Former Leicester City coach tells Ruud van Nistelrooy the ‘magical’ number of points required to stay in the PL and not get relegated as Foxes will get hit with Points Deduction and Limited transfer signings which will turn the club into a Stoke City, Blackburn, Swansea

Leicester City are grappling with a daunting challenge to secure their Premier League survival after another disappointing result.

The Foxes suffered their fifth consecutive defeat on Saturday, losing to Aston Villa, which has left them second from bottom in the table.

The pressure is mounting on manager Ruud van Nistelrooy to not only bring in reinforcements during the transfer window but also to start turning results around immediately.

While Opta’s predictions currently forecast relegation for Leicester, there is still time for a turnaround, and former coach Mike Stowell has offered insight into what might be needed to stay in the top flight.

Mike Stowell predicts Leicester’s survival target:

Stowell, a long-serving goalkeeping coach at Leicester during their Championship and Premier League title-winning campaigns, departed the club in June 2023 following Enzo Maresca’s arrival.

A well-respected figure, Stowell recently shared his perspective on the club’s struggles while appearing as part of Radio Leicester’s coverage of the defeat at Villa Park.

Historically, 40 points has been considered the benchmark for Premier League survival, but Stowell believes that fewer points may suffice this season. Speaking on the When You’re Smiling Podcast, he said:

“It is the team that holds their nerve most [that are going to survive relegation]. You have got to scrap and pick up points.

It is a tally to get to that magical 36 or 37 points, which will keep you in the league, but that is another game struck off now.

There are now 18 games to get themselves another 22 points.”

What is the required points total for Premier League survival?

The number of points needed to avoid relegation has varied over the years. While some seasons have required over 40 points, others have seen teams survive with as few as 34. Currently, Leicester sit on 14 points, which is far from enough, but how many points would have guaranteed safety in recent years?

Based on Stowell’s estimation of 36 or 37 points, Leicester would have avoided relegation in three of the last five Premier League seasons.

However, they would still have faced the drop in the 2020/21 and 2021/22 campaigns. Notably, the Foxes were relegated last season with 34 points.

Regardless of the exact total required this time around, Leicester must act swiftly to reverse their fortunes. Both results and performances need a sharp improvement if the Foxes are to maintain their Premier League status.