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Each Premier League side has now played eight games this season and the table is beginning to take shape. The top five sides are made up of Manchester City, Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur (in eighth place, Manchester United are something of an anomaly).
Watford’s sparkling early form has fizzled out and they now find themselves in ninth, whilst Burnley have gotten over their horror start to climb to twelfth. Huddersfield and Cardiff City are in the relegation zone, and let’s face it, that’s almost certainly where they’ll stay.
Of course, they’re not the only clubs who should be fearing the drop. There are a number of sides currently sleepwalking towards relegation. If things don’t change soon, Newcastle United, Fulham, Southampton and Crystal Palace could all find themselves in a desperate fight for survival towards the end of the campaign.
Each of these clubs could transform their seasons with a strong winter transfer window, though, so we’ve decided to take a look at what each of them must do in January to ensure survival this season.
The Magpies’ impressive tenth place finish last time out came about due to their ability to grind out results thanks to their solid defence. That reliable rearguard remains intact this season, but Rafa Benitez’s squad continues to suffer from an inability to regularly find the back of the net.
The Tyneside club must find a goalscorer in January, which will likely require Mike Ashley to free up some significant funds for investment.
The summer loan signing of Salomon Rondon is not enough. A clinical, prolific finisher is desperately needed at St James’ Park. They’re hard to find, but without one the club could soon have to face up to another season in the second tier.
Plenty of excitement surrounded Fulham’s return to the Premier League this season and their summer transfer business certainly caught everyone’s attention. The West London club introduced twelve new faces to their first team squad in the summer, which has led to a lack of cohesion and tactical stability in the opening weeks of the campaign.
Defensively, the Cottagers have been all over the shop, and have already conceded 21 goals - four more than anyone else in the division. The answer is not to bolster their defensive contingent in January. The last thing Slavisa Jokanovic’s squad needs is fresh additions.
In the likes of Calum Chambers, Alfie Mawson, Ryan Sessegnon and Joe Bryan, Fulham already have the makings of a top defence, they must now just be given time to settle and gel.
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Possibly the change most in order at St Mary’s Stadium is one in the dugout. However, assuming the Saints opt to stick with Mark Hughes, they have plenty to do in January if they’re to make Premier League survival anything like a sure thing.
Danny Ings represents a great summer acquisition but with the likes of Shane Long and Manolo Gabbiadini in far from prolific form, the south coast club could really do with increasing their goal threat.
What’s more, Hughes’ side lack creativity having allowed the exit of Dusan Tadic in the summer. An inventive midfielder, capable of unpicking a stubborn opposition defence, must be top of the Saints’ shopping list this winter.
At all costs, Crystal Palace must hang on to Wilfried Zaha in January. Beyond that, the Eagles have to ease the burden currently on the Ivory Coast international.
Christian Benteke is not fit to lead the line at Selhurst Park, whilst Alexander Sorloth and Jordan Ayew are unlikely to be able to produce enough goals to ensure survival.
A top class finisher is a must for Roy Hodgson’s squad. If the London club could instal a prolific forward alongside Zaha and ahead of Max Meyer then relegation fears ought to diminish in a flash.
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