English Premier League Betting: 3 Teams to Back for Relegation

Predominantly the three newly promoted teams are favored to return to the Championship after brief stints in the Premier League.

Premier League odds have Bournemouth (-164), Nottingham Forest (-120) and Fulham (+130), the recently promoted outfits, as the three favorites to make the drop, thereby returning from whence they came. 

At a superficial glance, it’s easy to write off all three promoted teams. There are, however, shining examples of why that isn’t a reliable way to decide which sides will be relegated. 

After being promoted at the end of the 2021 season, Brentford, thanks to a fearless and high-tempo football brand, looks forward to a second successive Premier League campaign. 

Here’s the three sides that won’t survive the demands and rigors of the 2022-23 Premier League season. 

Bournemouth (-164)

There’s a lot to like about how Bournemouth acquitted themselves in the Championship last season. They gained automatic promotion to the top flight after finishing with 88 points, just two behind champions Fulham. 

The club also has experience participating in the Premier League. They enjoyed a five-season run, from 2015-20, in the top flight and understand what it takes to remain in England’s elite division. 

However, Bournemouth has endured a placid, almost dormant transfer window. As a result, they haven’t improved their squad, which often proves fatal. 

Head coach Scott Parker was relegated from the Premier League as Fulham manager in 2020-21. During his time as Fulham gaffer, the west London side struggled to score goals. He was criticized heavily for benching their top goalscorer, Aleksandar Mitrovic, turning him into a bit-part player. 

The same fate will most likely befall Bournemouth, relying on Dominic Solanke to lead the front line. 

While Solanke was the Championship’s second-leading scorer (29 goals in 46 appearances) last season, he has just four goals in 63 Premier League matches. Even if he improves that record, it won’t be enough to keep Bournemouth up. 

Nottingham Forest (-120)

Nottingham Forest returns to the Premier League for the first time since 1999. 

Unfortunately, their return is going to be short-lived. Forest finished fourth in the Championship with 80 points but secured the third and final Premier League berth thanks to a 1-0 playoff final victory over Huddersfield. 

Despite a superb summer transfer window that has seen them spend over $60 million on three primary signings, their bid to remain in the top flight will fall agonizingly short. 

With the signing of formidable goalscorer Taiwo Awoniyi from Union Berlin, Forest certainly narrowed the disparity between themselves and other Premier League teams. Just not quite enough. 

Frequently the primary factor of being relegated is a palpable lack of goals. Awoniyi, who scored 15 goals in 31 appearances in the Bundesliga last season, is more than capable of finding the net. 

He will, however, need to score about 15 goals in his first Premier League season for Forest to have any hope of staying up. That, considering how challenging it is for foreign players to adapt to the Premier League, is a huge ask. 

Brennan Johnson finished eighth in goals, scoring 16 in 46 appearances, and was Forest’s top goalscorer in the Championship last season, highlighting its offensive anemia. That lack of firepower will seal their fate.  

Brentford F.C. (+250)

This is where things get especially tricky. Brentford F.C. is the fifth favorite to make the drop. Premier League odds have Fulham and Leeds United (+200) as the more likely teams to go down.

After making the drop in 2021, Fulham will be highly motivated to retain their top flight position. They have Mitrovic, the Championship’s top goalscorer, leading the line. He scored an outrageous 43 goals in 44 appearances last season. Mitrovic didn’t have much luck in his last Premier League campaign, but he is thirsty for redemption like the rest of his team.

Leeds has spent a ludicrous $113 million on six new additions, demonstrating their all-in intent. They simply cannot afford to go down after splashing out so much cash on new talent. Yes, they lost Raphinha to Barcelona but are buoyed by Patrick Bamford’s return after a worrying, extended injury layoff. 

That brings us to Brentford, who, in 2021-22, were a dazzling surprise in their first Premier League season. The Bees enjoyed a dream start to their inaugural Premier League season, losing just one of their first seven encounters. 

Things turned sour after that, with beginner’s luck seemingly wearing off.   

Three wins in the next 21 matches had Thomas Frank’s side reeling near the drop zone, only for Christian Eriksen to come to the rescue. The demure Dane injected elite playmaking talent into the lineup. The Bees won seven of 10 contests with Eriksen in the first 11, ensuring a second Premier League campaign. 

Eriksen just signed with Manchester United, leaving the Bees high and dry and devoid of a difference maker they, like all relegation favorites, are in dire need of.