Overview

• Masters said the Premier League needs a genuine relegation battle to ensure competitiveness runs from top to bottom of the table.
• He reiterated that discussion over multi-year parachute and solidarity payments will continue to support clubs facing relegation.
• The past two seasons have seen every promoted team return to the Championship at the first attempt, with six clubs finishing on 26 points or fewer.
• Betting markets list Leeds, Burnley and Sunderland as the early favourites for relegation, reflecting concerns over the widening gap between divisions.
• This weekend’s fixtures—Sunderland vs. West Ham, Tottenham vs. Burnley and Leeds vs. Everton—will offer an immediate gauge of whether the newcomers can buck the recent trend.