In Focus: The battle to stay in the Premier League

In less than a month’s time, three Premier League sides will be consigned to relegation to the Championship.

Norwich and Watford look almost certain to tumble into the second tier, meaning the rest of the teams fearing the drop are fighting to avoid the final spot.

After a fantastic week for Burnley and a dismal one for Everton, we assess the top-flight survival battle.

Toffees’ sticky situation

Dropping into the bottom three with six games remaining means Everton’s 68-year stay in the top flight is in serious jeopardy.

Rafa Benitez flopped in the Goodison Park dugout earlier this season, but Frank Lampard has not made the Toffees any better since his January appointment and there are serious question marks over whether he was the right man for the job.

There is no doubting that the Merseysiders have the quality going forward to fire them away from the drop zone, yet falling into the relegation places will have given the squad an almighty fright.

Lampard, 43, disagrees: “It doesn’t change anything for me, I expected they [Burnley] would get a result today. We’ve got six games to their five. We will try and win as many points as we can.

“That’s us and Burnley, you bring maybe Leeds into the equation because of the position they are in now.

“We can’t get caught up in the game of what everyone else is doing. We have to absolutely focus on ourselves now for these six games.”

Burnley’s big boost

But it is hard for Everton fans and players to look at Burnley’s renaissance since Sean Dyche’s sacking and not be worried.

A decision that was slammed by many currently looks inspired, with Under-23s boss Mike Jackson guiding the Clarets to seven points in three games.

Added to that is Burnley’s squad are no strangers to a relegation dogfight — they have been in similar situations before.

Caretaker boss Jackson, 48, said: “We have a good core, and everything is built on it, the team spirit we have, I wouldn’t swap the team spirit that we have got in this group.

“I’m just so pleased for the group and everyone involved. We’re enjoying the challenge of these games and it’s how we have to look it now, where can we improve and get better and that’s where we want to get to.”

Fixture list

On paper, Burnley have an easier run-in than Everton — they face opponents with an average position of 12.6 in the league, while the Blues’ average is 10.33.

The Lancashire club have a huge clash at Watford this Saturday and still have to play a stuttering Aston Villa twice, as well as making a trip to Champions League-chasing Tottenham and a final-day assignment at upwardly-mobile Newcastle.

Lampard’s side meanwhile face Chelsea on Sunday and Arsenal on the final day in a tough set of games.

They too still have to visit Vicarage Road, as well as games with Leicester, Brentford and Crystal Palace.

Leeds concerns

One look at the fixture list and it is easy to see why Lampard was so keen to mention Leeds as still being in the fight.

The 0-0 draw at Palace last night moved them five points clear of Everton and three of Burnley, but their next three games are against Manchester City, Arsenal and Chelsea.

Faced with the same run of games in December, Leeds failed to pick up a single point and conceded 14 goals in the process.

That is why, despite taking 11 points from five games, there are plenty of nerves in West Yorkshire.

Their other two games at Brentford and at home to away-day specialists Brighton are hardly easy either.

Ex-Whites winger Harry Kewell labelled the position “frightening” and admits he would rather be in Burnley’s shoes.

The Australian, 43, said: “It’s frightening to see. It’s slightly disappointing because they are a fantastic club and they’ve worked so hard to get where they’ve got.

“But looking at their run-in, I’d be happy to be in Burnley’s situation at the moment.

“The new manager, getting a couple of wins, the momentum’s there. With Everton and Leeds, they’ve got a tough run-in and it’s going to be difficult.”

Twists and turns

Given how recent games have played out, it is impossible to predict what will happen in the final four weeks.

If Burnley can pick up three more points from Hertfordshire this weekend while their nearest rivals face two of the Premier League top three, it will put them in a fantastic position.

But if they do not do that, remain close to the Toffees and see Lampard’s side succeed against his former club, the picture could look completely different.