Rio Ferdinand has made his Premier League relegation prediction, tipping Burnley, Watford and Norwich to go down and Newcastle to avoid the drop.
Burnley currently sit bottom of the table ahead of the mid-season break, with Sean Dyche’s side winning only one of their 18 league matches this campaign.
The Clarets are now four points from safety, with Watford and Newcastle United currently occupying the other two relegation spots.
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No team has lost more matches this campaign than Watford, who sacked manager Claudio Ranieri, three days after their dismal 3-0 defeat to Norwich.
Newcastle United have also endured a poor campaign to date, although they have at least gone three matches without a defeat under Eddie Howe to move closer to safety.
Norwich, meanwhile, have sat bottom for most of the season but two consecutive wins has seen Dean Smith’s side climb to 17th, narrowly above the drop zone.
Premier League relegation battle
16th: Everton (19 points)
17th: Norwich City (16)
18th: Newcastle United (15)
19th: Watford (14)
20th: Burnley (12)
Everton, who are looking for a new manager after Rafa Benitez’s sacking, are just four points from safety and Ferdinand is of the opinion that any team above the Toffees are too strong to get dragged into the relegation scrap.
‘I think Newcastle will stay up and then do big business in the summer. I think they’ll go big in the summer,’ Ferdinand said on the Vibe with Five YouTube channel.
‘They seem to be doing it [their transfer business] more meticulous and strategic and less gung-ho than other teams who have had money straight away.
‘Before Norwich went on this run they’re on at the moment I had them as certainties to go down. They’ve come out of nowhere but this break has killed their momentum.
‘I think the bottom-five are cut adrift. I’m going with Burnley, Watford and I think Norwich will get dragged back into it too. ‘If this break hadn’t of happened I would give them a chance, but I think the break will ruin their momentum.
‘I think Newcastle get out of it. I think they add one or two players [during the rest of the January transfer window] who will make an impact.’
