Premier League relegation fight: With five points between 10th and the drop zone, the battle has never been closer... which teams are cheerful and who should be fearful?

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The chasm between the top of the Premier League and mid-table has never been bigger - 40 points separate leaders Manchester City from 10th placed Bournemouth, while only five split the Cherries and Southampton in 18th.

While this may raise questions about the league's competitiveness, it certainly makes for an exciting scrap against relegation - the battle to stay up has never been closer, the stakes for each game rarely higher. 

Sportsmail has taken a look at each of the 11 sides aiming to not finish in the bottom three, the reasons for them to believe they can stay up; and why that could prove to be a very difficult task...

Callum Wilson (right) is finally fit and firing up front to boost Bournemouth's survival prospects

Bournemouth (10th, 28 points)

Form - At the turn of the year, Eddie Howe's men looked certainties for the drop. However an unbeaten January in league, with hard fought points at Brighton and West Ham, and stunning wins over Arsenal and Chelsea, mean things suddenly look much rosier at Dean Court.

Reasons to be cheerful - The 3-0 victory at Stamford Bridge showed Bournemouth at their best; a pacy attacking side who play attractive football. Callum Wilson is finally fit and firing up front.

Reasons to be fearful - During their two full seasons in the top flight, Bournemouth have never been deep in the mire come the sharp end of the season. Should the pretty passing not throw up consistent results, they lack experience and a tested Plan B.

How was their January? - On a transfer front, quiet. No-one arrived, while fringe players like Lewis Grabban and Benik Afobe left on loan.

Next six games

Stoke (H)

Huddersfield (A)

Newcastle (H) 

Leicester (A)

Tottenham (H)

West Brom (H) 

Watford have not scored in three games and are without a win since Boxing Day

Watford (11th, 27 points)

Form - Poor. The Hornets have not scored in three games and are without a win since Boxing Day, in itself their only league victory since mid-November. This loss of form cost Marco Silva his job, and Javi Gracia must adapt quickly to turn them around.

Reasons to be cheerful - The new manager bounce is a nebulous thing, but Roy Hodgson, Claude Puel and Carlos Carvalhal have all proved the effects a change of regime can have. Gracia took Malaga - a similarly sized team - into the La Liga top 10; Watford will hope for the same.

Reasons to be fearful - The defence. Watford have the joint second-worst record for goals conceded, 44 shipped in 25 games. They have no problem finding the net - 33 scored is the best in the bottom half - but if they don't tighten up, there will be trouble.

How was their January? - Disrupted by Silva's departure, Watford did do some late deals. Gerard Deulofeu looked sparky on debut in the draw with Stoke, while Didier Ndong from Sunderland should add midfield steel.

Next six games 

Chelsea (H)

West Ham (A)

Everton (H)

West Brom (H)

Arsenal (A)

Liverpool (A) 

The fallout from the leaked emails about West Ham's recruitment remains to be seen

West Ham (12th, 27 points)

Form - Improving. The Hammers are unbeaten since before Christmas, and beat two relegation rivals, West Brom and Huddersfield, last month. David Moyes was not a popular appointment as manager, but he has done a good job so far.

Reasons to be cheerful - Having shipped goals for fun in the early part of the season, West Ham have become much more solid under Moyes, while Marko Arnautovic has been a revelation, and should return from injury at the weekend.

Reasons to be fearful - How damaging will the revelations be that the club refuse to sign any more African players, because they cause 'mayhem', according to now suspended head of recruitment Tony Henry. Particularly as West Ham have two Africans - including key midfielder Cheikou Kouyate - in their first team.

How was their January? - Mixed. Joao Mario looks a shrewd loan signing, whereas Jordan Hugill - an £8m striker from Preston - represents a huge risk which has already aggravated some Hammers fans.

Next six games

Brighton (A)

Watford (H)

Liverpool (A) 

Swansea (A)

Burnley (H)

Manchester United (H) 

In Wilfried Zaha (left), Crystal Palace have arguably the best player outside the top six clubs

Crystal Palace (13th, 26 points)

Form - A drubbing at Arsenal aside, it has been a very productive past two months for Palace. They almost became the first to topple Man City, and picked up good wins over Watford and Southampton, among others.

Reasons to be cheerful - After their appalling start of eight successive defeats without scoring, it is amazing Palace are in this good of a position. Also, in Wilfried Zaha, they have arguably the best player outside the top six.

