Can Any of the Chasing Pack Break into the Premier League Top 4 this Season?

The Premier League table is tighter than ever this season, with just nine points separating Liverpool in fourth, and Bournemouth in 15th - but can any of the chasing pack break into the top 4?

Arsenal are almost certain to get a Champions League place for next season, and Manchester City and Aston Villa have a 10-point cushion over fifth-placed Brentford. The middle of the table is only separated by a few points, so a run of wins can propel any of the teams up the table, as Newcastle have recently found out, winning their last three games and moving from the bottom half into sixth place.

Sunderland and Everton were in similar positions before Christmas, but their results have since tapered off; that is the opposite to Brentford, who are on a fantastic run of form, largely thanks to the goals from Igor Thiago. Four wins and a draw have seen them climb into fifth place, just two behind Liverpool.

Top 4 Betting Odds

To discuss the latest odds for a top 4 finish, we spoke to thatsagoal to get their betting expertise:

"Arsenal and Manchester City surely have a top 4 spot secured, even with 17 games of the season left, and Aston Villa should have a big enough gap to keep their place at the top table too. However, the race for the final place is heating up, and at the moment, Liverpool are getting enough results to keep the other teams at bay. Arne Slot's side still has work to do to qualify for the Champions League knock-out stage, so they'll be entering a busy run of fixtures in February, and their squad is looking quite short with injuries to Isak and Bradley only compounding this.

This season is the perfect chance for the "smaller" clubs to break the monopoly of the "Big 6" with Manchester United, Chelsea and particularly Tottenham all struggling for any kind of consistency. That being said, Chelsea are only four points off the top four and Manchester United three, so they are right in the mix"

Liverpool are 4/9 to finish in the top 4, Chelsea are 11/4, Manchester United are 5/1, and Newcastle are 6/1. Manchester United have the added incentive of being out of all the cup competitions already, though, so they will have the much-needed rest between games. However, more off-field problems are plaguing their season, and Michael Carrick has a tough job on his hands to get United back into the Champions League.

Eddie Howe's Newcastle are one of the form sides in the league, but like the teams around them, they lack consistency when it comes to a run of results, and Chelsea falls into that bracket too. Liam Rosenior is the new man in charge there, and the pressure will be on immediately to get results.

Despite their position in the league, Brentford will not have the squad to keep up this pace, and Fulham, Brighton, Everton, Sunderland, Crystal Palace, Tottenham, and Bournemouth are all showing far too much inconsistency to put a sustained charge to the top 4 together.”

Final Verdict

Liverpool are in a prime position to end the season in the top 4, with Chelsea looking like their nearest challengers, but the football purists will all be willing one of the other teams to break the monopoly.

Arsenal and Manchester City are all but secured in the top 4 and it would take a really poor run of results for Aston Villa to miss out. Reports suggest that Villa need Champions League football for their finances and it will be vital for Unai Emery to secure a place at the top table next season.

Chelsea look set to be the nearest challengers to fourth placed Liverpool, but it remains to be seen how quickly the new manager can turn results around. Of the chasing pack, Newcastle looks to be the team most likely to continue to climb the table.