It has previously been said that the magic number of points needed in a Premier League season to avoid relegation is 40 - hit that mark and you are safe.
That number has proven to be accurate over the last ten seasons in English football’s top flight BUT clubs have managed to survive on a lower total. Leeds United proved that last season when their eventual tally of 38 points proved enough to secure their safety on the final day of the campaign.
Not only that but plenty of other clubs have survived on even lower totals over the past decade. Here are the last ten teams to finish a Premier League season in 17th place and the average number of points it should take to avoid the drop:
Not only that but plenty of other clubs have survived on even lower totals over the past decade. Here are the last ten teams to finish a Premier League season in 17th place and the average number of points it should take to avoid the drop:
![Final points total = 39](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2023/04/04/11/GettyImages-530774930.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
![Final points total = 38](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2023/04/04/11/GettyImages-472755670.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
![Final points total = 36](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2023/04/04/11/GettyImages-460413704.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
![Final points total = 39](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2023/04/04/11/GettyImages-168648414.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
![The average points total of the last 10 teams to finish 17th in the Premier League table is 37.6, meaning a total of 38 SHOULD be enough to secure safety for Leeds United in 2023 but that’s not a guarantee](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2023/04/04/11/GettyImages-1474360526.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
11. Points required = 38
The average points total of the last 10 teams to finish 17th in the Premier League table is 37.6, meaning a total of 38 SHOULD be enough to secure safety for Leeds United in 2023 but that’s not a guarantee | Getty Images