It looks set to be another intriguing battle to secure a top four spot in the Premier League this season, with so many sides competing for those places.
Some big names could well miss out on the Champions League positions, and it’s a fight that looks like it could go down to the last day of the season.
Underdogs with a Head Start
Two names that many football punters would have overlooked at the start of the season for Champions League football are those of Leicester City and West Ham. The Foxes, who are 1.53 in the English Premier League Top 4 Finish Odds, have come on leaps and bounds since manager Brendan Rodgers’ arrival. Leicester have only had one previous visit to the Champions League, after their shock Premier League title win back in 2016. With the likes of Harvey Barnes, James Maddison and Jamie Vardy in their ranks, the Foxes could be on the verge of a return to Europe’s elite competition.
Meanwhile, even the most ardent of West Ham fans would have struggled to anticipate the Hammers battling for Champions League football this term. Manager David Moyes has turned his side into a team capable of beating any team in the Premier League, and now they find themselves right in the mix for a top-four finish. Of course, there will be questions over whether they can keep the pace, but even earning Europa League football would be a monumental achievement for this side.
Big Names Playing Catch-up
Such has been the competitive nature of the Premier League this season that the likes of Liverpool, Tottenham and Arsenal are all playing catch-up for a top four place. The Gunners might well have left it too late after a poor start to the season, and it could be yet another year without Champions League football.
Arsenal’s north London rivals Tottenham have started to find some form of late, and will fancy their chances of breaking into the top four this term. Wales international forward Gareth Bale has started to refind his form at Spurs following his loan return from Real Madrid, and it has come at an ideal time. If boss Jose Mourinho can be fortunate on the injury front, Spurs are certainly worth considering in the top-four betting.
Reigning champions Liverpool have been forced to endure a torrid couple of months, with their fortress of Anfield becoming a happy hunting ground for visiting teams. While the Reds have been going through a tough spell, they still have one of the best attacking lineups in the league and are more than capable of putting a winning run together.
With eight or even nine teams still feeling like they have a chance to make it into the top four, the race for the Champions League could be one of the most exciting witnessed in recent Premier League history.