Leeds are only outside of the Premier League drop zone on goal difference separates a trio of relegation-battling rivals in third-bottom Nottingham Forest, fourth-bottom Leeds and also fifth-bottom Leicester City, all of whom have 30 points.
Leicester, Leeds and Forest are all one point ahead of Everton who are five points clear of a Southampton side marooned at the bottom of the table. Looking upwards, there is a four-point gap to 15th-laced West Ham United who are three adrift of Wolves but the Hammers have played a game less than ever other team.
Here, we run through the final four fixtures faced by the division’s bottom six sides and rank each team’s run-in from ‘easiest’ to ‘hardest’ based on the average league position of each side’s remaining opponents.
1. Nottingham Forest ('easiest' run-in)
Remaining fixtures: Southampton (h), Chelsea (a), Arsenal (h), Crystal Palace (a).
Average position of remaining opponents: 11th (11.0 exact). Photo: DARREN STAPLES
2. Southampton (second easiest run-in)
Remaining fixtures: Nottingham Forest (a), Fulham (h), Brighton (a), Liverpool (h).
Average position of remaining opponents: 10th (10.25). Photo: LINDSEY PARNABY
3. West Ham United (third easiest run-in)
Remaining fixtures: Manchester City (a), Manchester United (h), Brentford (a), Leeds United (h), Leicester City (a).
Average position of remaining opponents: 10th (9.6). Photo: Julian Finney
4. Everton (third hardest run-in)
Remaining fixtures: Brighton (a), Manchester City (h), Wolves (a), Bournemouth (h).
Average position of remaining opponents: 9th (9.25). Photo: Warren Little
5. Leicester City (second hardest run-in)
Remaining fixtures: Fulham (a), Liverpool (h), Newcastle United (a), West Ham United (h).
Average position of remaining opponents: 8th (8.25). Photo: DARREN STAPLES
6. Leeds United ('hardest' run-in)
Fixtures: Manchester City (a), Newcastle United (h), West Ham United (a), Tottenham Hotspur (h).
Average position of remaining opponents: 7th (6.5). Photo: Michael Steele