Reasons to be fearful - Question marks remain about the defence. Neither Wayne Hennessey nor Julian Speroni impress as Premier League No 1s, while first choice centre backs Mamadou Sakho and Scott Dann are injured.

How was their January? - Unconvincing. Money has been spent on untested imports like Jaroslaw Jach and Alexander Sorloth, while attempts to bring in a new keeper failed at the last minute.

Next six games

Newcastle (H)

Everton (A)

Tottenham (H)

Manchester United (H)

Chelsea (A)

Huddersfield (A) 

Chelsea loanee Kenedy was outstanding on his Newcastle United debut this week

Newcastle (14th, 24 points)

Form - Not as abysmal as the doom and gloom surrounding St. James' Park might have you believe. Their only defeats for two months have come against top 10 sides, while they have beaten West Ham and Stoke away from the north east.

Reasons to be cheerful - The manager. Rafa Benitez enjoys a status on Tyneside not seen since Sir Bobby Robson's spell in charge, and Newcastle haven't had a manager of his calibre since then either. He is making an average-on-a-good-day squad play above their station.

Reasons to be fearful - The squad is a Championship team, and deliberately so, as Benitez built it to get out the second tier. He wanted funds to rebuild, but owner Mike Ashley never provided them. Takeover bids and transfer windows have come and gone, and the fans are a mix of fearful and furious.

How was their January? - Mostly appalling. There were no funds to speak of, meaning main targets like Daniel Sturridge and Nicolas Jorgensen got away. That said, Chelsea loanee Kenedy was outstanding on debut against Burnley, while Islam Slimani and Martin Dubravka at least add bodies to the problem areas of striker and goalkeeper.

Next six games 

Crystal Palace (A)

Manchester United (H)

Bournemouth (A) 

Liverpool (A)

Southampton (H)

Tottenham (A) 

The returning Leonardo Ulloa at least has guaranteed good will from the Brighton fans 

Brighton (15th, 24 points)

Form - Not great. One win in two months - at home to Watford on December 23 - comes paired with defeats to sides around them, including Huddersfield and West Brom, to set up nervy final months.

Reasons to be cheerful - Chris Hughton's side have earned a reputation for low scoring games, and rightly so, thanks to a tight defence. Goalkeeper Mat Ryan has overcome a shaky start, while Lewis Dunk and Shane Duffy have stepped up impressively from the Championship.

Reasons to be fearful - Goals are the major problem: Brighton are the joint lowest scorers in the division with just 18. Glenn Murray has never been a consistent scorer, Anthony Knockaert has misfired, while summer arrivals Pascal Gross and Jose Izquierdo have been hit and miss.

How was their January? - Hughton spent big to try and solve the goal crisis, splurging £14m on PSV striker Jurgen Locadia - who is injured. The returning Leonardo Ulloa at least has guaranteed good will from the fans.

Next six games 

West Ham (H)

Stoke (A)

Swansea (H) 

Arsenal (H)

Everton (A)

Manchester City (A) 

Stoke have shipped 50 goals in 25 matches, the worst record in the Premier League

Stoke (16th, 24 points)

Form - Defeat at home to Newcastle and at Coventry in the FA Cup signaled the end of Mark Hughes, while victory over Huddersfield and a draw with Watford have started the Paul Lambert era well.

Reasons to be cheerful - That new manager bounce again. Lambert's arrival was received like a bad smell, but Stoke have immediately shown more bite, while Joe Allen continues to impress in the centre of midfield.

Reasons to be fearful - Two clean sheets under Lambert have slightly tempered an appalling defensive record, however they have still shipped 50 goals in 25 matches - an average of two per game. Which cannot be good for Jack Butland's confidence ahead of the World Cup.

How was their January? - Austrian international right back Moritz Bauer looks a tidy signing for £5m, while they will hope Badou Ndiaye - a £14m acquisition from Galatasaray - does rather better than their last big money midfielder, Gianelli Imbula.

Next six games 

Bournemouth (A)

Brighton (H)

Leicester (A) 

Southampton (A)

Manchester City (H)

Everton (H) 

If David Wagner can restore optimism and atmosphere, Huddersfield can survive the drop

Huddersfield (17th, 24 points)

Form - After a bright start borne of enthusiasm and good will, Huddersfield are really starting to find the top flight to be tough going. They are on a run of four successive league defeats and have not won since December 16.

