Are Southampton on course to become Premier League's worst ever team?

Only Sunderland in 2005-06 (six) and Sheffield United in 2020-21 (five) have had as few as six points after 19 games in the Premier League

Things are looking bleak for Southampton.

The season has reached the midway mark and the Saints find themselves rock bottom with just six points following Sunday's 2-1 defeat by Crystal Palace.

Even Derby County in 2007-08 - the worst team in Premier League history - had more points at this stage.

BBC Sport looks at the numbers to see if Southampton are on their way to stealing that unwanted accolade.

Why are Southampton struggling?

It has been a rough return to top-flight action for Southampton after their one-season stay in the Championship.

Russell Martin's refusal to compromise on his possession-based principles caused problems and he was sacked earlier this month with only one Premier League win under his belt.

The Saints have shipped 39 goals, with only Wolves and Leicester conceding more, and their 11 errors leading to goals is the most by a side across Europe's big five leagues this term.

The struggles continue at the other end of the pitch. Despite being ranked 16th for big chances created (37), Southampton have scored a league-low 12 goals.

With a mere two goals each, Cameron Archer, Joe Aribo, Tyler Dibling and Adam Armstrong are the leading contenders for the club's top scorer award.

Will Southampton replace Derby as worst team ever?

Derby's 2007-08 season was so bad that Paul Jewell, who took charge of 24 games during that time, said his managerial career "never really recovered".

The Rams finished the campaign with the lowest points tally ever seen in the league (11) and a -69 goal difference. They won only one game.

Yet after 19 games they had seven points - one more than Southampton do now.

But Southampton can take heart from Sheffield United's 2020-21 season.

The Blades looked on course to replace Derby as the Premier League's worst team when they entered the season's halfway stage with just five points.

Unfortunately for Derby, Sheffield United - although they still finished bottom - had 23 points come the end of the season.

How likely is relegation for Southampton?

While Southampton's stats may not appear quite as concerning as Derby's, the numbers suggest Premier League survival isn't on the cards for the Saints.

In the last 122 years, only five teams have had six points or fewer at this stage in an English top flight season. All five went on to be relegated.

The Opta supercomputer has given Southampton a 0.7% chance of staying up.

Can Juric turn it around?

Juric has lost his first two games in charge of Southampton

After a torrid first half of the season, the club are now entering a new era under Ivan Juric.

The Croat has arrived on the south coast optimistic, saying Southampton are capable of "something exceptional" in their fight against relegation.

In Juric's first game in charge - a 1-0 defeat by West Ham - the Saints looked lively with a more direct approach with 6ft 7in striker Paul Onuachu up front, while they were also able to limit their opponents to just two shots on target.

But it was a less promising picture against Crystal Palace, who dominated play after battling back to take the lead.

"We have players who can compete. We are competing and we have to be much better in the details," Juric told BBC's Match of the Day after the game.

"They are fighting every game. We have to believe, there is no other option."