Meet the teams joining Chelsea and Man City in the Premier League top 4
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With Chelsea now on at 1/7 to win the Premier League it seems only the most optimistic fans of other clubs would wager on their side pipping the Blues to the title.
However, there are other markets to enjoy and the race for the top four is looking likely to be one of the most fiercely contested in Premier league history.
Chelsea (1/3000) and Manchester City (1/100) look assured of their places but it is slightly harder to pick from there.
Here, James Curtis weighs up the chances of the others vying to earn a spot in next year’s Champion’s League.
That United are currently sitting in the top four despite their worst start since 1986 shows that teams are struggling this year.
However, the Red Devils will take great confidence from their win over Arsenal and traditionally click into gear over the busy Christmas period.
A few defensive arrivals in January and it should be plain sailing from there.
While United are said to be mid-crisis they still sit four places above Arsenal at present, with the Gunners languishing in eighth having won just two of their last seven.
The Emirates outfit are also in need of defensive reinforcement and could struggle if January purchases are not made.
Arsene Wenger has never finished outside the top four but there are perhaps some fans that would like the run to come to an end in order to see the Frenchman leave and make way for a new era.
Given that the Saints were among the favourites for relegation their season has been nothing short of astonishing so far.
However, they have had a fairly easy run of things to date and face City, United, Chelsea and Arsenal twice between now and New Year’s Day.
How they fare over those games will show whether they really are genuine top four contenders.
Liverpool without Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge is like Mila Kunis without her two front teeth and while one of those incisors is due back in the coming weeks it won’t be enough for the sorry Reds. Avoid at all costs!
The Toffees are on a decent run of late but in truth have been taking points where they would expect to.
The gulf in class between them and the top sides – they have picked up just two points from four games with United, Chelsea and Liverpool – is telling and shows why it’ll be the Europa League again next year.
Tottenham cracked the top four twice under Harry Redknapp but those finishes are now a distant memory.
Harry Kane has been a bright spark but the young Englishman aside Spurs do not have the firepower to mount a serious top four challenge as losses against Stoke, West Brom and this year’s Liverpool attest.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
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