Who will finish in the Premier League top four this season?

23 February 2021 11:00

Since Manchester City decided they couldn't be bothered with a Premier League title race and instead just opted to run away with it, the main talking point at the top of the table has become the race for the top four.

With teams like Aston Villa and Tottenham still holding games in hand over those above them, the battle for Champions League qualification is a lot more open than you might think.

With that in mind, we've taken a look at each side in with a shout of making the top four, analysing their remaining fixtures and predicting their final points tally.


Manchester United

Solskjaer's side are well placed for a top-four finish | Jonathan Moscrop/Getty Images

Let's be honest, Manchester United's dream of a Premier League title tilt was never going to last longer than about a fortnight.

Nevertheless, the Red Devils still have plenty to play for this season - both domestically and in Europe - and with a six-point cushion between themselves and fifth place Chelsea they're well set for a place in next season's Champions League.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men still have a couple of tricky away days to come with trips to Chelsea, Manchester City and Tottenham on the horizon, but they should have enough quality to see them over the line.

Remaining fixtures

Chelsea (A)
Crystal Palace (A)
Manchester City (A)
West Ham (H)
Brighton (H)
Tottenham (A)
Burnley (H)
Leeds (A)
Liverpool (H)
Aston Villa (A)
Leicester (H)
Fulham (H)
Wolves (A)

Final points prediction: 72


Leicester

James Maddison has been key to Leicester's good form | Matthew Ashton - AMA/Getty Images

You'd like to think that Leicester's place in the Premier League top four looks pretty safe given their current form and the six-point gap between them and fifth place, but their late collapse last season suggests we shouldn't be so sure.

Brendan Rodgers' side will need to continue their good form over the coming weeks if they harbour genuine ambitions of bringing Champions League football back to the King Power Stadium, with their end-of-season run-in looking far from easy.

The Foxes face Manchester United, Chelsea and Tottenham in their final three games of the campaign, and they'll likely need a healthy cushion in the top four spots if they're to avoid a repeat of last season's late slide down the table.

Remaining fixtures

Arsenal (H)
Burnley (A)
Brighton (A)
Sheffield United (H)
Manchester City (H)
West Ham (A)
West Brom (H)
Crystal Palace (H)
Southampton (A)
Newcastle (H)
Manchester United (A)
Chelsea (A)
Tottenham (H)

Final points prediction: 71


West Ham

David Moyes has transformed West Ham | Pool/Getty Images

Even the most ardent West Ham fan would have laughed at the suggestion their team would be challenging for a place in the Champions League with just three months of the season to play - but here we are.

David Moyes has transformed the Hammers into a well-drilled outfit who can beat anyone in the league on their day, with some astute signings adding to an already talented squad.

West Ham face two difficult trips to Manchester in their next three games, and if Moyes can make sure his side is still in touch with the top four in a few weeks, they could well achieve what had looked nigh-on impossible at the start of the season.

Remaining fixtures

Manchester City (A)
Leeds (H)
Manchester United (A)
Arsenal (H)
Wolves (A)
Leicester (H)
Newcastle (A)
Chelsea (H)
Burnley (A)
Everton (H)
Brighton (A)
West Brom (A)
Southampton (H)

Final points prediction: 66


Chelsea

Thomas Tuchel's arrival has breathed life into Chelsea's campaign | Michael Steele/Getty Images

It's fair to say that were it not for the man in the picture above we wouldn't even feel the need to mention Chelsea in this list.

Thomas Tuchel's arrival at Stamford Bridge has reignited the Blues' season and they're now firmly in the race for the top four, though the former Paris Saint-Germain boss will be disappointed to have only come away from out-of-form Southampton with a point last time out.

Chelsea's destiny remains in their own hands, with Tuchel's men set to face eight of the other nine sides currently sitting in the top half of the Premier League before the season's end, and their away games with Manchester City and Aston Villa towards the end of the campaign could prove to be key.

