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Premier League relegation play-off scenario where one-off game would be needed
Apr 18 2026 13:10 · Par Amie Wilson/Sports writer · 23 Lectures
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Nottingham Forest and Leeds United would be forced to face a relegation play-off, should an unlikely scenario play out. Both teams currently sit outside of the bottom three, but will be looking over their shoulders between now and the end of the season.
Should things not go their way, there is a scenario where a play-off would be needed to separate the two sides in the table and decide who suffers relegation. Should it happen, it will be the first time in Premier League history such a match has taken place.
The unlikely play-off game will happen if teams finish on the same number of points, the same goal difference and the same number of goals scored. If they are all level on those markers, it comes down to the head-to-head record between the two teams, before, finally, the most away goals in the head-to-head record.
The two games this season between Forest and Leeds both finished in a 3-1 win for the home team. Therefore, the record and away goals wouldn't be relevant.
So, if it does have to come down to the head-to-head record, then the only way to separate the two sides would be a one-off play-off game played at a neutral venue.
The winners of that match would stay in the Premier League, with the losers suffering relegation to the Championship.
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While the situation is very unlikely, it is still possible.
Both sides are currently in 15th and 16th position in the Premier League table, with Leeds (36 points) three points above Forest (33 points).
Both teams would have to be overtaken by 18th-place Tottenham (30 points) and 17th-place West Ham (32 points). There are just two goals separating the goal difference of the two sides, while Leeds have scored 49 goals compared to Forest's 44.
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The Whites are back in action on Saturday as they host Wolves at Elland Road. Forest, meanwhile, host Burnley at the City Ground on Sunday afternoon.
Both sides will go into the games on a high, with Leeds having come out as 2-1 winners over Manchester United on Monday night. Forest, meanwhile, made it to the semi-final of the Europa League on Thursday thanks to a 1-0 win over Porto.