Race for the top four: Who claims the Champions League spots?

The title race may well be in full swing and gaining the most attention; however, the fight for the remaining Champions League spots is also worthy of close inspection.

It may be obvious that the Premier League title will be heading to either Liverpool or Manchester City. Either side would be worthy champions following a campaign of excellent performances, but the final two Champions League spots are under siege from four different teams.

Tottenham and Arsenal currently occupy those remaining places, but the two London outfits have Manchester United and Chelsea breathing closely behind them.

The ‘run in’ is often referred to as the period of time that teams go through when playing their final ten matches of the season. It is the period when teams could make late surges for a European spot, or the time that the eventual destination of the title is decided. But, with less than ten matches remaining, who do the candidates for the top four each have to play?

Tottenham

Remaining matches: Liverpool (A), Crystal Palace (H), Huddersfield (H), Man City (A), Brighton (H), West Ham (H), Bournemouth (A), Everton (H).

Spurs had originally been part of the race for the title but, over recent weeks, the London outfit have drifted away and find themselves leading the chase for a European spot.

Mauricio Pochettino’s side will have no easy task in claiming a European spot, however, as they take on the League’s top-two away from home in quick succession. Spurs will be boosted by the move to their new home and the move back to North London could prove vital in claiming the third Champions League spot.

With eight fixtures remaining, the London outfit claimed an average 1.25 from their last eight matches

Arsenal

Remaining matches: Newcastle (H), Everton (A), Watford (A), Crystal Palace (H), Wolves (A), Leicester (A), Brighton (H), Burnley (A).

It was always going to be a period of transition for Arsenal under Unai Emery, so nobody was expecting them to make an immediate charge for the title. However, the London side have given themselves a good platform on which to base an assault for a Champions League spot on.

The Gunners face just two of the current top eight and two of the bottom six in their remaining fixtures this campaign but, with an average points total of 2.38 from their previous eight matches, Arsenal have the best form heading into the final run-in.

Manchester United

Remaining matches: Watford (H), Wolves (A), West Ham (H), Everton (A), Man City (H), Chelsea (H), Huddersfield (A), Cardiff City (H).

If there was to be a sure-fire way of making yourself a firm candidate for the permanent job at Manchester United, then having a win percentage of 73.7% from 19 matches in all competitions would certainly be one way of doing so.

And that’s exactly how it has been for Ole Gunnar Solksjaer upon his return to Old Trafford. The Dane has tasted defeat on just three occasions since taking over from Jose Mourinho, turning the Red Devils from a out-of-sorts struggling side to a team now playing a free-flowing style of football.

United take on three of the top seven in their final eight fixtures of the season; however, before their defeat at Arsenal, the Reds were on an unbeaten run of twelve matches that stretched back to 16 December 2018. Solskjaer’s side have picked up seventeen points from their previous eight fixtures, picking up an average 2.13 points per match.

Chelsea

Remaining fixtures: Cardiff (A), Brighton (H), West Ham (H), Liverpool (A), Burnley (H), Man United (A), Watford (H), Leicester (A).

Maurizio Sarri is treading on thin ice at Stamford Bridge. The Italian’s side have won two of their previous five League matches and at one point suffered 4-0 and 6-0 defeats at Bournemouth and Manchester City respectively.

The Chelsea boss appeared to lose all levels of control in the Caraboa Cup defeat to Manchester City as Kepa Arrizabalaga refused to come off as a substitute; but the Blues bounced back with a 2-0 win over Tottenham. Although, having progressed to the Europa League Quarter-Finals, Sarri’s side face four matches in ten days as their involved in domestic and European action.

The Blues, however, have picked up just ten points from their previous eight matches and head into the final run-in with an average of 1.25 points per game from that time frame.

So, having taken into account each of the four side’s current run of form and upcoming matches, Arsenal and Manchester United appear the two most in-form sides as we head into the final run-in.

Who do you think will finish in the final Champions League spots this season? Which of the four candidates above do you think will have to settle for a place in the Europa League next season?