As we steadily move towards the business end of the Premier League, the curiosity over which teams will make it to the top 4 seems to be reaching every passing day.
To put it literally, the English top-flight is living their own version of the Game of Thrones. As the global phenomenon has got people biting their nails over who lives and who dies and how it all ends, the footballing fraternity's impatience regarding the Premier League's top 4 race knows no bounds.
Liverpool and Manchester City are sure to go through, yet they have locked horns in what seems to be a hot pursuit for the league title, with just the difference of a point separating them.
On the other hand are the remaining 4 teams contesting for the 3rd and 4th position - Tottenham, Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea - all within touching distance of each other.
Based on a little background study, let us try and predict who will make it to the Champions League from England next season.
#1 Liverpool
Let’s begin with the league leaders. Liverpool suffered through a slump in January and February but seemed to have made the ground in time to provide Manchester City with a tough challenge for the title. With the advantage of a point between them, albeit they have played a game more than City, Liverpool are just a just five wins away from their first ever Premier League title. Yet, their domestic triumph still depends on whether Man City lose a game or not. Should City emerge unscathed in all their remaining fixtures, the title certainly won't be coming to Anfield.
Chelsea(H), Cardiff City(A), Huddersfield(H), Newcastle(A), Wolves(H); these are Liverpool's remaining fixtures in the line. As long as the Merseysiders do not commit mistakes in tricky games against Chelsea and Wolves, they will only be banking on City to lose points in their bid to win the title.
#2 Manchester City
Manchester City are actually the real leaders in the title race. The Citizens have displayed noteworthy consistency, they have been in scintillating form since the start of 2019, in spite of going through a cruel and hectic fixture list. They are the only team who can possibly bag a quadruple this season.
City are just a point behind Liverpool with a game in hand and if they can continue their top form, the title is theirs for the taking.
Crystal Palace(A), Tottenham(H), Manchester United(A), Burnley(A), Leicester City(H), Brighton(A) are the Citizens' remaining fixtures for this season.
Man City too have challenging fixtures like Tottenham and Man United in their way for the title. But, considering the side with brimming confidence that the Citizens are, it’s more like their opponents will be worried over the prospect of facing them rather than vice-versa.
#3 Tottenham
Now we turn to the second interesting battle amongst the top 6 sides. Tottenham, just like Liverpool, have allowed the likes of Arsenal, Man United and Chelsea to get close to them, given their recent slump in form.
Huddersfield(H), Man City(A), Brighton(H), West Ham(H), Bournemouth (A), Everton(H) are Tottenham's remaining fixtures for the season.
The main advantage the Lillywhites have is 4 of the 6 games are to be played at home, which will definitely give them an edge in all those matches. The away fixture to Bournemouth also doesn't seem much of a challenge, albeit it certainly isn't a pushover.
However, the one game Mauricio Pochettino has got to worry about is the away trip to Manchester City. A loss of even a single point and Tottenham's UCL qualification hopes will suffer a massive blow.
#4 Arsenal
Arsenal have clawed back closer to Tottenham and made it safely into the top 4 – for now.
Everton(A), Watford(A), Crystal Palace(H), Wolves(A), Leicester(A), Brighton(H) is the remaining fixture list on the calendar for the Gunners.
In contrast to other sides, Arsenal comparatively have an easy fixture list to tend to, with Wolves being the only unpredictable game they have yet to play. However, the fact that they have to play 4 away games out of the remaining 6 means they still cannot guarantee their qualification to the Premier League Champions League.
#5 Chelsea
Maurizio Sarri's Chelsea have come within touching distance of Champions League qualification after going 5th in the league table. Having started as title contenders, the Blues are now struggling to book a berth in the Champions League next season.
West Ham(H), Liverpool(A), Burnley(H), Manchester United(A), Watford(H), Leicester City(A) are the remaining games for Chelsea in the league.
Looking at Chelsea's inconsistent form, their qualification chances are looking extremely bleak at the moment. The away fixtures against Liverpool and Manchester United could well seal the fate for the Blues.
One thing is certain though. Should Chelsea fail to qualify for the UCL, Roman Abrahamovic will not think twice in wielding the axe on Maurizio Sarri.
However, even if Chelsea fail to get into the top 4, they could emulate Manchester United and book a place by winning the Europa League this season.
#6 Manchester United
Manchester United have done unbelievably well to come into a position to even compete for a spot in the top 4. It would be a shame if they fail to qualify after coming this far.
West Ham(H), Everton(A), Manchester City(H), Chelsea(H), Huddersfield(A), Cardiff(H) are their remaining matches for the season.
We can surely trust Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to guide his boys safely through West Ham, Everton, Huddersfield and Cardiff, can't we? But the games against Manchester City and Chelsea will be yet another two big tests Solskjaer will have to pass – this time to assure the club that they didn't place their trust in the wrong person.
United will certainly have a psychological edge since they will play both sides at home, but the results still are far from being guaranteed.
Prediction: Having briefly studied the fixture list and each team's current form, Manchester City will go on to win the title with Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester United making it to the top 4 on the last day.
