We are ten games into the 2024/2025 Premier League season, and the relegation battle is heating up, but who are the teams at the bottom of the table struggling to pick up points, and how can they turn their season around?
The league table starts to take shape around ten games into the season, and sides at the bottom may begin to feel the pressure of the relegation battle. But who are these teams, and what can they do to survive?
Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace have had a tough start to the season. They have picked up only seven points from ten matches and are struggling to carry on their form under Glasner from the last campaign into this one.
The Summer saw Palace lose key players such as Joachim Anderson and Michael Olise. The latter seems to be a huge miss for the Eagles so far this season as they struggle for creativity in attack, scoring the second-lowest number of goals this season with eight.
Another factor that could account for Palace’s slow start to the season may be their injury problem. They have not had the chance to play what may be considered their strongest side, missing key players like Adam Wharton, Matheus Franca, and Eddie Nketiah.
For Palace to turn their season around, they may have to invest in the January transfer market. The Eagles currently lack in strength and squad depth in several areas, often having a weak bench, and don’t have any firepower to bring on. The November international break could also be crucial, as it could see the return of the likes of Eberechi Eze, Wharton, and Jefferson Lerma.
Glasner has several great attacking options, and while Olise is a colossal miss, their offensive quality should be enough; it may just be about getting all the players available in a system where they can play to their strengths and strike some consistency in the attack.
Ipswich Town
After back-to-back promotions, Ipswich are now in a Premier League relegation battle. While they have not won this season, the Tractor Boys have managed to pick up five points and have impressed in certain matches.
Kieran Mckenna’s side were busy in the Summer, bringing back star loanee from last season Omari Hutchinson and several other Championship prodigies such as Jacob Greaves, Sammy Szmodics and Jack Clarke.
Ipswich have shown quality further up the pitch at times this season, with Liam Delap and Leif Davies being the sides’ main output so far, but they have struggled defensively.
The Tractor Boys have already conceded 21 goals this season (the second most in the league). This has been a downfall in recent matches, with them slipping up late on in games against Brentford and Leicester City, where they could have picked up needed points.
For Ipswich to survive, they will need to tighten up defensively. They have had the joint second-most errors leading to goals this season, and the previous two games have seen them concede late into added time. It could be crucial for the Tractor Boys to have Axel Tuanzebe and Jacob Greaves back to have a consistent defence playing rather than constant changes at the back.
It may also help if they bring some more Premier League experience in January in several areas to try to prevent mistakes late on in matches and instead finish them off.
Southampton
The Saints have had a difficult return to the Premier League, managing only four points, with a win coming recently against Everton. With Russel Martin at the helm, it may not come as a surprise that Southampton have been playing possession-based football, which has been unusual for a newly promoted team in recent years.
With seven goals, Southampton have scored the least in the Premier League and have struggled to pose a threat going forward. Along with not creating enough chances, the Saints are very prone to making errors; with the style of football they play, moving the ball around the back and trying to push further up the pitch patiently, it has the risk of losing the ball in dangerous areas, and has so far led to conceding the most shots (13) and goals (6) from errors this season.
For Southampton to stay up, Russel Martin may have to change his tactics; the risk of losing the ball deep in their half and struggling to create dangerous chances often enough could be their downfall this season. Their best chance of survival may be playing a more counter-attacking style of football, as many recently promoted teams have done before to survive.
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Gary O’Neil’s side are bottom of the table this season, with only three points. They have conceded the most goals in the league and have not kept a clean sheet.
Wolves struggled to improve their squad in the summer, losing key players such as Pedro Neto and Max Kilman, not making any considerable additions to their side, and falling behind others in the transfer window by not improving their side.
Wolves have been able to score goals this season (14), with Matheus Cunha and Jorgen Strand Larsen scoring four goals each, but the Wanderers have struggled defensively, conceding the most goals (27) and set-piece goals (9) in the league.
For Wolves to survive, they have to become more solid at the back. Conceding nearly two goals every game makes it difficult to pick up wins. Their defence so far has not been Premier League-level, and if they do not solve their defensive problems soon, it could be a challenge to stay up.
Another way Wolves could survive may be through the manager. If they do not get a positive result against Southampton, it may be time to change managers and hope a fresh set of ideas can turn their season around.