland beat Brentford 3-2 in the League Cup recently. They’ve also held Leeds to a goalless draw. However, a 2-0 loss to Bournemouth, played with ten men, showed how thin their margin is.
Their next test is a home game against Chelsea on 8 November. That’s a tough fixture. Still, a result there could change the mood before the next international break.
Nottingham Forest: another turbulent season
Forest are in the bottom three again. Last season they used four managers and finished 16th. Oliver Glasner arrived this summer after Vítor Pereira was dismissed in June. Glasner has a strong record with limited budgets, so the hope was for calm.
Instead, results have been poor. Forest have one win in nine matches and six points. They lost 2-0 at Brentford on 31 October, a game that followed a draw at Ipswich. Earlier, they lost 1-0 to Arsenal in a late finish on 18 October.
On the other hand, Forest have shown they can compete. They drew with Ipswich and pushed Arsenal close. Their next game is a home meeting with Manchester City on 7 November. That’s a hard one, but the pressure is on City, not Forest.
Manchester United: a giant in trouble
United’s start is the story of the season so far. They’ve won one of nine league games and drawn four, for seven points. Reports describe it as their worst league start in 40 years. Michael Carrick’s side went eight games without a win in all competitions before the Chelsea trip.
Because of that run, Carrick’s future has been the talk of the sack race. He kept his job after a 3-0 home loss to Bournemouth on 25 October. Then Chelsea beat United 2-0 on 31 October. United are 17th, only level on points with Palace.
That’s a huge fall. United finished third last season with 71 points and qualified for the Champions League. Now they host Aston Villa on 8 November in a game they badly need to win. Bruno Fernandes and Bryan Mbeumo have been bright spots, though. Mbeumo had four league goals by 21 October, and he features in our mid-season XI discussion.
Crystal Palace and the sides just above
Palace have lost three straight league games. They fell 5-0 to Brighton, 2-0 to Newcastle and 2-0 to Tottenham on 31 October. As a result, pressure has grown on manager Pierre Sage. He arrived from Lens this summer and has never managed in the Premier League.
Palace host Liverpool on 8 November, which is a daunting task. Even so, they have won two league games. That gives them some hope.
The promoted clubs
Coventry, Ipswich and Hull are all back in the top flight. Hull sit 11th, which is a decent start. Coventry, under Frank Lampard, are 16th on nine points after beating Sunderland. Ipswich, meanwhile, had the leakiest defence in the division, with 16 goals conceded after eight games, according to one report.
Promoted sides often struggle for goals and consistency. Yet this trio have all beaten someone useful already. Because of that, survival isn’t out of reach, even if the margin is thin.
Fulham and Tottenham
Fulham, under Álvaro Arbeloa, lost their first three league games. They’ve since won twice, and they drew 1-1 at Aston Villa on 31 October. Tottenham started with no league goals in four games and sat 17th with two points. Now they’re ninth on 12 points, which shows how quickly this table can shift. Roberto De Zerbi arrived late last season and is now in his first full campaign. That said, Spurs’ recent slide shows no club is truly safe, and their trip to Leeds on 7 November is a fair test.
How many points will survival take?
Look back at last season for a guide. Tottenham stayed up in 17th place on 41 points, and West Ham went down on 39. So a total around 40 is a sensible target. Of course, that number can shift from year to year.
Now do the maths. Sunderland have five points, so they’d need about 36 more from 29 games to reach 41. That’s roughly 1.24 points per match. Nottingham Forest, Crystal Palace and Manchester United would each need around 34 or 35 more.
That sounds manageable. Even so, a club that takes a point per game from here would finish on roughly 34 to 36. Because of that, a decent winning run matters far more than a string of narrow draws.
What could decide the drop
Several things matter here. First, managerial decisions could change the shape of the race. No Premier League manager had been sacked as of early November, according to the reports we found. That is unusual, and the first dismissal could come soon. For context, our look at the fastest sackings in league history shows how quickly patience can run out.
Second, fixtures will play a part. Forest face City, Sunderland face Chelsea, and Palace host Liverpool. Those are three tough tests in one weekend. Meanwhile, United’s home game against Villa gives Carrick a chance to ease the pressure.
Third, goals matter. Teams at the bottom score too rarely and concede too often. As a result, set-piece work and defensive shape could decide who survives. Clubs that fix those areas first will climb away.
Key takeaways
- Bottom three: Sunderland, Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace occupy the drop zone.
- Giant in trouble: Manchester United are 17th on seven points after a winless run.
- Tight margins: Only six points separate 20th place from 12th.
- Last season’s drop: West Ham, Burnley and Wolves were relegated in 2025-26.
- Key weekend: United host Villa, and Palace host Liverpool on 8 November.
FAQs
Who is bottom of the Premier League right now?
Sunderland are bottom with five points after nine games.
Which clubs were relegated last season?
West Ham United, Burnley and Wolves went down in 2025-26.
Where are Manchester United in the table?
United are 17th with seven points, level with Crystal Palace.
Have any Premier League managers been sacked this season?
None of the opening-day managers had been dismissed as of early November, according to reports.
Who are the promoted clubs this season?
Coventry City, Ipswich Town and Hull City were promoted for 2026-27.
Conclusion
The Premier League relegation battle is wide open and full of famous names. Sunderland, Forest and Palace fill the bottom three, but United and several others are close behind. With so little separating the clubs, a short run of wins or losses could change everything. Expect plenty of twists before the winter break.
