Who will avoid relegation from the Premier League?

With the battle to avoid relegation intensifying, we look at the reasons to be both optimistic and concerned for those Premier League sides hoping to beat the drop.

With games fast running out and nerves jangling by a thread, there are still a number of teams facing the prospect of playing Championship football next season.

However, much can change between now and the climax to the campaign, so who is currently looking in pole position to stay in the top flight, and whose time is looking up?

Brighton & Hove Albion (13th, Pld: 32, Pts: 35)

Brighton may only need one more win to survive

Reasons to be optimistic: They're seven points above the drop zone and now only five off the magical 40-point mark.

Reasons to be concerned: They still have to play Tottenham Hotspur (April 17), Manchester United (May 5), Liverpool (May 13) and Manchester City (date TBA).

Chris Hughton's side also face tough away games at Burnley (April 28) and fellow strugglers Crystal Palace in what is sure to be a fiercely fought M23 derby (April 14th).

Charlie Nicholas is worried for the Seagulls, who "are in trouble because they seem to be running out of legs".

West Ham United (14th, Pld: 32, Pts: 34)

West Ham secured a morale-boosting draw at Chelsea on Sunday

Reasons to be optimistic: Four of their last six matches are at home. Meanwhile, the Hammers have also picked up four points from their last two matches, including an impressive draw at champions Chelsea on Sunday.

Key playmaker Manuel Lanzini should also be back from injury in time to face Arsenal at the Emirates on April 22.

Reasons to be concerned: Three of their remaining fixtures are against in-form Arsenal (April 22), champions-elect Manchester City (April 29) and second-placed United (May 10).

Swansea City (15th, Pld: 32, Pts: 32)

Carlos Carvalhal has brought about a remarkable turnaround at Swansea

Reasons to be optimistic: Swansea - who "have shown some decent form", according to Matt Le Tissier - have only lost once at home in the league since Carlos Carvalhal took over at the end of December.

With games to come at the Liberty against Everton (April 14), Southampton (May 8) and Stoke City (May 13) - all three have poor away records - the Swans will be hoping to guarantee safety in front of their own fans.

Reasons to be concerned: They still have to play runaway leaders City (April 22) and Chelsea (April 28) in back-to-back matches.

Huddersfield Town (16th, Pld: 33, Pts: 32)

Huddersfield are in desperate need of a win

Reasons to be optimistic: Consecutive home games against mid-table sides Watford (April 14) and Everton (April 28) are on the horizon, while Paul Merson is backing the Terriers to stay up.

"If my Super 6 prediction for Huddersfield to beat Watford (on Saturday) is right, then the bottom three are relegated," says the Sky Sports pundit.

Reasons to be concerned: David Wagner's side have the second-worst goal difference in the league (-28), only behind Stoke (-33), while they have not won since beating bottom-of-the-table West Brom on February 24.

With daunting away trips to high-flying City (May 5) and Chelsea - who are desperate for points themselves in their bid for a top-four finish - coming up, points could be hard to come by in the closing weeks of the season.

Phil Thompson is certainly worried for Huddersfield, who he believes "seem to have run out of gas at the wrong time", while Le Tissier agrees, thinking the final relegation spot is between us [Southampton] and Huddersfield".

Crystal Palace (17th, Pld: 33, Pts: 31)

Wilfried Zaha's recent return has given Palace a lift

Reasons to be optimistic: They have no top-six sides left to play, while they also host fellow strugglers Brighton (April 14) - who have won three league games on the road this season - and Leicester (April 28) - who they beat 3-0 in December - in their remaining games.

Not only that, but Roy Hodgson's team also take on last-placed West Brom on the final day of the campaign, by which point the Baggies will almost certainly be relegated.

Le Tissier agrees, saying the Eagles will be safe because they "have got decent fixtures" between now and the end of the season.

Reasons to be concerned: Palace are just three points above the relegation zone and have played a game more than 18th-placed Southampton.

Not only that, but Hodgson still has a debilitating injury list, with as many as eight senior players out injured.

Southampton (18th, Pld: 32, Pts: 28)

2:58 Southampton were unlucky to lose 3-2 at Arsenal on Sunday Southampton were unlucky to lose 3-2 at Arsenal on Sunday

Reasons to be optimistic: An encouraging display at the Emirates on Sunday, scoring twice in a narrow 3-2 defeat against sixth-placed Arsenal.

That fighting performance will be a boost for new boss Mark Hughes and his players, according to Thommo.

"Southampton showed they've got a fight with the performance they put in at Arsenal," said the Sky Sports pundit.

"I covered them in the 3-0 loss against West Ham and that was a real kick in the teeth. There was a reaction at the Emirates."

Nicholas also thinks the fixture list could play into Southampton's hands, starting on Saturday.

"With Chelsea focusing on the FA Cup, Southampton could get something this weekend and throw this relegation situation wide open," said the former Arsenal striker.

Reasons to be concerned: Two of Southampton's remaining three home games are against Chelsea (April 14) and City (May 13), while they have not won in the top flight since getting the better of bottom side West Brom on February 3.

Merse says the south coast club now need Huddersfield to slip up in order to beat the drop.

"Southampton are basically relying on Huddersfield getting no more points," he said.

"It was a good time for Southampton to play Arsenal and then to have led, it was a big blow for them not to get a result."

Stoke City (19th, Pld: 33, Pts: 27)

Paul Lambert has won just once in the Premier League since taking charge at the bet365 in January

Reasons to be optimistic: Their last two fixtures are against Palace (May 5) and Swansea (May 13), by which time influential forward Eric Choupo-Moting should be back from injury.

Reasons to be concerned: The Potters have not won since Paul Lambert's first game in charge, at home to Huddersfield on January 20, while they still have to travel to free-scoring Liverpool on April 28.

As a result, they are in "a whole heap of trouble", says Le Tissier, and Thompson "can't see Stoke getting out of it because they don't have enough goals in them".

West Bromwich Albion (20th, Pld: 33, Pts: 21)

West Brom are 'gone', according to the Soccer Saturday pundits

Reasons to be optimistic: Darren Moore has not lost a match in charge of the ailing Baggies, with the caretaker manager having drawn his only game at the helm at home to Swansea on Saturday.

Moore should also be able to call upon the services of Daniel Sturridge shortly, with the England frontman due back from injury this weekend.

Reasons to be concerned: Ten points from safety with only five matches to play, including a trip to United on Super Sunday, followed by tough-looking home encounters with Liverpool (April 22) and Spurs (May 5).

Not surprisingly, therefore, none of the Soccer Saturday pundits give the west Midlands club a chance of surviving, with both Le Tissier and Thompson agreeing Moore and Co "are gone".