The English Premier League (EPL) is undoubtedly the most popular soccer league on the planet. Thanks to powerhouses such as Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea, the EPL attracts the best players in world soccer.
While the top clubs compete for the title each season, a handful of weaker teams fight to remain in the division at the opposite end of the table. Accordingly, many soccer sportsbooks enable you to bet on the Premier League relegation battle.
What is the Premier League Relegation Betting Market?
At the end of every Premier League season – when every team has played 38 games – the bottom three teams in the table are relegated to the Championship, while three clubs from the second tier gain promotion to the top division.
Of course, the thought of relegation for clubs, players and fans is not pleasant, but betting on the EPL relegation battle can be very entertaining.
Bookies typically offer two betting markets relating to relegation. First, you can simply wager on a team – or three – to suffer relegation. On top of that, you can predict which club will finish last/at the bottom of the table.
Premier League Relegation Betting Tips
Now that you know what the Premier League relegation betting market entails, it’s time to go over some useful tips for betting on the EPL relegation battle.
Back Newly-Promoted Teams
There is no hiding the fact that the step-up from the Championship to the Premier League is huge. As a result, newly-promoted teams often struggle to adapt to the demands of the EPL after coming up from the second tier.
Typically, one or two of the newly-promoted clubs end up going straight back down to the Championship. For that reason, it makes sense to back the newcomers to suffer relegation, even if the odds are not overly attractive.
How to Bet on Soccer Player Props
Assess Previous Seasons
This may seem like an obvious thing to do, but lots of bettors overlook it. To give yourself the best possible chance of predicting which clubs will be relegated, you should always assess the tables from past seasons.
Teams often avoid relegation by the skin of their teeth, with many teams surviving by just one or two points. If you look at last season’s table and find one of these clubs, the chances are they will be involved in the relegation battle again.
Look for Manager/Player Changes
It goes without saying that managers and players have a big impact on the way in which a team operates. Certain managers can completely transform teams, while star players can guide relegation- threatened sides to safety.
If a highly-rated manager or key player leaves, a team’s performance level can go downhill quickly. By keeping on top of managerial changes and player transfers, you can take advantage of tasty odds in the EPL relegation betting market.