Southampton have become the earliest team to be relegated from the Premier League in the competition’s history, with today’s (Sunday, April 6) 3-1 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur confirming their demotion to the Championship for the 2025-26 campaign.
The Saints entered the clash at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium knowing that they would need to avoid defeat to Ange Postecoglou’s side to keep their survival hopes alive.
However, a brace from Brennan Johnson and late Mathys Tel penalty secured all three points for Spurs, with the pressure being eased on head coach Ange Postecoglou, who is being linked with a move away from the North London club.
Southampton, who netted late on through Mateus Fernandes, are now 22 points behind 17th-placed Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League table with just 21 points to play for, meaning that even a win in every Saints match from now on and a defeat in every Wolves fixture would not keep them in the division.
Ivan Juric’s side are also bidding to avoid having the lowest-ever points total in a Premier League campaign, with that unwanted record being held by Derby County, who only claimed 11 points in 2007-08.
There is no getting away from the fact that it has been an incredibly difficult campaign for the club, with only 10 points being claimed from their 31 matches courtesy of a record of two wins, four draws and 25 defeats.
Three goals at Tottenham on Sunday made it 75 conceded for this Premier League campaign, and it was always going to be a matter of when and not if the Saints were relegated to the second tier.
The club’s attention would have switched to next season some time ago, and with a strong summer, there is every chance that they could secure promotion back to the top flight at the first time of asking.
As for Tottenham, this was a much-needed win, albeit a nervy one due to Southampton’s late effort.
Spurs’ season rests on the Europa League, but the win over the division’s basement side did allow them to move up a spot into 13th in the Premier League table, above 14th-placed Manchester United due to their superior goal difference.
