sport news Battle to beat the drop: Can Cardiff defy odds? Are Burnley in danger?

Huddersfield and Fulham look doomed at the foot of the Premier League, but above them one of the most intriguing relegation fights awaits.

With one spot up for grabs, Newcastle and Crystal Palace look to be safe, but can Neil Warnock defy the odds and keep Cardiff up?

Are Burnley in danger? Or will Southampton or Brighton slip up?

Sportsmail takes a look at the Premier League's bottom eight and assesses each of their chances of survival...

Huddersfield Town are almost certainly heading towards relegation from the Premier League

Huddersfield Town are almost certainly heading towards relegation from the Premier League

13th - Newcastle 

Points: 35

Goal difference: -9 

Form guide: (most recent first): DWLWW

Remaining fixtures: Arsenal (a), Palace (h), Leicester (a), Southampton (h), Brighton (a), Liverpool (h), Fulham (a)

Games v top six: 2 (1 home, 1 away)

Games v bottom eight: 4 (2 home, 2 away)

Average points per game of opponents: 1.37

Verdict: Newcastle's 35 points would see them already safe in three of the last five seasons while one more win would be enough for the full set. A victory is likely to be enough this season too. They will get that. Rafa Benitez's side have the second-easiest run-in of the all the sides in the bottom eight. Salomon Rondon has hit three goals in his last five games, with Newcastle taking 10 points from a possible 15.

Defining game: Crystal Palace, Apr 6 — Victory over the Eagles should be enough to see Newcastle safe.

Danger rating: 1/5

Newcastle's Venezuelan striker Salomon Rondon has scored three goals in his last five games

Newcastle's Venezuelan striker Salomon Rondon has scored three goals in his last five games

14th - Crystal Palace

Points: 33

Goal difference: -5

Form guide: LWLWD

Remaining fixtures: Huddersfield (h), Tottenham (a), Newcastle (a), Man City (h), Arsenal (a), Everton (h), Cardiff (a), Bournemouth (h)

Top six: 3 (1 home, 2 away)

Bottom eight: 3 (1 home, 2 away)

Av. points per game of opponents: 1.44

Verdict: It is has never quite felt like Palace have been in real trouble yet still they continue to linger in that vague position where a real capitulation could give Roy Hodgson sweaty palms. But in Wilfried Zaha and the inspired signing of Michy Batshuayi, Palace have enough goals to stay calm. Another couple of wins should be enough.

Defining game: Huddersfield (h), March 30 — The perfect fixture for Palace coming up following the international break, after which they could be eight points clear with seven games left.

Danger rating: 1/5

Wilfried Zaha (left) and Michy Batshuayi should score enough goals to keep Crystal Palace up

Wilfried Zaha (left) and Michy Batshuayi should score enough goals to keep Crystal Palace up

15th — Brighton

Points: 33

Goal difference: -10

Form guide: WWLLD 

Remaining fixtures: Southampton (h), Chelsea (a), Bournemouth (h), Cardiff (h), Wolves (a), Tottenham (a), Newcastle (h), Arsenal (a), Man City (h)

Top six: 4 (1 home, 3 away)

Bottom eight: 3 (3 home)

Verdict: Two straight wins have eased some pressure and Brighton have games in hand. Yet four of their remaining fixtures are against top six sides, with three away from home. It's the three home games against their rivals that will decide the fate of Glenn Murray and Co. Fixture congestion and fatigue could come into play with Brighton in the FA Cup semi-finals.

Defining games: Southampton (h), March 30; Cardiff (h), April 16 — Win either of these games and that should be enough distance between either rival. Lose them, though, and those matches against the top six become even more important.

Danger rating: 3/5

Glenn Murray has scored 13 goals in 32 matches in all competitions for Brighton this season

Glenn Murray has scored 13 goals in 32 matches in all competitions for Brighton this season

16th — Southampton

Points: 30

Goal difference: -16

Form guide: WLWLL

Remaining fixtures: Brighton (a), Liverpool (h), Wolves (h), Newcastle (a), Watford (a), Bournemouth (h), West Ham (a), Huddersfield (h)

Top six: 1 (1 home)

Bottom eight: 3

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