The Premier League season goes down to the wire. Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United are both in genuine danger of dropping out of the top flight, with the identity of the final relegated side set to be decided on the last day of the campaign.

Spurs miss the chance to make themselves safe

Tottenham had the opportunity to put the relegation battle to bed but a chronic lack of clinical finishing let them down at a critical moment. Former goalkeeper Joe Hart and ex-midfielder Danny Murphy, analysing the situation for BBC Sport, were unequivocal: Spurs squandered chances that, taken, would have all but secured their survival. Instead, north London's second club go into the final day with everything still to play for.

The noises out of the club have been cautiously optimistic — chairman Daniel Levy has spoken publicly about his belief that Tottenham will avoid the drop — but results have done little to justify that confidence over the course of a deeply troubling season.

West Ham also in the mix

It is not just Spurs sweating. West Ham are equally exposed, and the final-day permutations could yet drag in other sides. The situation is as tense as the Premier League has produced in years, with supporters of multiple clubs spending the week running through scenarios, checking goal differences and refreshing fixture lists.

Murphy and Hart put it plainly in their BBC Sport breakdown: there is so much on the line. That is not hyperbole. Relegation from the Premier League carries enormous financial consequences — the loss of television revenue alone can run into hundreds of millions of pounds, and the ripple effects on squad-building, commercial partnerships and managerial ambition can be felt for years afterwards.

The margins are razor-thin

What makes this particular battle so gripping is how fine the margins have become. Tottenham's inability to convert in front of goal has been the recurring theme of their campaign, and it has dragged them into a fight they might otherwise have avoided comfortably. One or two moments of composure at the right time could have rendered the final day irrelevant for Spurs. Instead, those missed opportunities now carry a potentially catastrophic cost.

The market has been active all week as punters and analysts alike try to price in every conceivable outcome. Neither club's fate is in their own hands entirely — results elsewhere will matter — which only adds to the unbearable tension.

What happens next

All the relevant fixtures kick off simultaneously on the final day, as is Premier League custom, ensuring nothing can be settled before the full picture emerges. Supporters of Tottenham and West Ham will need strong nerves. One — possibly both — could be playing Championship football next season.

For a club of Tottenham's size and ambition, relegation would represent a seismic moment. For West Ham, it would be no less devastating. The final day cannot come quickly enough — and yet, for fans of both clubs, it probably cannot be delayed long enough either.

Frequently asked

Are Tottenham getting relegated this season?
Tottenham are not safe yet and face a relegation decider on the final day of the Premier League season. Their failure to take chances in recent matches has left them in danger alongside West Ham.
What do Spurs need to avoid relegation on the final day?
The exact permutations depend on other results, but Tottenham need a positive result on the final day while also keeping an eye on what West Ham and any other sides in the drop zone do simultaneously.
Could West Ham be relegated from the Premier League?
Yes. West Ham are among the clubs in danger of going down on the final day of the season, alongside Tottenham, making it one of the most tense run-ins in recent Premier League memory.