Could 34 be the magic number for strugglers?

By Mark Langdon 6:43PM 27 APR 2015

PREMIER LEAGUE managers who are scrapping for survival and wondering how many points will be needed to stay in the top flight can use bookmakers help to work out their battleplan, and 34 points is supposedly the magic number.

That is the view of bet365, who are betting on the club who end up in 18th spot. They go 4-6 that the team who finish in the final relegation place accumulate under 33.5 points and quote 11-10 they get 34 or more.

Fast-sinking Sunderland currently occupy 18th position and if Sporting Index’s seasonal points market is the right indicator then the Black Cats will go down, with the spread firm quoting the Wearsiders’ finishing tally at 33.5-34.5.

So one more win could be enough for Hull, who sit 16th with 31 points, and Steve Bruce’s side will fancy their chances of upsetting the odds against Liverpool in Tuesday’s Premier League match after taking three massive points at Crystal Palace on Saturday.

That victory saw them pushed out to 5-2 to be relegated and the Tigers can be backed at 2-5 with Hills to preserve their top-flight status for another campaign.

However, Hull’s remaining fixtures are not easy – they head to Tottenham and host Arsenal and Manchester United as well as Liverpool – but there is also the comfort blanket of a home date with basement boys Burnley on May 9.

Burnley are 1-8 to go down and QPR are 1-14 with bookmakers believing those two are as good as relegated with Sunderland 4-7 shots to fill the other unwanted place in next season’s Championship.

Sunderland have away matches at Chelsea, Arsenal and Everton to negotiate and much could rest on their two home clashes against Southampton and relegation rivals Leicester, where Dick Advocaat’s team will have to target a minimum of four points.

However, it could also be argued that playing the big teams at this stage of the season is perfect as there is little left to fight for at the top end of the Premier League with Liverpool a perfect case in point for their trip to the KC Stadium.

The Merseysiders, 19-2 with Ladbrokes to finish in the Champions League qualifying positions, look set to miss out on Europe’s elite competition, although they are 1-10 with Coral to finish in the top six and secure a berth in the Europa League.