Could Tottenham Hotspur Actually Be Relegated from the Premier League?

Heading into the 2024/25 Premier League season, it was scarcely believable that Spurs could possibly be relegated. The North London outfit was looking on the up after an impressive maiden campaign under Ange Postecoglou, which saw them finish just two points adrift of a spot in the UEFA Champions League. However, fast forward eight months and a shocking 2-1 home defeat against lowly Leicester City has left Tottenham on the brink of the unthinkable.

Vardy Hands Leicester Priceless Three Points

Spurs headed into the clash against the Foxes on the back of a dismal run of form which has seen them pick up just one point since the turn of the year and lose eight of their last ten games. But despite that, they were still favored to defeat a Leicester side that had lost their last seven on the spin. And those predictions looked accurate when Richarlison gave the hosts the lead shortly after the half-hour mark.

However, a disaster was lurking around the corner. Two goals in four minutes shortly after half-time from tormentor-in-chief Jamie Vardy and Bilal El Khannouss turned the tide in the favour of the visitors, and it was a lead they wouldn’t let slip. Despite an onslaught of late pressure, the visitors emerged with three precious points and left their opponents teetering on the edge.

As we head into the business end of the campaign, Tottenham are way down in 15th place and eight points above the relegation. If the season was to end today, it would be the club’s first finish in the top flight in over two decades. But could things get even worse, and could the unthinkable actually happen?

Relegation Frontrunners

What makes Tottenham’s current status as relegation outsiders is the fact that the current teams occupying the drop zone are somewhat cut adrift. Southampton are currently rock bottom on just six points and have picked up just one win all season. Then come Ipswich and Wolves, who are both on 16 points, with Leicester now one point clear of them and out of the drop zone for the first time since December 22nd.

Online sports betting sites have certainly taken note of the current precarious predicament of all three relegation zone inhabitants. The latest sports betting odds currently make Southampton a -25000 certainty for the drop, with the two teams directly ahead of them priced at -200 and +125 respectively. With Spurs priced at a much lengthier +3300, the bookies certainly feel that it would be an almighty shock if they fell through the trap door, but there can be no denying the precarious situation the club currently finds itself in.

Recent Poor Form

Tottenham’s form since the turn of the year has been nothing short of disastrous. The Leicester defeat marked their fourth straight defeat and their sixth loss in seven league games. More alarmingly, the team seems to lack any spark or confidence, often slumping to defeats with lackluster performances. Add to that an injury crisis that has left the squad running on fumes, and it’s clear why fans are concerned.

When Spurs thumped Manchester City 4-0 at the Etihad back in November, it seemed as though the club was back on the up. The result fired them up to sixth in the table and an assault on the top four looked set to be mounted. Unfortunately, though, that was the beginning of a downturn in form that no one could have predicted.

Tottenham lost two of their next three games, and while they did beat Southampton 5-0 on December 15th, that did little to stem the tide. They suffered a 6-3 thrashing at home to league leaders Liverpool a week later before suffering a 1-0 defeat at high-flying Nottingham Forest on Boxing Day. But it has been their form over the last month that is the true cause of concern.

Defeats to Newcastle and rivals Arsenal could somewhat be explained, what with both clubs chasing success at the top end of the table. However, back-to-back losses to relegation candidates Everton and now Leicester have set alarm bells ringing.

The Injury Crisis

Much of Tottenham’s struggle can be traced back to their ongoing injury crisis, which has decimated key areas of the squad. They had a whopping 11 senior players injured for the recent defeat to Leicester, including five of their six most valuable stars. Spurs were only to name eight of a possible nine substitutes, and five of those named were teenagers that have just a handful of first team minutes between them.

The biggest loss for Spurs throughout their disastrous run has been in central defense. Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven formed one of the most formidable partnerships in the league last season, but both have been on the treatment table since November. Young Romanian Radu Drăgușin has therefore been thrust into the limelight, alongside teenage fullback Archie Gray, but both have been exposed time and again, and the return of their starting duo can’t come quickly enough.

Should those two manage to make a recovery in the coming weeks, then Spurs’ season could yet turn around. However, with no moves made in the January transfer window, having them out for a prolonged amount of time could turn the current situation into a nightmare, and the trap door will begin to loom even larger.