The Drop

It's getting ridiculously tense at the bottom now. Who's going to be the last one to go? How many points will see you safe?
It's beginning to look like it could take as many as 41 points and not too bad a goal difference to stay in the league (say >-20). That'd be the highest for ages (the second highest total of the 20-team PL era?).
Here's the EIGHT (!) teams still in the mathematical mixer along with their respective fixtures:
TABLE
11. Stoke P:36 PTS:41 GD:-10 (Spurs [h], Soton [a])
12. Fulham P:36 PTS: 40 GD:-11 (Liverpool [h], Swansea [a])
13. Villa P:36 PTS:40 GD:-21(Chelsea [h], Wigan [a])
14. Soton P:36 PTS:39 GD:-11(Sunderland [a], Stoke [h])
15. Sunderland P.36 PTS:38 GD:-12 (Southampton [h], Spurs [a])
16. Norwich P:36 PTS:38 GD:-22 (West Brom [h], City [a])
17. Newcastle P:36 PTS:38 GD:-23 (QPR [a], Arsenal [h])
-----------------------------------
18. Wigan P:36 PTS:35 GD:-23
(Arsenal [a], Villa [h])
It's almost impossible to work out who's in the deepest shit. Probably Wigan, as they'll have to win both of those home games at least. However, if they do, it'll leave Villa needing to beat a Chelsea team desperate for points themselves. For Villa, a point should see them safe so long as, (a) that point comes at Wigan, and (b) they don't lose heavily against Chelsea. Sunderland should get four points from those home games and be okay. However, wins against those opponents (Stoke, Saints) might make their own last-day clash at St Mary's the one which decides who drops. Newcastle and Norwich might done enough if they beat QPR and WBA respectively. THE MIND BOGGLES.
PREDICTION
Wigan will draw their last three matches and go down on 38 points. No great escape this year.
***UPDATE*** 06/05
Sunderland 1-1 Stoke (League table and remaining fixtures updated accordingly)
***UPDATE*** 07/05
Wigan 2-3 Swansea (As above)
It's beginning to look like it could take as many as 41 points and not too bad a goal difference to stay in the league (say >-20). That'd be the highest for ages (the second highest total of the 20-team PL era?).
Here's the EIGHT (!) teams still in the mathematical mixer along with their respective fixtures:
TABLE
11. Stoke P:36 PTS:41 GD:-10 (Spurs [h], Soton [a])
12. Fulham P:36 PTS: 40 GD:-11 (Liverpool [h], Swansea [a])
13. Villa P:36 PTS:40 GD:-21(Chelsea [h], Wigan [a])
14. Soton P:36 PTS:39 GD:-11(Sunderland [a], Stoke [h])
15. Sunderland P.36 PTS:38 GD:-12 (Southampton [h], Spurs [a])
16. Norwich P:36 PTS:38 GD:-22 (West Brom [h], City [a])
17. Newcastle P:36 PTS:38 GD:-23 (QPR [a], Arsenal [h])
-----------------------------------
18. Wigan P:36 PTS:35 GD:-23
(Arsenal [a], Villa [h])
It's almost impossible to work out who's in the deepest shit. Probably Wigan, as they'll have to win both of those home games at least. However, if they do, it'll leave Villa needing to beat a Chelsea team desperate for points themselves. For Villa, a point should see them safe so long as, (a) that point comes at Wigan, and (b) they don't lose heavily against Chelsea. Sunderland should get four points from those home games and be okay. However, wins against those opponents (Stoke, Saints) might make their own last-day clash at St Mary's the one which decides who drops. Newcastle and Norwich might done enough if they beat QPR and WBA respectively. THE MIND BOGGLES.
PREDICTION
Wigan will draw their last three matches and go down on 38 points. No great escape this year.
***UPDATE*** 06/05
Sunderland 1-1 Stoke (League table and remaining fixtures updated accordingly)
***UPDATE*** 07/05
Wigan 2-3 Swansea (As above)