has delivered a fresh and controversial verdict on the Premier League relegation battle, insisting that the fight to avoid the drop is now effectively a two-way scrap between and —despite the tight points gap involving .
The former Manchester United defender made his comments after a dramatic weekend of results that saw Forest suffer a heavy 5-0 defeat to Sunderland, only for West Ham to immediately reignite pressure with a crucial win over Everton. Those results have compressed the bottom half of the table once again, with just three points separating Forest and West Ham.
However, Neville remains unconvinced that Forest are truly in danger.
Speaking on Sky Sports, he suggested that Forest may already have done enough to survive, while narrowing the survival battle to two clubs.
“I think Leeds are okay, I think Nottingham Forest probably need one more win, but I think they’re okay. I do think it’s West Ham or Spurs now,” Neville said.
His assessment has sparked debate, particularly given the unpredictable nature of both West Ham and Forest’s recent form. While Forest have shown significant improvement in parts of the season, their schedule remains challenging, with tough fixtures against , , , and Bournemouth still to come, alongside European commitments in the Europa League semi-finals.
West Ham, meanwhile, have quietly built momentum at a crucial stage of the campaign, pulling themselves back into contention after what had looked like a worrying spell earlier in the season.
Tottenham’s position also remains uncertain, with inconsistency continuing to define their campaign, leaving them vulnerable if results turn against them in the final stretch.
While Neville’s comments suggest Forest may be edging toward safety, the reality remains far from settled. Just a handful of points separate multiple teams, and with several head-to-head-style battles still to come, the relegation picture is far from clear.
For now, the battle continues to tighten rather than resolve, with every remaining fixture carrying significant weight in one of the most unpredictable survival races in recent Premier League history.
