Premier League Relegation 2015: Table, Predictions Ahead of Final Fixtures

The Premier League relegation dogfight has gone down to the final weekend, and Newcastle United, Hull City and Sunderland are competing to avoid the drop.

Leicester City secured safety with a 0-0 draw against Sunderland on Saturday, while Aston Villa, despite succumbing to a 6-1 humiliation at Southampton, were also ensured Premier League football next season as Hull slipped to a 2-0 defeat at White Hart Lane.

Here's how the table currently stands and a prediction for how the relegation battle will play out.

Position	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	Pts
1	Chelsea	36	25	9	2	70	28	42	84
2	Man City	36	22	7	7	77	36	41	73
3	Arsenal	35	21	7	7	66	34	32	70
4	Man Utd	36	20	8	8	61	36	25	68
5	Liverpool	37	18	8	11	51	42	9	62
6	Tottenham	37	18	7	12	57	53	4	61
7	Southampton	37	18	6	13	54	31	23	60
8	Swansea	36	16	8	12	44	44	0	56
9	Stoke	37	14	9	14	42	44	-2	51
10	Everton	37	12	11	14	48	49	-1	47
11	West Ham	37	12	11	14	44	45	-1	47
12	Crystal Palace	37	12	9	16	36	51	-5	45
13	West Brom	36	10	11	15	34	47	-13	41
14	Leicester	37	10	8	19	41	54	-13	38
15	Aston Villa	37	10	8	19	31	56	-25	38
16	Sunderland	36	7	16	13	30	50	-20	37
17	Newcastle	37	9	9	19	38	63	-25	36
18	Hull	37	8	10	19	33	51	-18	34
19	Burnley	37	6	12	19	27	53	-26	30
20	QPR	37	8	6	23	41	68	-27	30

League table correct as of 10 a.m. BST on Sunday 17.

Predictions

Sunderland to Claim a Point from Their Final 2 Games

Sunderland have the hardest task of the three sides that can still go down, as they play Arsenal and Chelsea away.

Football writer Jonathan Wilson isn't confident about Sunderland's chances of survival:

Even so, the Black Cats are in the best position of the three and can hang onto top-flight football for another season.

Sunderland have lost just once since the start of April, winning three games and drawing two under Dick Advocaat's tutelage.

Michael Regan/Getty Images

Though the Dutchman's side have not always performed convincingly in that time, Sunderland have got the all-important points and have their destiny in their own hands.

Despite their difficult games, the Black Cats can earn a point to secure survival.

Arsenal are in excellent form, having lost just once in their last 10 games, but their 1-0 defeat at home to Swansea City demonstrates their vulnerability to upsets and will give Sunderland great heart going into their midweek clash at the Emirates Stadium.

Clive Rose/Getty Images

Chelsea, meanwhile, have yet to lose at home this season, but Sunderland were the side who famously ended their 77-game unbeaten record at Stamford Bridge last season.

As the Blues have already wrapped up the title, they will not have quite the same level of desire they usually possess.

That being the case, Sunderland are certainly capable of drawing one of their final matches.

Hull to Beat Manchester United

For the Tigers to have any chance of staying up on the final day, they must claim all three points at home to Manchester United.

Getting the win is a big ask for Steve Bruce's beleaguered charges, but the Red Devils have little to play for and have been inconsistent in recent games.

Julian Finney/Getty Images

Prior to their win over Crystal Palace, United lost three games in a row, serving as an effective reminder that they still do not possess the air of invincibility they enjoyed under Sir Alex Ferguson.

Hull gave Chelsea a real scare at the KC Stadium in March in a 3-2 defeat to the eventual champions, and with everything riding on their final game, they can do enough to sneak a dramatic win over United.

Newcastle to Lose to West Ham

Newcastle face West Ham United at home on the final day, but the omens aren't good for the side rooted firmly to the bottom of the Premier League form table.

A semi-encouraging draw with West Bromwich Albion briefly reignited hopes of a Toon turnaround, but the Magpies proceeded to throw away a 1-0 lead against a poor, relegated Queens Park Rangers team on a day when they could have secured survival.

Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

Chronicle Live's Lee Ryder and Mark Douglas were full of criticism for woeful Newcastle:

Newcastle legend Alan Shearer, who was in temporary charge when Newcastle suffered relegation in 2009, continued his witty start to life on Twitter at John Carver's expense:

The Toon have lost nine of their last 10 games in an abysmal run of form.

Newcastle have the second-worst defensive record in the league, having conceded a dreadful 63 goals, and they have fared little better at the other end of the pitch, with only Papiss Cisse reaching double figures and Ayoze Perez the only other player to have scored more than four.

There is very little to suggest that they are capable of collecting three points on Sunday, so Sam Allardyce and Kevin Nolan can expect a winning return to St James' Park.

Unfortunately for Newcastle supporters, owner Mike Ashley's controversial tenure is set for another dark turn.

Final Prediction: Newcastle relegated