Hull City, Swansea City, Sunderland, Crystal Palace, Middlesbrough and Burnley are tipped to be amongst the relegation candidates.
Paul Merson has told the Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast Show, which was broadcast on 9th January, that he believes Hull City, Swansea City and Sunderland will be relegated this season.
Hull, Swansea and Sunderland currently occupy the three relegation spots in the Premier League table.
And Merson admits that he cannot see the standings changing shape before the end of the season.
“I think the three that are there now will be the three,” Merson said. “I just can’t see Palace [getting relegated]. I think they other three [will go down]. I think Sean Dyche has done a great job at Burnley and Middlesbrough have some decent players.”
As things stand Crystal Palace are just one point above the drop zone, while Burnley and Middlesbrough have put a sizeable amount of distance between themselves and the drop zone.
While it would not be impossible for any of the trio to get dragged into a relegation fight, it will take a big improvement from Sunderland, Hull and Swansea.
The trio have struggled badly so far this term, with Hull and Swansea in particularly bad form.
The Tigers and the Swans have both changed managers recently to try and spark them into life.
Sunderland, meanwhile, have stuck by David Moyes and they will be hoping their faith in the Scot pays dividends over the coming months.
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