How many points do you need to stay in the Premier League?
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Premier League teams finishing on 36 or more points in each of the last nine seasons were guaranteed safety from relegation.
In the 20-team Premier League era, starting from the 1995-96 season, the average number of points needed for survival, or the number of points the 18th place team finished plus one, is 35.53 - rounded up to 36 points.
No team in the last nine campaigns have earned 36 points and been relegated.
In the 30 Premier League seasons that have had 38 games a season for each club, 36 points would have ensured survival 60% of the time.
This season is expected to be a familiar tale. After 21 rounds of games, 18th is currently on track to finish on 25 points, meaning just 26 points would ensure survival.
That rate of survival increases to 80% for 38 points, 90% for 40 points and 100% for 43 or more points.
West Ham hold the record for the team relegated with the most points in the 20-team era. In the 2002-03 season, the Hammers picked up 42 points but were still relegated.
The safety thresholds for last two seasons have been significantly lower due to newly-promoted teams struggling in the Premier League. The last two seasons have seen 26 and 27 points be enough to seal safety respectively.
Only once prior to the 2023-24 season has a total below 30 points been enough to seal survival.
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Points needed to guarantee safety
Wolves have picked up just six points from their opening 20 Premier League games of the season
25 points or less – survival in 0/30 seasons (0%)
26 – survival in 1/30 seasons (3.33%)
27 – survival in 2/30 seasons (6.67%)
28 – survival in 2/30 seasons (6.67%)
29 – survival in 3/30 seasons (10%)
30 – survival in 3/30 seasons (10%)
31 – survival in 4/30 seasons (13.33%)
32 – survival in 4/30 seasons (13.33%)
33 – survival in 4/30 seasons (13.33%)
34 – survival in 9/30 seasons (30%)
35 – survival in 16/30 seasons (53.33%)
36 – survival in 18/30 seasons (60%)
37 – survival in 23/30 seasons (76.67%)
38 – survival in 24/30 seasons (80%)
39 – survival in 26/30 seasons (86.67%)
40 – survival in 27/30 seasons (90%)
41 – survival in 29/30 seasons (96.67%)
42 – survival in 29/30 seasons (96.67%)
43+ – survival in 30/30 seasons (100%)
History of points needed to survive in the Premier League
1992-93 – 50 (42-game season)
1993-94 – 43 (42-game season)
1994-95 – 46 (42-game season)
1995-96 – 39
1996-97 – 41
1997-98 – 41
1998-99 – 37
1999-00 – 34
2000-01 – 35
2001-02 – 37
2002-03 – 43
2003-04 – 34
2004-05 – 34
2005-06 – 35
2006-07 – 39
2007-08 – 37
2008-09 – 35
2009-10 – 31
2010-11 – 40
2011-12 – 37
2012-13 – 37
2013-14 – 34
2014-15 – 36
2015-16 – 38
2016-17 – 35
2017-18 – 34
2018-19 – 35
2019-20 – 35
2020-21 – 29
2021-22 – 36
2022-23 – 35
2023-24 – 27
2024-25 - 26
This article is the latest from BBC Sport's Ask Me Anything team.
