The Premier League relegation battle has been one of the most exciting in years, with five teams locked in a desperate survival bid.
Demotion to the Championship is not only a terrible thing for fans and players to experience, but it can lead to job losses and huge cuts to playing and non-playing staff.
But three teams have to go, and with three points separating 16th to 19th, we are in for an incredible final three games of the season.
With Southampton all but down already, Nottingham Forest, Everton, Leeds and Leicester are locked in as the four teams fighting for their lives during the run-in.
Here, talkSPORT.com looks at the 2022/23 relegation battle in detail…
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Nottingham Forest – 16th
Nottingham Forest have endured a strange season back in the Premier League that started with a crazy summer.
Steve Cooper’s men saw a huge influx of players, leading to some disjointed performances, particularly away from home.
The World Cup break helped settle everything down, and they have been impressive at the City Ground but have the league’s worst away form.
After defeat to Leeds last month, things looked bleak for Forest but crucial wins over Brighton and Southampton have massively boosted their survival hopes.
However, their run-in looks tough with games against Chelsea and Arsenal followed by a trip to Crystal Palace.
One more win should be enough to secure safety but with teams below them in worse form, they may be able to survive with just a point or even no more at all.
Predicted finish – 17th
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Nottingham Forest’s remaining fixtures
Chelsea – A – May 13
Arsenal – H – May 20
Crystal Palace – A – May 28
Everton – 17th
Everton looked doomed under Frank Lampard, but they acted quickly and decisively to replace the Chelsea legend with Sean Dyche.
Dyche worked wonders on a limited budget at Burnley and has won four games as Toffees boss, picking up a shock emphatic victory away at Brighton last time out.
The superb result may well be enough to secure safety by building some momentum heading into the final games.
Man City are their next opponent so that will likely end in defeat but the games against Wolves and Bournemouth are more important.
And any sort of performance like at the Amex is likely to lead to more points which will be enough to survive in the top flight.
Predicted finish – 16th
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Everton’s remaining fixtures
Manchester City – H – May 13
Wolves – A – May 20
Bournemouth – H – May 28
Leicester – 18th
From title winners to relegation candidates in seven years, it’s been a strange journey for Leicester and it looks set to end badly.
Brendan Rodgers was replaced by Dean Smith, and despite having a squad packed with quality players, including James Maddison, poor defending has seen them lose 21 times this season.
And with three games to go, the Foxes are staring relegation in the face with three tough fixtures remaining to survive.
A draw at home to Everton preceded a heavy defeat to Fulham last time out which has sunk morale at the club to an all-time low.
Liverpool are the Foxes’ next opponent before they face a trip to Newcastle, with hopes in those fixtures looking bleak.
Smith’s side are two points from safety so will need to find results from somewhere to stay up, and as it stands, chances of that are slim.
Predicted finish – 18th
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Leicester’s remaining fixtures
Liverpool – H – May 13
Newcastle – A – May 20
West Ham – H – May 28
Leeds – 19th
Leeds are embroiled in a relegation battle for the second consecutive campaign.
The west Yorkshire side survived on the final day of the season last year after a win over Brentford that relegated Burnley.
But Jesse Marsch wasn’t able to build on that and was sacked earlier this year, and ex-Watford manager Javi Gracia was given the chance to save the club.
The Spaniard made a good start, but after a terrible run of results, relegation specialist Sam Allardyce was called upon to replace Gracia.
Allardyce’s side were beaten by Man City in his opening game in charge but they will take some positive out of the 2-1 defeat.
Newcastle, West Ham and Tottenham are their final fixtures of the season and they are two points inside the relegation zone, so demotion to the Championship is a real possibility unless Big Sam can pull off the great escape.
Predicted finish – 19th
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Leeds’ remaining fixtures
Newcastle – H – May 13
West Ham – A – May 20
Tottenham – H – May 28
Southampton – 20th
Southampton have been bottom of the Premier League since New Year’s Eve and are onto their third manager of the season in Ruben Selles.
Ralph Hasenhuttl and Nathan Jones failed to get much from this group of players and Selles seems to have had the same issue.
The Saints are eight points from safety with only three games to go, with relegation all but confirmed already.
They are likely to have their relegation finalised this weekend unless they can pick up their first win since March.
If they do win that game, they will give themselves a small dose of hope but in reality, their fate is already decided.
Predicted finish – 20th
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Southampton’s remaining fixtures
Fulham – H – May 13
Brighton – A – May 20
Liverpool – H – May 28
