It can’t go on like this, can it?
IF you ask Mick McCarthy that question – a man who was relegated with Sunderland in 2002-03 and took charge of the majority of the 2005-06 Sunderland and 2011-12 Wolves campaigns, when both clubs finished bottom – he would probably say ‘IT CAN!’
What we are referring to, of course, is the fact that all three promoted clubs have been relegated from the Premier League in each of the last two seasons, something that had only previously happened in one of the first 31 campaigns, in 1997-98.
| All 3 Promoted Teams Relegated | |
| Season | Teams |
| 1997-98 | Bolton, Barnsley, Crystal Palace |
| 2023-24 | Luton, Burnley, Sheffield Utd |
| 2024-25 | Leicester, Ipswich, Southampton |
That being said, in Premier League history there are actually more instances of all three promoted teams surviving in the same season than all been relegated (4 to 3).
| All 3 Promoted Teams Survive | |
| Season | Teams |
| 2001-02 | Blackburn, Fulham, Bolton |
| 2011-12 | Swansea, Norwich, QPR |
| 2017-18 | Newcastle, Brighton, Huddersfield |
| 2022-23 | Fulham, Bournemouth, Nottingham Forest |
That doesn’t change the fact that the challenge for promoted teams is getting increasingly tougher however, but who better placed on paper to excel at a survival task than a cohort which includes two sides that won a century of points in the second tier last season in Leeds United and Burnley.
Along with Sunderland, all three sides have got their campaigns off to a healthy start. The Black Cats, who are competing in the top flight for the first time since 2016-17, are the first newly promoted team to win two of their opening three fixtures (vs West Ham and Brentford) since Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds in 2020-21.
Leeds meanwhile, now led by Daniel Farke, have four points and are the first promoted side to keep clean sheets in two of their opening three fixtures since Brentford in 2021-22.
Burnley sit a point back of the Whites courtesy of one win (vs Sunderland) and two defeats – albeit one of which needed a 97th minute penalty from Bruno Fernandes at Old Trafford – meaning the promoted trio have already won 13 points this season, 22% of the total the three promoted sides managed last season (59).
13 points is the most by the promoted trio after the opening three matchdays since 2016-17, when Hull (6), Middlesbrough (5) and Burnley (3) had picked up 14 between them. Though the Tigers and Boro would eventually face the drop that campaign in 18th and 19th respectively.
| Last 10 Seasons | Combined Pts of Newly Promoted Clubs MD1-3 |
| 2016-17 | 14 |
| 2017-18 | 11 |
| 2018-19 | 7 |
| 2019-20 | 10 |
| 2020-21 | 7 |
| 2021-22 | 8 |
| 2022-23 | 12 |
| 2023-24 | 0 |
| 2024-25 | 2 |
| 2025-26 | 13 |
With Sunderland and Leeds earning opening weekend victories and Burnley beating Sunderland the following week, it was also the earliest into a season that all three promoted sides had picked up three points since that same aforementioned 2016-17 campaign (also MD2).
In comparison, it took until MD11 for all three sides to record their first victory in each of the last two Premier League seasons.
| Last 10 Seasons | Matchday All Three Promoted Clubs Had At Least One Win |
| 2016-17 | 2 |
| 2017-18 | 4 |
| 2018-19 | 9 |
| 2019-20 | 3 |
| 2020-21 | 10 |
| 2021-22 | 11 |
| 2022-23 | 3 |
| 2023-24 | 11 |
| 2024-25 | 11 |
| 2025-26 | 2 |
Plenty of the discourse around the Premier League and Thomas Tuchel’s England over the opening month of the season has related to long throws and set-pieces.
And if any of the promoted trio look more set up than the others to exploit such situations, both offensively and defensively, you would expect it to be Leeds United.
The Whites’ summer transfer window will most likely be remembered for the unsuccessful pursuit of a marquee forward signing on deadline day, but the beginning of it saw the squad receive a much- needed physical makeover.
The acquisitions of goalkeeper Lucas Perri, centre backs Jaka Bijol and Sebastiaan Bornauw, central midfielders Anton Stach and Sean Longstaff, and striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin have added some serious height and physicality through the spine of their team.
While that makeover looked more like 60 minutes (or 90) in their 5-0 loss away to Arsenal on MD2, at Elland Road it has looked more sustainable and promising, with the Whites yet to concede a single goal at home.
Among the 10 teams to play twice at home in the Premier League so far this season, Leeds have allowed the lowest expected goals against tally of any side (1.26), while Sunderland rank third (1.76), ahead of current leaders and reigning champions Liverpool.
| Teams to Play 2 Home Games | |
| 2025-26 Premier League | Expected Goals Against |
| Leeds United | 1.26 |
| Chelsea | 1.68 |
| Sunderland | 1.76 |
| Liverpool | 2.19 |
| Manchester United | 2.52 |
| Tottenham Hotspur | 2.53 |
| Brighton and Hove Albion | 2.58 |
| Nottingham Forest | 3.91 |
| Aston Villa | 4.08 |
| Wolverhampton Wanderers | 4.40 |
The season is much too young to know if Sunderland’s Le Bris has the recipe for survival, but he, Farke and Burnley’s Parker have already looked to have more of a spark-er than last season’s trio.
Please remember to gamble responsibly. Visit our Safer Gambling section for more information, help and advice.
