Premier League relegation and impact on Everton, Leeds and four drop rivals

The battle for Premier League survival is about to enter its final stretch.

The international break has offered teams scrapping for their lives a brief bit of respite before the crucial run-in. At present, it looks as though it is a straight choice of three from six teams down at the wrong end of the table.

Relegation to the Championship is full of eye-openers none more so than the financial disparity compared to the Premier League.

Parachute payments obviously help with the adjustment for clubs who suddenly find themselves in the second tier but as the likes of Nottingham Forest, Sheffield Wednesday and countless others will testify it can sometimes take decades to get back to the top table.

Here, Mirror Football looks at the half-dozen contenders for the drop and assesses what is at stake.

Brentford

Current position

The Bees are 15th and eight points clear of safety, with eight matches remaining.

Last played in Championship

Last season saw them seal promotion via the play-offs. It ended a 74-year wait to play top flight football.

Biggest impact of relegation

Admittedly, relegation would not change too much in terms of Brentford's model. They operate cannily and do not spend beyond their means. The free transfer signing of Christian Eriksen is a fine example of that.

If they were to go down they would perhaps struggle to hold on to star striker Ivan Toney, although many of the squad are likely to stay put and give it another go next season. However, two wins from their final eight games would almost certainly ensure another season of top flight football - a fine achievement after so long away.

Leeds United

Current position

The Whites are 16th and have a healthy seven-point buffer over the relegation places with eight matches to play.

Last played in Championship

Leeds came up as champions in the Covid-delayed 2019-20 season. That ended a decade-long stay in the second tier.

Biggest impact of relegation

Losing star players.

It would be hard to imagine the likes of Patrick Bamford, Kalvin Phillips and Raphinha all staying put for a season in the Championship, should Leeds go down. Bamford, despite an injury-affected campaign, has proven he can perform in the top flight whilst Phillips played a major role in England's march to the Euro 2020 final. Raphinha has impressed hugely since arriving at Elland Road last season and he has tentatively been linked with Barcelona.

Jesse Marsch will be in charge next season, having only just arrived as Marcelo Bielsa's replacement, and he will be eager to get survival ticked off so he can begin focusing on another top flight season. Leeds look well-placed to avoid the ignominy of 'second season syndrome' - a couple more wins should confirm safety.

Which three teams will go down? Let us know in the comments

Everton

Current position

The Toffees are 17th - one spot and three points above the relegation zone - with 11 games left to play.

Last played in Championship

Everton haven't ventured outside the top flight since 1954. They are the second longest-serving top flight side after Arsenal.

Biggest impact of relegation

Relegation to the Championship would be considered apocalyptic by Evertonians.

They have proudly been a fixture in the top flight for almost 70 years so there would be deep sorrow were they to surrender that space. Financially the club would have to cut its cloth considerably, and star assets such as Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Jordan Pickford and Richarlison would surely have to be sold.

Whilst they would be an undoubted pull for potential signings in the second tier, they would also be the scalp every single team wants to claim.

Watford

Current position

Watford are 18th, three points from safety with nine games remaining.

Last played in Championship

Last season. The Hornets came up in second spot, behind champions Norwich.

Biggest impact of relegation

Uncertainty around the manager. Roy Hodgson signed a contract until the end of the season when he became Watford's third boss of a rarely dull campaign.

You would have to question to appetite of the 74-year-old to operate in the hustle and bustle of the Championship. Given the haphazard recruitment policy of Watford's owners, it is anyone's guess who will be in charge next season. Similarly, the clutch of playing assets could be picked apart by circling clubs with Emmanuel Dennis and Ismaila Sarr almost certain to be on their way if Watford go down.

Burnley

Current position

Burnley are 19th and four shy of safety, but crucially they have played only 27 games - two and even three times less than some of the teams around them.

Last played in Championship

2016. This is the Clarets' sixth consecutive Premier League season and is their longest stay in the top flight since a 24-year spell between 1947 and 1971.

Biggest impact of relegation

Losing Sean Dyche.

Dyche has become synonymous with Burnley since his appointment a decade ago. He's led the Clarets to the Championship title, a seventh-placed Premier League finish and took them into Europe for the first time in half a century.

He's had plenty of interest from clubs down the years but has always stayed loyal. Of course, he could increase that loyalty and aim to bring Burnley back next year if the worst happens. But a relegation may just be the tipping point for him to move on to pastures new. Many other sides would no doubt be interested in coaxing him away, given his ability to work on a budget and for constantly ensuring the Turf Moor outfit punched above its weight.

Norwich City

Current position

The Canaries are 20th and are eight points shy of safety, with just nine games left to play.

Last played in Championship

Last season. Norwich came up as champions but look on course to make it a fourth straight season of either relegation or promotion.

Biggest impact of relegation

Arguably, Norwich will be the least affected of all the sides on this list. Obviously, a second demotion in three seasons will hurt but they will have planned for this possibility. Their outlay in the transfer market was much bigger than their previous tilt at the Premier League but much of that was offset by Emi Buendia's sale to Aston Villa for £35m.

Relegation is unlikely to see City have to revamp their squad but the likes of Max Aarons may be picked off by a top flight side in the summer. Teemu Pukki, who has scored 55 goals in his last two stabs at the Championship, is someone they will be desperate to cling on to in the hope of another quick return next year.