#PLStories- Ralph Hasenhuttl’s admits current PL season may need 40 points to survive #SAINTSFC

RALPH Hasenhuttl admitted Premier League teams may need “40 or more points” to be safe from relegation this season, while Saints have 40 with just three matches to go. A survival dogfight is happening in the division right below 15th-placed Saints, involving Burnley, Leeds United and Everton. The former two sides are six points behind Hasenhuttl’s Saints, but each have one game in hand on the St Mary’s outfit. The Toffees are eight points below and currently occupy the relegation slot, with two games spare. Although Saints’ points total seems all-but unassailable, all three are in better form – Burnley have won each of their last three, including defeating Saints at Turf Moor. The 1-0 win over Arsenal last month could prove to be enormous (Pic: Stuart Martin) After just one win in nine Premier League matches, Hasenhuttl was asked if they are safe from the drop. He responded: “I think it definitely can be this season that you need 40 or more points (to be safe) for the first time maybe in Premier League history, this is possible. “I don’t know if all three teams at the bottom will pick up more points than we have or will make by the end of the season, I don’t know.” Hasenhuttl added: “It’s not about having the feeling of being safe, we have a chance for getting into the top 10 positions. That’s where we are looking. “We want to have a game against Brentford where we do it better than in the last game against Crystal Palace. Especially in the finish. This gives us then a chance to end up maybe higher in the table.” Saints Foundation raised a record-breaking £130,000 at this year’s charity dinner, including "generous" donations from #SaintsFC and its new owner Dragan Šolak. 👏Guests included Ralph Hasenhuttl, James Ward-Prowse, and Šolak, who flew in from Serbia to attend. pic.twitter.com/DXBHcqyyN0 — Alfie House (@AlfieHouseEcho) May 5, 2022 Up next, Saints travel to Brentford – who are 14th in the table and are level with Hasenhuttl’s charges on 40 points with three matches to go. A win for either side ends all speculation, drags them out of the bottom quarter and potentially sets up a run to finish higher in the table. A loss, depending on results elsewhere, could leave a nervous finish. “Sure, because we then have one and a half weeks break without a game,” Hasenhuttl said. Saints will then welcome Liverpool to St Mary’s, on Tuesday, May 17, before visiting Leicester City for the finale that weekend. “Then we know that we face momentarily the best team in the world and it is not so easy to win against them, but we have no gifts to give so we will look in every game to take as many points as possible.” A message from the Editor Thank you for reading this article - we appreciate your support in reading the Daily Echo. Subscribing to the Echo means you have unrestricted access to the latest news, features and Saints coverage - all with an advertising-light website. You will also have full access to Saintsplus, your new home for Southampton FC tactical analysis, features and much, much more. Don't take my word for it - subscribe here to see for yourself. Follow the latest breaking news in the Southampton area by joining our Facebook group - Southampton News - Breaking News and Incidents Follow the latest court and crime news on our dedicated Facebook group - Hampshire Court and Crime News