Being bottom of the Premier League at Christmas is often seen as a death sentence for a team’s hopes of avoiding relegation.
This year it’s Southampton who would like to be anywhere else but 20th on the table. With six points from 17 games, they are six points away from 19th placed Ipswich and eight away from escaping the drop.
But there is hope as history shows that some clubs have defied the odds, staging remarkable turnarounds to secure their place in England’s topflight.
Let’s take a look at some of the most dramatic Premier League escapes.
West Bromwich Albion (2004/05)
Points at Christmas: 10
Final Finish: 17
The 'Great Escape' is synonymous with West Brom’s miraculous survival in the 2004/05 season. Sitting rock-bottom on Christmas Day, Bryan Robson’s side clawed their way back with a spirited run of form.
On the final day, a win over Portsmouth, combined with results elsewhere, saw the Baggies secure safety.
They remain the only team to survive after being last at Christmas under the traditional 20-team Premier League format.
Leicester City (2014/15)
Points at Christmas: 10
Final Finish: 14
Leicester’s escape was the springboard for one of the most incredible footballing stories in history.
At Christmas in 2014, Nigel Pearson’s Foxes were cut adrift at the bottom, having won just two games. However, a stunning late-season revival, with seven wins in their final nine games, ensured survival.
The next season, Leicester famously won the Premier League under Claudio Ranieri.
Sunderland (2013/14)
Points at Christmas: 10
Final Finish: 14
The Black Cats were rock-bottom at Christmas with seemingly no way out. But Gus Poyet’s team, led by an in-form Connor Wickham and inspired by their “miracle” mentality, pulled off a string of improbable results.
Notably, they won at Stamford Bridge and drew at Manchester City. Sunderland’s “Great Escape” culminated in them finishing 14th, five points clear of relegation.
Wolverhampton Wanderers (2022/23)
Wolverhampton Wanderers pulled off a remarkable escape from relegation in the 2022/23 Premier League season. Bottom at Christmas with only 10 points, their survival seemed improbable.
However, the arrival of Julen Lopetegui as manager sparked a dramatic turnaround. Wolves won crucial games against relegation rivals and stunned some top teams, climbing out of the drop zone by spring.
Key players like Ruben Neves and Jose Sá delivered standout performances, while January signings bolstered the squad. By season’s end, Wolves had amassed 41 points, finishing 13th.
Going back 32 years to 1992 only four teams have survived after being bottom on Christmas Day. So, the odds aren't good, but they are not impossible. As those who survived show, if you can go on a good run, anything is possible.
Leicester were bottom at Christmas the year before they won the league - if that's not inspiring then nothing is!
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