Remaining fixtures

Manchester United (H)
Liverpool (A)
Everton (H)
Leeds (A)
West Brom (H)
Crystal Palace (A)
Brighton (H)
West Ham (A)
Fulham (H)
Manchester City (A)
Arsenal (H)
Leicester (H)
Aston Villa (A)

Final points prediction: 67


Liverpool

Liverpool's usually reliable frontline is struggling this season | Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

This year's Premier League has been full of surprises, but Liverpool's abject title defence probably tops the lot.

While Jurgen Klopp can bemoan the defensive injuries suffered by his squad, it's the Reds' lack of goals that's had the biggest impact on their stuttered campaign.

After four defeats on the bounce, Liverpool have a serious challenge ahead of them if they're to qualify for the Champions League - y'know, unless they just go and win the thing again.

Remaining fixtures

Sheffield United (A)
Chelsea (H)
Fulham (H)
Wolves (A)
Arsenal (A)
Aston Villa (H)
Leeds (A)
Newcastle (H)
Manchester United (A)
Southampton (H)
West Brom (A)
Burnley (A)
Crystal Palace (H)

Final points prediction: 69


Everton

Carlo Ancelotti could be set to lead Everton into the Champions League | Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images

If Everton weren't insistent on losing every seemingly 'easy' fixture they play, Carlo Ancelotti's side would probably be top of the league by now.

In fairness, you could never accuse the Toffees of being boring; in the last month they've lost at home to struggling Newcastle and Fulham as well as picking up four points away at Manchester United and Liverpool.

Predicting Everton's final points tally is absolutely pointless given their erratic form, but we've done it anyway because, y'know, fun.

Remaining fixtures

Southampton (H)
West Brom (A)
Chelsea (A)
Burnley (H)
Crystal Palace (H)
Brighton (A)
Tottenham (H)
Arsenal (A)
Aston Villa (H)
West Ham (A)
Sheffield United (H)
Wolves (H)
Manchester City (A)
Aston Villa (A) - fixture yet to be allocated a date

Final points prediction: 61


Aston Villa

Jack Grealish has been instrumental in Villa's solid campaign | Pool/Getty Images

Obviously he's not going to win it, but if Dean Smith's name isn't on the Premier League Manager of the Season shortlist then it's a travesty.

It's not quite a Leicester-style turnaround, but to take Aston Villa from the brink of life back in the Championship to challenging for a place in Europe is incredible.

Some savvy transfer business coupled with the fine form of Jack Grealish has meant relegation worries are a thing of the past for Villa, yet they'll do well to finish in the top four, even if they do have two games in hand on the majority of those above them.

Remaining fixtures

Leeds (A)
Sheffield United (A)
Wolves (H)
Newcastle (A)
Tottenham (H)
Fulham (H)
Liverpool (A)
Manchester City (H)
West Brom (H)
Everton (A)
Manchester United (H)
Crystal Palace (A)
Tottenham (A)
Chelsea (H)
Everton (H) - fixture yet to be allocated a date

Final points prediction: 54


Tottenham

Jose Mourinho could still lead his side to a top-four finish | Chloe Knott - Danehouse/Getty Images

You may scoff at Jose Mourinho's side being included in our list, but if they win their game in hand they go just a point behind Liverpool, and you wouldn't rule the champions out of the top four race yet, would you?

However, we're not completely blinkered here - we know that it's going to take a monumental turnaround if Tottenham are to qualify for next season's Champions League. But with Harry Kane and Son Heung-min up top and Gareth Bale showing glimpses of the player we know he can be, you just never know.

For what it's worth, we don't think they will finish in the top four, but it's nice to add a bit of excitement.

Remaining fixtures

Burnley (H)
Fulham (A)
Crystal Palace (H)
Arsenal (A)
Aston Villa (A)
Newcastle (A)
Manchester United (H)
Everton (A)
Sheffield United (H)
Leeds (A)
Wolves (H)
Aston Villa (H)
Leicester (A)
Southampton (H) - fixture yet to be allocated a date

Final points prediction: 62


Final table prediction

1. Manchester City
2. Manchester United
3. Leicester
4. Liverpool
5. Chelsea
6. West Ham
7. Tottenham
8. Everton
9. Aston Villa


Source: 90min