The Premier League Top Four: Our Predictions

This season is proving to be one of the most fascinating and evenly contested in recent memory. Not only is the race for the title still wide open, a place in the top four is still by no means guaranteed for any side. Some of The Football Blog’s pundits attempt to predict the unpredictable in selecting who they think will finish in the top spots.

Bob Bamber – 1st Chelsea, 2nd Man Utd, 3rd Arsenal, 4th Man City

My feelings are that United are too heavily reliant on Rooney. If he gets injured, they may really struggle to score goals. If he makes it through the season, I think they will be able to run Chelsea close, but I don’t think they have goals coming from other areas that they used to. Chelsea have quality from all areas, even if their squad is getting on a bit.

Arsenal in third is a given – at their best they are very very good, and have goals to burn. But as the game against United showed, defensively they are still poor.

I don’t think Tottenham or Liverpool have the balance in their squads to mount a serious challenge for fourth. I think that Villa will push City hard, but City have individuals that can produce those moments of magic that you need to get over the line. Everton could peak late into the season too.

Joe Elvin - 1st Chelsea, 2nd Man Utd, 3rd Arsenal, 4th Liverpool

Title-chasers Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal have all but confirmed their place in the top four this season but the race for fourth spot looks like becoming closer than ever before.

Tottenham currently occupy fourth place and with Jermain Defoe and Peter Crouch in thunderous form, they look well equipped to keep up the fight.

Hot on their heels are Liverpool, who despite having suffered their worst campaign in recent memory, are only a point away from regaining their place in the Champions League next year.

Manchester City’s Arab billionaire owners will no doubt be ready to yield the axe if Roberto Mancini can’t guide his side into the top four this season but recent performances suggest that they are more than in with a shout of making fourth spot their own as well.

It’s also too early to write off Aston Villa who put up a decent challenge last year and have already claimed the scalps of Manchester United and Chelsea as well as reaching the Carling Cup Final.

It will no doubt go to the wire but my head says that Liverpool are still the favourites to save their season by grabbing the final spot.

Although I’ve been saying this since August and am yet to have been proved right; they can’t carry on playing this badly all season can they?

James Hutchison – 1st Chelsea, 2nd Man Utd, 3rd Arsenal, 4th Aston Villa

With Drogba back and scoring again, Chelsea should push on and claim the title. Terry’s shenanigans might have an impact, although he seems to have played even better since the story of his indiscretion broke.  A win at Old Trafford on 3rd April could decide the title.

In my opinion, it will become a two-horse race over the next couple of weeks, but I think United will fall short.

Arsenal are short of firepower without Robin Van Persie to challenge the top two, but play the best football which should keep them in the top four.  They have favourable fixtures once they’ve played Liverpool and they should open up a lead over fourth.

It’s a battle for fourth spot, and this is slightly controversial, but I think Aston Villa’s Carling Cup success might make them hungry for more. If they can get something out of the United game, they should go on a decent run over the next month or so.

Richard Bourne – 1st Man Utd, 2nd Chelsea, 3rd Liverpool, 4th Arsenal

Following Chelsea’s defeat over Arsenal at the weekend, I think it’s one from two for the top spot and I can see United claiming it. It’s this stage of the season where Sir Alex Ferguson’s men are at their most ruthless, and in my opinion they have the experience to finish the job. Ancelotti’s time will come, just not this season.

The battle for fourth is as intriguing as the title race itself. Arsenal have had a treacherous run of fixtures of later and it has shown that they are some way off the top two. It has also served to highlight their need for a world class striker in the absence of Robin Van Persie.

The momentum is with Liverpool and I can see them putting a run together, especially without the added distraction of Champions League football (OK, they’re in the Europa League but that hardly counts) and with the prospect of Fernando Torres returning. But then again, if Arsenal win tomorrow night it could be a whole different story …

What do you think of our predictions. Are they complete pie in the sky or is there a modicum of sense in there somewhere? How do you see the top four finishing? As ever, let us know your thoughts.

February 9, 2010