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Tottenham handed worrying relegation probability by Opta supercomputer
Roberto De Zerbi Tottenham
Credit: @thatfootballphotog / Instagram

Opta’s supercomputer has revealed Tottenham Hotspur’s chances of finishing in every Premier League position this season.

The figures suggest Roberto De Zerbi’s side are far more likely to finish in the bottom half than challenge for European qualification.

Spurs finally secured their first league win of the season against Coventry City, moving out of the relegation zone and up to 16th. However, Opta still give Tottenham roughly a one-in-five chance of finishing in the bottom three.

After two successive 17th-place finishes, supporters had hoped De Zerbi could guide Spurs back towards the European places following another summer of heavy spending. The early results suggest there is still plenty of work to be done.

Premier League Trophy

Tottenham given 20.61% chance of relegation by Opta

Following their victory over Coventry, Tottenham climbed three places to 13th in Opta’s predicted Premier League table. However, a closer look at the individual finishing probabilities paints a less encouraging picture.

Based on the figures published by Opta, Spurs have a combined 20.61% chance of finishing in the bottom three this season. That is more than double their 8.50% chance of securing a top-six finish.

The figures also give Tottenham a 70.38% chance of finishing in the bottom half of the table. In contrast, the likelihood of De Zerbi guiding his side into the top 10 stands at just 29.62%.

Interestingly, 16th is considered the single most likely finishing position for Tottenham, with a probability of 7.60%. However, 13th, 17th and 18th are all rated as almost equally likely outcomes.

Tottenham’s chances of finishing in every Premier League position

Here is the percentage chance of Spurs finishing in each position from first to 20th, according to the supplied Opta figures.

Premier League position Probability
1st 0.03%
2nd 0.19%
3rd 0.93%
4th 1.36%
5th 2.43%
6th 3.56%
7th 4.60%
8th 5.04%
9th 5.64%
10th 5.84%
11th 6.29%
12th 6.69%
13th 7.53%
14th 7.20%
15th 6.97%
16th 7.60%
17th 7.49%
18th 7.26%
19th 7.06%
20th 6.29%

Although the figures make for worrying reading, Opta still considers survival a considerably more likely outcome than relegation. The model’s predictions will also change as more matches are played, with Tottenham having plenty of time to improve their position.

The win over Coventry has already helped Spurs climb the actual league table, and they now sit just four points behind Brentford in fourth. De Zerbi will hope that result proves to be the start of a much better run of form.

Gus Poyet says Tottenham must finish in the top half

Former Tottenham midfielder and assistant coach Gus Poyet believes Spurs should still be targeting a top-half finish this season. Despite their difficult start, he feels the club’s summer spending means finishing outside the top 10 would be a disappointment.

Poyet said: “I think Spurs this year need to have a recovery season to get in the top half of the table, getting the identity from Roberto de Zerbi, getting stronger mentally as a group, not thinking always about the possibility of losing and going to the pitch thinking of the possibility of winning.

“So it’s a transition year. But obviously, with the money they spent, they need to be in the top 10 and if it’s possible getting a European competition.”

Tottenham will certainly be hoping to prove Opta wrong over the coming months. With less than a third of the campaign played, there is still time for De Zerbi’s side to close the gap on the clubs above them.

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