In the Premier League, teams finishing on 36 points or more in each of the past nine seasons have avoided relegation.
In the 20-team era, starting from the 1995-96 season, the average number of points needed for survival, or the number of points the 18th-placed team finished plus one, is 35.53 – rounded up to 36 points.
In the 30 Premier League seasons that have had 38 games a season for each club, 36 points would have ensured survival 60% of the time.
The rate of survival increases to 80% for 38 points, 90% for 40 points and 100% for 43 or more points.
But West Ham have the ignominy of holding the record for the team relegated with the most points in the 20-team era. In the 2002-03 season, the Hammers picked up 42 points but were still relegated.
Sunderland with 40 points in 1996-97 and Bolton with 40 points the following year are the only other sides to have dropped down after touching the 40-point mark.
Tottenham finished 17th last term with 38 points but, because of the weaknesses of the promoted trio, they would still have beaten the drop with just 26.
The season before, 17th-placed Nottingham Forest managed 32 points – a tally which included a four points deduction – but actually only needed 27 to stay up.
