Saints face one of the simplest run-ins – on paper at least – of all the teams competing for a top-four place in this season’s Premier League.
The club’s remaining ten opponents have won an average of 1.29 points per game, with only Tottenham (1.28) staring at a better schedule.
It is Manchester United, currently holding onto fourth place, who have by far and away the hardest remaining fixtures of the division’s top seven sides.
Graphic via Press Association
Four of the next five games for Louis van Gaal’s team see them face Tottenham, Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea, while Arsenal also visit Old Trafford before the end of the campaign.
That gives them a remaining fixture list in which their opponents have averaged 1.49 points per game.
Liverpool (1.42) also face a challenging run-in, as do Arsenal (1.39).
- Adam Leitch's predictions for Saints' final 10 games
- Gordon Simpson's predictions for Saints' final 10 games
The numbers also show that leaders Chelsea (1.31), who are five points ahead of nearest challengers Manchester City (1.29) and possess a game in hand on them, should be confident of securing the title.
Saints are currently seventh in the table, four points behind United, two back of Liverpool, and one short of Spurs.
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