One of Sky Sports’ leading analysts has named West Ham and Leeds among the group of sides he believes are in danger of being relegated from the Premier League.
West Ham cannot say they weren’t warned about the threat of Leeds United, Sunderland and Burnley.
For the last two seasons all three promoted clubs have gone straight back down without so much as a fight.
That meant the Hammers got away with no realistic prospect of the dreaded drop in what was a terrible season as they finished 14th.
Paul Merson said Leeds and co would be licking their lips at West Ham having been promoted back to the Premier League.
West Ham and Leeds living up to Merson’s pre-season prediction
The pundit could see West Ham’s struggles coming from a mile away.
So far, he has been proved spot on.
West Ham have won just one of their eight games in all competitions this season, leaving them second bottom of the table and out of the Carabao Cup at the first hurdle.
Leeds meanwhile sit 15th with eight points, double West Ham’s tally of four.
The Hammers’ woeful start has cost Graham Potter his job and now Nuno Espirito Santo has been tasked with turning the sinking ship around.
Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images
The points total needed to stay up is expected to be the highest it has been for over a decade given how fiercely competitive the top flight is this term.
There have been encouraging signs for West Ham in Nuno’s first two games.
After the international break, the Irons have a run of games where they will need to pick up points – including an away clash against Daniel Farke’s Leeds at Elland Road on a Friday night under the lights.
That could already be a six-pointer even at this early stage of the campaign if one leading analyst’s take is anything to go by.
Top expert delivers relegation verdict between West Ham and Leeds
A top Sky Sports expert has delivered his relegation verdict between West Ham and Leeds – and he believes one is more likely to go down than the other.
Dougie Critchley says the Premier League relegation battle is shaping up to be a ‘classic’.
Critchley thinks West Ham, Nottingham Forest, Wolves, Leeds, Burnley and Brentford will form the group battling to survive for most of the season.
But the Sunderland fan believes West Ham are more likely to avoid relegation than Leeds as he named his picks to be demoted.
Photo by Harry Trump/Getty ImagesLeeds more likely to drop than West Ham says analyst
“The Premier League’s relegation battle looks set to be an absolute classic,” Critchley said.
“I personally find it very difficult to imagine West Ham and Nottingham Forest going down given their individual quality.
“Sunderland, Leeds and even Burnley (despite their inferior points tally) look pretty competitive.
“Brentford are so much better than people expected. Wolves look to be in trouble, but I’d have thought they could fork out some money in January if needed. It’s genuinely anyone’s guess!
“If I had to say right now… Burnley, Wolves and either Leeds or Brentford. Sunderland 16th.”
The Premier League’s relegation battle looks set to be an absolute classic…
I personally find it very difficult to imagine West Ham and Nottingham Forest going down given their individual quality…
Sunderland, Leeds and even Burnley (despite their inferior points tally) look…
— Dougie Critchley (@DougieCritchley) October 6, 2025
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The world’s leading football statistic experts don’t agree, though.
After seven games, Opta’s supercomputer is predicting that West Ham will finish 18th and be relegated on 37 points, with Leeds 17th on 39.
According to the Opta prediction, Wolves and Burnley will be joining the Hammers in tumbling down to the Championship.
That predicted table changes each week depending on performances and results and the sample size so far is relatively small.
The Hammers will have to hope Nuno can start getting some wins on the board after the break, particularly in those games against Brentford, Leeds and Burnley which could prove the difference come what May.