We’re just over a couple of months into the new English Premier League season, however, top-flight survival has quickly become very real for an array of teams.

While the likes of Manchester City and Liverpool FC are enjoying life at the top of one of the world’s strongest competitions, and while clubs such as Chelsea FC and Leicester City fight for a possible Champions League spot, the battle to simply stay on the main stage is heating up.

The Stats Insider Premier League Futures model has updated after Week 11 action, and has identified no less than six clubs with a greater than 25% chance of losing their top-flight status.

SCHEDULE DIFFICULTY: How Hard is Your Club's EPL Schedule?

NORWICH CITY

Stats Insider Relegation Probability: 60%

Although the Canaries represent our most likely relegation-bound club, they’ll always have memories of ‘Teemu Pukki Mania,’ as well as their breathtaking victory over the all-conquering Manchester City.

It has, however, been tough sleighing for Norwich City's Carrow Road faithful ever since toppling the six-time champions, currently enduring a six-game winless streak.

2019/20 NORWICH CITY KEY STATISTIC:

Manager Daniel Farke continues to prioritise possession, with the Canaries ranked #11 in the Premier League for possession retention with 50.1% and #6 in the league for pass accuracy at 81.7%. The most important number for Norwich, however, is 17,  which is their current Premier League position, one their fans would trade all the passing prettiness in the world for if it were to secure them survival.

WATFORD FC

Stats Insider Relegation Probability: 45.7%

Still winless through 11 games - and with just six goals to their name - it would be an understatement to say Watford FC has been the EPL’s biggest disappointment this season. To make matters worse, the Hornets have already used their ‘get out of jail free card’ when they dismissed Javi Gracia and replaced him with Quique Sanchez Flores - the 11^th managerial change the club has enacted this decade.

Perhaps it’ll take a twelfth change to ensure they’re not playing in the Championship next season. Did someone say Sam Allardyce?

2019/20 WATFORD FC KEY STATISTIC:

Watford have the least amount of open play goals in the EPL this season with just four, while they - along with Everton - are the only clubs yet to score a single set-piece goal.

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SHEFFIELD UNITED

Stats Insider Relegation Probability: 32.1%

After 12 straight seasons gracing England’s lower leagues, Sheffield United’s stay in the Premier League wasn’t expected to last long, with many pegging them as a club likely to face immediate demotion.

Not only did the Blades enter the world’s richest domestic league with quite easily the competition’s least valuable squad, but started Premier League life with just one win from their first five fixtures, while also getting bundled out of the EFL Cup by Sunderland, a club currently residing in the third tier of English football.

And yet, despite all of its disadvantages, Sheffield United actually find themselves in 6^th position and can now boast wins over the likes of Everton and Arsenal, while also falling to Liverpool by just a solitary goal.

2019/20 SHEFFIELD UNITED KEY STATISTIC:

While Sheffield United are producing just 9.9 shots per game (the second-worst mark in the league), they can hang their hat on an elite defence, with their eight goals conceded a mark shared only by Leicester City. They are also the only club in the Premier League to not concede a goal in the last fifteen minutes of a match. Their defensive tenacity shines brighter with their 12.5 interceptions per game a mark bettered only by Chelsea and Bournemouth.

ASTON VILLA FC

Stats Insider Relegation Probability: 30.3%

Aston Villa’s return to the Premier League after a three-season hiatus started poorly with two losses straight out of the gate, however, they have since settled into EPL life and currently find themselves outside the relegation zone.

Not only have the Villains survived one of the leagues most brutal early seasons schedules that has already seen them play Arsenal, Tottenham, Manchester City and Liverpool, but they almost beat the league-leader over the weekend, enjoying a 66-minute lead against Liverpool.

2019/20 ASTON VILLA FC KEY STATISTIC:

Villa can look to improve upon their speculative shots, with 46% of their shots coming from outside the box, which is an area only Manchester United (48%) are faring worse in.

SOUTHAMPTON FC

Stats Insider Relegation Probability: 28.9%

While Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl continues to receive praise and is often linked with a move to a bigger club, the reality remains he has a massive job keeping the Saints alive, while also fixing the leakiest defence in the Premier League, having already shipped 27 goals, famously letting in nine to Leicester City.

2019/20 SOUTHAMPTON FC KEY STATISTIC:

Southampton is producing the least crosses per game this season (14), while also producing the third most long balls per game (66).

NEWCASTLE UNITED

Stats Insider Relegation Probability: 26.2%   

If only Magpies matches stopped at half time, Newcastle United would be in tenth place with an eye firmly on Europe. Unfortunately, they do have to come out after the break which continues to be a big problem on Tyneside, with just one win in eleven-second halves confining them to another relegation battle.

2019/20 NEWCASTLE UNITED KEY STATISTIC:

The Magpies have scored the second-least amount of goals (9) in the Premier League while generating the least amount of shots on goal per game (9.6).

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