The current Premier League campaign has been an enthralling one, decorated with various mini leagues throughout the League itself. You have the yearly relegation battle, and of course the highly anticipated race for 1st place, and the battle for the coveted 4th Champions League spot. This season has to be the most open in terms of competing for the 4th spot, with four teams all with an able chance of claiming a 4th place finish. The 4th teams striving for the spot are the usual candidates, Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool. This season however has seen the introduction of an outsider in Newcastle United.
Arsenal have been seen this year as poor performers and rightly so, being out of all viable competitions they entered at the beginning of the season. Despite the bad vein of form they have still managed to linger around the Champions league spot and are currently leading the race. The recent result against Tottenham must aid confidence and could spark a run of wins resulting in a fourth place finish. Adding to the win Arsenal undoubtedly have experience of finishing in 4th and in my opinion are favourites along with Chelsea to finish 4th.
Chelsea are another team who have struggled this season. Is this just the team adapting to the footballing philosophy of Andre Villas-Boas or is the aging team coming to the end of its peak years? Either way Chelsea haven’t performed in the manner expected of them. Despite not performing to their excessively high expectations they are also still hanging in there and grinding out whatever they can to win. I believe that as the season goes on the team will adapt to the style of AVB. As already mentioned for me Chelsea are joint favourites with Arsenal to the claim the 4th spot.
Liverpool this season have an outside chance of getting fourth place. Their season up until the Carling Cup final has been below par by Liverpool’s high standards. Liverpool have suffered from too many draw’s against lesser teams at Anfield, usually a fortress for the club. However the vital win at Wembley brought Liverpool their first trophy since the 2006 FA Cup win against West Ham. Could this win spark Liverpool into some form, and set them on their way a top four finish?
Lastly there’s Newcastle United. At the beginning of the season the team where expected to finish in mid-table mediocrity. There is no doubt the team have outperformed themselves, with players like Yohan Cabaye, Cheik Tiote & Demba Ba all being incredibly influential to the sudden rise of the Geordie club. As a result the team has played successful football and won games. Although seen as the curveball of the 4 there is no doubt they have the strength to compete right until the end.
But the fight for fourth realistically lays with two teams as things currently stand. However any lapse in concentration could shift favour back towards Newcastle and Liverpool.
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Arsenal have the easier game as they are against Liverpool at Anfield so should be better for a win ( the least – a draw) today. spurs have a tough one against United and I expect them to lose it.