Burnley improve slim survival hopes as Everton win again to bury relegation fears

There are only two Premier League relegation spots to avoid, with Sheffield United now down. But. as the season's climax nears, there are three teams scrapping to avoid those final spaces.

Sheffield United took an early lead away to Newcastle United on Saturday but collapsed to a 5-1 defeat. Their latest loss sealed their fate and ensured they are heading to the Championship. The Blades will also begin on -2 when next season starts after being given a points deduction.

Everton won at home for the fourth game in a row, following up an impressive 2-0 derby defeat of Liverpool in midweek by edging out Brentford 1-0 at Goodison Park. Despite having eight points taken off them for financial issues, the Toffees are now nine clear and can look forward to next season, though question marks over the club's future still remain amid more takeover talk.

Brentford saw their impressive five-game unbeaten run end against Everton but Thomas Frank's side are now almost safe. Premier League relegation odds of 500/1 for the Bees indicate it is highly unlikely they can be sucked back in thanks to their eight-point cushion to the drop zone.

Losing at home to Manchester City was expected by Nottingham Forest on Sunday, but they have slipped closer to trouble having taken just a single point from their last four league games. Fortunately, the Midlands club are away to relegated Sheffield United next and will be confident of picking up some precious points from that crucial trip to Bramall Lane on Sunday.

It was a win at Sheffield United that ignited Burnley's hopes and their upturn in form continued with a 1-1 draw away to Manchester United in which they were arguably the better team. But individual errors continued to cost the Clarets, with Sander Berge's poor pass playing in Antony to open the scoring at Old Trafford, leaving Zeki Amdouni's penalty to salvage them a draw.

Burnley have only lost once in the Premier League since manager Vincent Kompany made the popular move of replacing goalkeeper James Trafford with Aro Muric last month, even though the Kosovo international went on to record costly mistakes of his own in two straight games.

The Clarets may have left it too late to stay up but are only two points adrift, with their Premier League relegation betting odds being cut to 1/7 ahead of hosting Newcastle United on Saturday.

Luton are also seen as being very likely to drop back to the Championship, with their latest loss a 2-1 reverse away to Wolves. Luton have lost five of their past six games and host in-form Everton next, though the Toffees might be taking their foot off the pedal after moving well clear.

The bookmakers have Luton priced at 2/9 in the Premier League relegation odds, with all three of the promoted sides from the Championship potentially heading back down to the second tier.