The 2025/26 Premier League season is off to a flying start, and with multiple game weeks now in the book, the action is beginning to heat up. Arsenal are the somewhat surprising table toppers, taking advantage of three straight losses for champions Liverpool to build a three-point lead at the summit. Then comes Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, who are looking ominous as they look to bounce back from last season’s disappointing surrendering of the title.
But while those heavy hitters have their eyes set squarely on becoming champions, at the opposite end of the table, a different story is being told. One of survival.
In each of the last three seasons, all three of the teams promoted from the EFL Championship have been immediately relegated back to the second tier, mostly with a whimper. This term, however, things are looking much different. So, with that being said, which teams do the bookies currently think are in the most danger of falling through the trap door? Let’s take a look.
Burnley
Last season’s second-tier runners-up Burnley are currently the only newly promoted side that betting sites consider an odds-on shot to suffer the drop. The latest live betting odds at Bovada currently make the Clarets a 1/3 favorite for an immediate return to the Championship at the end of the season, but recent displays should inspire hope in the Turf Moor faithful.
Scott Parker’s side has put in a number of spirited performances already this term. They have two wins to their name, beating both of their newly promoted comrades on home turf, namely Leeds United and Sunderland, as well as giving both Manchester United and Liverpool all they could handle before ultimately slipping to narrow defeats. The Lancashire club currently finds itself in 17th place, two points clear of the drop zone, and they certainly have a platform to build upon throughout the coming months.
Wolverhampton Wanderers
It’s been three long years since an established Premier League team suffered relegation, but Wolverhampton Wanderers are currently at the front of the queue. Wolves were in dire straits last term as well, sitting in the relegation zone as late as January 25th, before incoming manager Vítor Pereira managed to steady the sinking ship and keep his new side afloat.
In the summer, however, the Black Country outfit was picked apart, with two of their star players from last season’s great escape departing for Manchester. Top scorer Matheus Cunha left for the bright lights of Old Trafford, while marauding left back Rayan Ait-Nouri joined Pep Guardiola’s City. And those are two huge losses that haven’t been replaced.
Despite over £100m being spent on eight additions headlined by Jhon Arias and Jørgen Strand Larsen, Wolves have endured a miserable start to the new season. They currently sit rock bottom of the table without a win to their name, and with trips to both Chelsea and Aston Villa on the horizon in November, things could get worse before they get better. Odds of 2/5 to suffer the drop say it could be a long season at Molineux.
West Ham United
Another established side currently in the quagmire is West Ham United. The Hammers seemed to be on the up under former boss David Moyes, with the Scotsman leading the club to repeated top-half finishes as well as winning the UEFA Conference League in 2023. However, since his departure, things have gone from bad to worse.
Graham Potter attempted to bring a possession-based style of play to East London, but his team ended up looking devoid of ideas, unable to score goals, and still shipping plenty at the wrong end of the pitch. The English manager was duly dismissed at the end of September, but not before he had led the Irons to a spot in the relegation zone.
Former Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo has since arrived, and the London Stadium faithful will be hoping he can lead their club away from the drop zone just as he did with the Tricky Trees. A shocking display in the recent 2-0 defeat at home to Brentford, however, has set alarm bells ringing. As such, West Ham are now an even-money shot to ply their trade in the Championship next season, and a huge January transfer is required once the new year rolls around.
Sunderland
Sunderland are our second newly promoted side on this list, but their 6/4 odds against status suggest that the bookies don’t think they’ll suffer the drop. The Black Cats have enjoyed an impressive return to the top flight, winning four of their opening eight games to fly up to seventh place in the table. Supporters are now dreaming of a top-half finish, but the betting odds suggest that they can’t be written out of the relegation dog fight just yet.
The Wearside outfit made a slew of impressive signings in the summer, none more so than former Bayer Leverkusen captain Granit Xhaka, who is orchestrating attack after attack from midfield. If he continues in a similar vein, Sunderland should have nothing to worry about this season. However, should disaster strike in the form of an injury or a downturn in form, then the Black Cats will begin to look over their shoulders.