Reasons to be cheerful - If David Wagner can restore the optimism and atmosphere seen in the early part of the campaign, the Terriers can finish above bigger names without much better squads. 

Reasons to be fearful - Huddersfield have the second worst scoring record and second worst defensive record in the Premier League, and, as Middlesbrough proved last season, when an inexperienced top flight side goes into a spiral, it can be immensely tricky to pull them out of it. 

How was their January? - They needed experienced defensive signings and a forward who could add much needed goals. Instead Huddersfield spent £14m on midfielder Alex Pritchard and got Terence Kongolo on loan.

Next six games

Manchester United (A)

Bournemouth (H)

West Brom (A)

Tottenham (A)

Swansea (H)

Crystal Palace (H) 

Nathan Redmond has been a rare bright spark in a poor season so far for Southampton 

Southampton (18th, 23 points)

Form - Since their last win on November 26 - 4-1 over Everton in David Unsworth's last game in caretaker charge, for you ancient history fans - the Saints have slowly and quietly slipped into the bottom three. That's 12 games - six have been 1-1 draws.

Reasons to be cheerful - It's not as if Mauricio Pellegrino's team have imploded, they remain tight at the back; Alex McCarthy has done well since replacing the dropped Fraser Forster. In attack, Nathan Redmond and James Ward-Prowse continue to create and improve.

Reasons to be fearful - Southampton's home form is bad, that Everton victory is one of only three in the league at St. Mary's this season. With Charlie Austin injury prone, Shane Long unreliable and Manolo Gabbiadini out of form, they lack a goalscorer.

How was their January? - After finally getting rid of Virgil van Dijk for a record £75m fee, Pellegrino has attempted to solve the striker problem with Guido Carrillo, a £19m buy from Monaco. He netted only four in the first half of Ligue 1 this season.

Next six games

West Brom (A)

Liverpool (H)

Burnley (A) 

Stoke (H)

Newcastle (A)

Swansea (A) 

Since Carlos Carvalhal took over, Swansea have picked up 10 points in five matches

Swansea (19th, 23 points)

Form - Since Carlos Carvalhal became manager, five games, three wins, and victories over Liverpool and Arsenal in the last two home matches. Fans who were disconsolate before now have renewed hope.

Reasons to be cheerful - Carvalhal arrived in Wales off the back of being sacked by second tier Sheffield Wednesday, but has immediately reinvigorated Swansea. Alfie Mawson has been superb at centre back, Sam Clucas dominant in midfield, and the Ayew brothers will provide pace and power up front.

Reasons to be fearful - Carvalhal is not a long term manager, as his CV illustrates - three years at Wednesday is his longest spell at any club - so whether Swansea can maintain their current form is unclear. Also, they struggle for goals, and are joint lowest scorers in the league with Brighton.

How was their January? - Andre Ayew was great in 2015-16 before being sold to West Ham for £20m; he has now returned for £18m. Flop Roque Mesa has been shipped out six months after his signing, with Andy King arriving on loan.

Next six games 

Leicester (A)

Burnley (H)

Brighton (A)

Swansea (H)

Huddersfield (A) 

Southampton (H) 

Holding on to Jonny Evans despite fresh interest is key to West Brom's survival chances

West Bromwich Albion (20th, 20 points)

Form - January finally brought a first league win since August, at home to Brighton, and a manic FA Cup victory at Anfield. Those aside, West Brom remain firmly in the doldrums and are struggling to build momentum.

Reasons to be cheerful - The Baggies needed extra boing after the dire end to Tony Pulis' reign, and Alan Pardew has at least provided that, with West Brom playing with more ambition and attacking threat. Daniel Sturridge is an eye-catching loan signing from Liverpool.

Reasons to be fearful - West Brom have drawn too many games this season, a league most 11, tied with Southampton. They have only scored 19 times; so while Pardew has got his team playing more ambitiously, it still hasn't borne fruit after nearly three months in charge.

How was their January? - Sturridge is an important and much needed signing, but also key has been holding on to Jonny Evans despite fresh interest from Arsenal and Manchester City. Evans can leave for £3m if West Brom go down - but they probably would anyway if they had let him go.

Next six games 

Southampton (H) 

Chelsea (A)

Huddersfield (H) 

Watford (A)

Leicester (H)

Bournemouth (A)