The (not so unlikely) results that would see Chelsea relegated. It’s impossible that it might occur. Chelsea has already accumulated 39 points, which in all but four of the previous 27 Premier League seasons would have been sufficient to maintain a winning record.
However, we’ve calculated a set of reasonably likely outcomes to see Chelsea relegated from the top division following a campaign in which they spent almost £600 million. Were there relegation provisions in the eight-year contracts?
Below are the outcomes for the teams involved in the relegation fight, listed in order of potential finishes:
West Ham (11th): 31 to 44 points
Brentford (A) D, Leeds (H) D, Leicester (A) W, Bournemouth (A) W, Liverpool (H) D, Crystal Palace (A) W, Man City (A) L.
If West Ham can tie Arsenal at home, then Manchester United and Liverpool should be easy. David Moyes will finish the season unbeaten, cutting short his celebrations at the Europa League Conference to ensure a thrashing of Leicester on a penultimate day. The only hiccup will be Manchester City away. Declan Rice begins to cry in a heartfelt farewell.
The (not-so-unlikely) results that would see Chelsea relegated
Wolves: 34 to 44 points (12th).
Arsenal (A) L, Everton (H) L, Brighton (A) L, Leicester (A) W, Crystal Palace (H) W, Aston Villa (A) W, Manchester United (A) D.
They will lose to teams like Brighton and Arsenal, who will need to defeat teams like Wolves by an eight-goal difference on the last day to defeat Manchester City. With three points against end-of-season whipping boys Leicester and a gritty victory at Selhurst Park nearly guaranteeing their Premier League safety, Julen Lopetegui’s team will have completed their task long before now. Diego Costa will score each of their final three goals.
Thirteenth) Bournemouth: 33 to 43
Everton (A) D, Leeds (H) L, Chelsea (H) W, Southampton (A) W, West Ham (H) L, and Crystal Palace (A) W.
At Stamford Bridge, former Chelsea player Dominic Solanke scored the game-winning goal as Bournemouth’s striker-less opponents earned the highest xG in history without scoring. All the praise and the position at Tottenham go to Gary O’Neil.
Roy’s blood pressure will be tested by a terrible run of losses that help their relegation rivals (and us for the purposes of this article), but huge away victories at Spurs, where the home fans will have completely turned against their own team, and Fulham, who will have nothing to play for, will be enough for them.
Everton (15th): 27 to 41 points
Man City (H) L, Wolves (A) W, Crystal Palace (A) W, Newcastle (H) W, Leicester (A) W, Brighton (A) D, and Bournemouth (H) D.
While Brighton and Aston Villa close in on Newcastle in the race for a Champions League spot, Dominic Calvert-Lewin will make a comeback and start scoring at Goodison Park. The Everton players are jeered off at halftime against Bournemouth on the final day because they are trailing, but the jeers change to applause at the final whistle since a draw secures their place in the top tier following the disaster at Stamford Bridge.
