Could all three promoted clubs stay up? Comparing the starts of Sunderland, Leeds and Burnley with those of previous newly promoted teams | OneFootball

The Premier League’s newly promoted teams have had promising starts to their top flight campaigns, who all three in with a chance of survival.

All three sides recruited well this transfer window, which has put them in good stead heading into the latest international break. Sunderland spent around €188 million, and have brought in experienced heads like Granit Xhaka and Reinildo, alongside young, exciting players Habib Diarra and Noah Sadiki.

Regis Le Bris’ side, who finished fourth in the Championship and were promoted via the play-offs, currently sit in ninth place with 11 points in their first top-flight season in eight years.

Leeds United, who were promoted to the Premier League as Champions, have added the likes of Sean Longstaff and Anton Stach to their roster, whilst Noah Okafor from AC Milan has added further attacking depth.

They sit 15th with eight points, while Championship runners-up Burnley are the only promoted side in the relegation zone in 18th place, with four points so far. Scott Parker’s side have strengthened across the pitch, with the arrivals of Jaidon Anthony and Kyle Walker proving to be valuable squad additions so far.

If you compare this to the sides who entered the Premier League in 2023/24 and 2024/25, all of whom went straight back down, it is a significant improvement on their counterparts. Here is how the newly promoted sides this season compare to the previous five campaigns…

Those who came before

2024-25

Former Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

In 2024-25, Southampton, who narrowly avoided the record for least amount of points in Premier League history, were 19th with one point at this stage of the campaign, whilst Ipswich sat just outside the drop zone in 17th place with four points. Leicester City, who were promoted as Champions, were in 15th place with six points.

Southampton would finish bottom of the pile on just 12 points, Ipswich would finish 19th with only 22 points, albeit with memorable wins over Chelsea and Tottenham, whilst Leicester would end the season with 25 points, 13 points off 17th placed Spurs.

2023-24

Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

In 2023-24, the three promoted teams were faring even worse after their opening seven matches. Burnley, Sheffield United and Luton Town were the trio who came up, and none of them had more than four points. Luton and Burnley held those honours whilst placing just outside the relegation zone in 16th and 17th place respectively. Sheffield United, who would go on to concede a record 104 goals, were 19th with just the solitary point to their name.

The Blades would end the season last and on 16 points, with Burnley and Luton joining them in 19th and 18th place with 24 and 26 points respectively.

2022-23

Bournemouth’s players celebrate (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

2022-23 was the last season where any promoted side survived, and it was all three managed to do so. Champions Fulham were flying high in ninth on 11 points, with Bournemouth in 15th on seven points. Nottingham Forest were 19th on just four points.

Forest would claw their way to safety, finishing four points above the drop zone in 16th place and on 38 points, one point behind Bournemouth in 15th, whose change of manager early in the campaign helped ensure their safety. Fulham’s impressive season under Marco Silva concluded with a tenth place finish and a club record points tally of 52 points.

2021-22

Thomas Frank and Ivan Toney (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)

Only one side from the promoted three would survive this season, with Premier League debutants Brentford comfortably retaining their top flight status whilst Norwich City and Watford returned to the Championship, with neither team returning since. After seven matches, the Canaries under now Leeds head coach Daniel Farke were last, having secured just a single point, whilst Watford had scrapped together seven points.

Thomas Frank’s Brentford were becoming a revelation, amassing 12 points and sitting seventh, placing higher than Tottenham and Arsenal at the time.

By the end of the season, the Bees had secured survival with a 13th place finish on 46 points, and have since then gone from strength to strength. Watford and Norwich would end up in 19th and 20th place, cut adrift from the rest of the league with just 23 and 22 points to their name respectively.

2020-21

Marcelo Bielsa at Leeds (Photo by RUI VIEIRA/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

The first full Premier League season behind closed doors because of the coronavirus pandemic, it would be another solitary survivalist from the promoted trio as Leeds under Marcelo Bielsa stayed up comfortably. Fulham and West Bromwich Albion would only last the one season in the top flight. At the seven-game mark, Leeds were 12th in the table on ten points, whilst Fulham were just outside the relegation zone on four points, one point and one place better off than West Brom who were in 18th on three points.

When the campaign drew to a close, Leeds had finished closer to European football than the relegation zone, with their ninth place finish and 59 points leaving them just three points off Tottenham, who secured a Conference League place. As for Fulham and West Brom, the Cottagers would end the season in 18th place and on just 28 points, 11 off 17th place Burnley. The Baggies would finish in 19th place, two points behind their west London rivals.

As for the current trio, they have shown a level of competitiveness that is a welcome addition to the Premier League. While Burnley are still struggling somewhat, Leeds and Sunderland’s starts suggest they are on the path to safety when looking at recent history.