A look at who’s in the best shape for a top four finish this season.
Tottenham
A recent poor run of form and the loss of Gareth Bale to injury has seen Tottenham slip to 5th in the table. They had been in the in-form team for much of the season and arguably favourites to finish 3rd, though they now face a tougher looking remaining sent of fixtures than their rivals. They face Manchester City this weekend, possibly without Bale, and still have to face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in what will be a crucial six-pointer.
Prediction: 4th.
Everton
Everton are enjoying one of their most convincing seasons under David Moyes, but it looks as though their record against the other top four contenders is going to cost them. While they can’t be totally written off, they could have done with a win against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium last night. Now a couple of points behind in 6th, the teams immediately above them have games in hand on them, so the gap could be increased. With trips to Anfield and Stamford Bridge still to come, it’s hard to see them breaking into the Champions League places this time, though it can still be counted as a successful season for a club of their resources.
Prediction: 6th.
Chelsea
Chelsea’s inconsistent league form doesn’t lend itself well to a strong finishing position. With interim manager Rafael Benitez probably prioritising a trophy over a Champions League place, it’s likely that their results will continue to be mixed and they will fall just short. However, after being knocked out of the FA Cup to Manchester City at the semi-final stage, the Europa League is now their only distraction, and it’s a competition that can vary in how tasking it is. Nevertheless, the Blues seem like the most likely team to miss out on the top four this season.
Prediction: 5th.
Arsenal
Olivier Giroud should have scored and Arsenal missed out on a good opportunity to beat Everton last night. A win would’ve made them firm favourites, but still, with an easy-looking fixture list and a track record of finishing seasons strongly, it’s hard to see the other teams toppling the Gunners at the moment. They are the in-form team, sitting in 3rd, and have won seven out of their last eight in the league. Although it’s quite close between 3rd and 6th, it would take some collapse if Arsenal weren’t in the Champions League again next season.
Prediction: 3rd.