Tottenham could become the first 'big six' club to be relegated in 25 years | OneFootball

With three-quarters of the Premier League season completed and Arsenal on their way to clinching the title: Tottenham are now firmly in the relegation battle. 

The current scenario is surprising and was reinforced by a home defeat on Thursday evening to Crystal Palace – Tottenham's fifth consecutive loss in the competition. Spurs now only have 29 points and are just one point above West Ham United, in the relegation zone. 

The loss to the Eagles has revived old and painful negative records. Tottenham has reached a run of 11 games without a win in the league for the first time since 1975. Moreover, they have lost five times in a row, something that had not happened since 2004.

With nine games left until the end of the season, Tottenham faces a real risk of relegation, thus breaking a 25-year spell without a Big Six club being in the second tier.

More than that, it would be the first relegation for the Spurs since 1977 and the first in the Premier League era. On that occasion, Tottenham scored just 33 points and ended up in the 22nd and last position on the table. The period out of the top flight was short, returning for the 1978/79 season.

Tottenham's Problems

Despite qualifying for the Champions League knockout stages, Tottenham is having a terrible season domestically. Already eliminated from the FA Cup and League Cup, the London team has 17 defeats in the 2025/26 season, 14 of those in the Premier League.

Spurs simply have not won in the Premier League in 2026, recording their last victory on December 28, 2025, against Crystal Palace, their most recent nemesis. During this period, they lost to West Ham, a rival and today a relegation opponent, as well as being thrashed by North London rivals, Arsenal. 

With a terrible 2026, Tottenham decided to dismiss coach Thomas Frank, recently successful at Brentford. As a temporary coach, his successor was Igor Tudor, former Juventus and Marseille manager. But the Croatian has not started well and has accumulated three consecutive defeats, bringing the Londoners even closer to the relegation zone. 

“It seems strange, but after this game, I believe more than before. I saw something," Tudor declared, surprisingly, after the last defeat. 

Beyond the cold numbers, Tottenham is having a complicated year largely due to injuries. The list of players currently in the medical department includes seven potential starters, such as James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski, Mohammed Kudus, Rodrigo Bentancur, and Destiny Udogie. 

The problems in defence made the team take to the field against Arsenal with midfielder João Palhinha deputising as a defender. Despite the absences, however, names like Randal Kolo Muani, Yves Bissouma, Richarlison, and Xavi Simons continue to underperform. Today at Tottenham, no one stands out. 

Last Relegations of Big Six Clubs

The last relegation of a Big Six club happened in the 2000/2001 season and was by Manchester City, which is still the only current giant to fall in the Premier League era. The relegation occurred during a period of instability for the Citizens in the 1990s and early 2000s, even competing in the third English division in 1998. Although traditional, the club was far from having the importance and strength it has since its takeover.

The next 'most recent' relegation was by Chelsea, in the 1987 season, when they fell after losing a playo-ff battle to Middlesbrough. They only regained access in 1989, when they became champions of the old Second Division. 

Following the list, Manchester United last fell to the second division in 1974, marking the end of the golden generation with Bobby Charlton, George Best, and Denis Law. The latter famously scoring a back-heel goal for City against United, which despite the myth did not actually confirm the club's relegation.

The subsequent relegations are even more distant. Liverpool was relegated in 1954 and spent eight years in the second division until they managed to gain access. Arsenal's last relegation is recorded in 1913, currently being the club that has been in the top English division for the longest time. 

Nine Finals

To avoid adding to their short list of relegations, Tottenham needs an immediate reaction and to finish ahead of West Ham or Nottingham Forest, clubs that are fighting to escape the last relegation spot. In the 19th and 20th place, Burnley and Wolves will only escape by a miracle. 

Tottenham has 'nine finals' until the end of the Premier League, facing in this sequence: Liverpool (A), Nottingham Forest (H), Sunderland (A), Brighton (H), Wolves (A), Aston Villa (H), Leeds (H), Chelsea (A), and Everton (H). Survival won't be easy.