AliousGary Neville has shared his view that Tottenham Hotspur being relegated could actually benefit the Premier League.
Spurs, who narrowly avoided the drop by finishing 17th last season, are once again in serious trouble. They sit just one point above the relegation zone with nine matches remaining, five of which are away fixtures—an area where they’ve earned 19 of their 29 points so far.
Their situation could worsen quickly. A tough trip to face Liverpool FC awaits on Sunday, and results elsewhere could see them fall into the bottom three before kickoff if West Ham United and Nottingham Forest secure wins against Manchester City and Fulham FC respectively.
Even after parting ways with Thomas Frank and bringing in Igor Tudor as interim boss, Spurs have failed to turn things around, still searching for their first league win of 2026.
While relegation remains a shocking prospect, it’s one the club has begun to acknowledge. Neville, however, believes such a scenario could improve the league’s competitiveness. Speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, he suggested that although it would be painful for Spurs supporters, it might ultimately strengthen the division.
He argued that having established clubs relegated—rather than newly promoted sides immediately dropping back down—would create a more balanced and unpredictable competition. Using clubs like Leeds and Sunderland as examples, Neville noted concerns earlier in the season that promoted teams were at risk of going straight back down.
In his view, the Premier League doesn’t necessarily need Tottenham to be relegated specifically, but it does need a shift where different clubs face the drop. While he acknowledged it would be a difficult outcome, he hinted that Spurs may have brought the situation upon themselves.
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