After two of the top four teams dropped points this week, the race for Champions League football has really opened up with four teams fighting for two places!
Every year, the race for the top four is an exciting one. At the start of the season, you can usually pick six teams who should get it and then they’re always a couple of surprises. This year’s surprises are Leicester and Wolves.
Arsenal and Spurs have had very disappointing campaigns. Both sides started off badly and as a result, saw Pochettino and Emery sacked. Arsenal are currently 7th, eight points off top four and Spurs are eighth, nine points off top four.
Now, before football took a break, Leicester looked like they were a cert for getting Champions League football. Most bookmakers predicted it would be a two-way fight between Man United and Chelsea. Since then, however, Leicester have fallen apart and this has allowed United and Wolves to catch up. On top of that Chelsea dropped points last night to West Ham, making it even more interesting!
Top four in England is vital for any club who are looking to rebuild and challenge for the league. Not only does it bring in lots of money but it also attracts the best players in the world. The Champions League is the biggest club competition and as a result, if a team is playing in it players will want to join.
But, who is really looking like they will be able to get themselves in the top four this season?
Chelsea and Leicester both dropped points. Here’s how the premier league table looks now: pic.twitter.com/t38Ea3GPpi
— Manchester United (@ManUnitedWorld) July 1, 2020
Race For Top Four
Leicester – 3rd, 55 points (4/5 Paddy Power)
Now, as we said earlier it looked like Brendan Rodgers had had the perfect first season at his new club. However, in the three games played since the restart, Leicester has just two points. This could have easily been one point had it not been for a penalty save from Schmeichel.
They aren’t looking the same side that were up there with Man City and Liverpool around Christmas and need to change something to bring that back. Leicesters run in is also a very difficult one. They still have to play Arsenal, Spurs, Sheffield United and Man United who are all wanting European football. On top of this, they have to play Bournemouth who is looking to survive! Looking at this run-in, it looks very hard for them to get top four, especially the way they’re playing.
Chelsea – 4th, 54 points (1/2 Paddy Power)
Lampard’s side looked like they had cemented themselves as a top-four team when they beat City last week. However, they followed this up with a 3-2 defeat to West Ham last night. If they don’t get it at the end of the season, it will be their inconsistency to blame for it.
Chelsea on paper has a very good team and when they are at their best they can be very good. But Lampard needs to work out his strongest 11 and stick with it for the remaining games. Chelsea has to play Sheffield United, Liverpool and Wolves on the last day of the season. All of these will be tough games, but Chelsea will expect to get something out of the Sheffield and Wolves game at least. Their other remaining games are against bottom-half opposition who you would expect them to beat. Taking this into account, we expect Chelsea to get into the top four, whether it be third or fourth though we aren’t sure!
Man United – 5th, 52 points (4/9 Paddy Power)
Paddy Powers favourites to get top four and the way they are playing you can’t blame them. Since Bruno Fernandes came in he has made them look a different side. Since the restart United have take seven points from a possible nine and were unlucky not to beat Spurs. If they can carry on how they are playing then United fans should be very excited for what’s to come.
They still have to play Leicester on the final day, but other than that games against West Ham, Bournemouth, Aston Villa, Southampton and Palace shouldn’t come as too much of a worry. Obviously they shouldn’t take the opposition for granted as this is United, a side who has loved a slip up this season. But now they have Pogba and Rashford back fit, we expect them to be playing in the Champions Leauge next season.
Wolves – 6th, 52 points (11/4 Paddy Power)
Now, two weeks ago no one would have expected Wolves to be in with a real shout of top four but here they are! Wolves are in great form since returning, winning all three and still yet to concede. Wolves are a very tough side to play, who can play when they need to but also get physical if the game changes.
Out of their remaining six games, their toughest ones are against Arsenal, Sheffield United and Chelsea on the final day of the season. Should Wolves still be in touching distance of the top for that game against Chelsea could be a fantastic one! These will all be tough games for Nuno’s side, as they are yet to beat any of them in the league this season. Top four is possible this season, but we feel it may be just a step too far this year.
