Premier League: Millions left to play for on final day
As Arsenal, Liverpool and Man City fight for the Champions League, other teams will battle for the prize money
Premier League top four: Can Liverpool hold off Man Utd?
28 April
The battle for a top four finish in the Premier League table looks set to go down to the wire with only four weeks of the season remaining and four teams fighting it out for two spots.
Chelsea and Spurs are guaranteed Champions League football, barring a mathematical miracle that would make Leicester City's triumph last season look pedestrian, so the question boils down to which two teams from Liverpool, Man City, Man United and Arsenal will join them.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
At present Liverpool are third with 66 points and four games remaining, City are fourth with 65 points and five more games, United have 64 points and five games to go. The outsiders are Arsenal with only 60 points, but six games left to play.
Row 0 - Cell 0 | Games | Pts |
Chelsea | 33 | 78 |
Spurs | 33 | 74 |
Liverpool | 34 | 66 |
Man City | 33 | 65 |
Man United | 33 | 64 |
Arsenal | 32 | 60 |
Liverpool
The Reds may be third in the table but they are vulnerable as both Manchester clubs are within three points and have played a game less. By the time Liverpool face Watford on Monday they could be down to fifth if their two pursuers win at the weekend.
In their favour they have points on the board and a relatively favourable run-in – although Middlesbrough may need something on the final day of the season:
1 May: Watford (A)
7 May: Southampton (H)
14 May: West Ham (A)
21 May: Middlesbrough (H)
Prediction: Ten points – fourth
Man City
The 0-0 draw against Man United was not the end of the world for Pep Guardiola's team, who are already in the top four and could be up to third if they win at the weekend against Middlesbrough.
With Gabriel Jesus fit once again City should rediscover their scoring touch in the final weeks of the season and secure a top four berth:
30 April: Middlesbrough (A)
6 May: Crystal Palace (H)
13 May: Leicester (H)
16 May: West Brom (H)
21 May: Watford (A)
Prediction: 13 points – third
Man United
Jose Mourinho's team are unbeaten in 24 Premier League games and will set a new record if they avoid defeat against Swansea on Saturday. The problem is that United have become adept at avoiding defeat rather than winning. "United's 24-game run is the eighth-best undefeated top-flight streak within a single season in history and stretches back to a 4-0 loss to Chelsea on October 23. Since then they've won 13 and drawn 11," says Sky Sports.
Winning, not drawing, must be the priority for United in the final weeks of the season, but without Zlatan Ibrahimovic that may be easier said than done during a tough run-in. The silver lining is that United are still in the Europa League and could get into the Champions League via that route.
30 April: Swansea (H)
7 May: Arsenal (A)
14 May: Tottenham (A)
17 May: Southampton (A)
21 May: Crystal Palace (H)
Prediction: 11 points – fifth
Arsenal
Arsene Wenger has never finished outside the top four, but this increasingly looks like the year in which it will happen. The Gunners have endured a miserable 2017 so far with confusion over the future of their manager and several key players, and disquiet in the stands. The Gunners have recorded three wins in a row and booked a place in the FA Cup final, but the side is a long way from being able to intimidate any of their opponents.
To make matters worse the Gunners face a tough run-in with four of their six games against top ten sides.
30 April: Tottenham (A)
7 May: Manchester United (H)
10 May: Southampton (A)
13 May: Stoke City (A)
16 May: Sunderland (H)
21 May: Everton (H)
Prediction: Nine points – sixth
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Big Tech critic Brendan Carr is Trump's FCC pick
In the Spotlight The next FCC commissioner wants to end content moderation practices on social media sites
By David Faris Published
-
ATACMS, the long-range American missiles being fired by Ukraine
The Explainer President Joe Biden has authorized their use for the first time in the war
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
The bacterial consequences of hurricanes
Under the radar Floodwaters are microbial hotbeds
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
The wit and wisdom of Sven-Göran Eriksson
In Depth The first foreign coach to manage England on football, life and death
By The Week Staff Published
-
The Premier League's spending cap: levelling the playing field?
Talking Point Top clubs oppose plans to link spending to income of lowest-earning club, but rule could prevent success gap from widening
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Is a new English football regulator an own goal for the game?
Talking Point PM hails 'historic moment for football fans' but West Ham owner warns it could 'ruin' Premier League
By The Week UK Published
-
English football and the etiquette of leaving the stadium early
Talking Point The belief that 'true fans stay to the end' does not always apply
By The Week UK Published
-
2023-2024 Premier League predictions: champions, relegation and golden boot
feature A look at the top flight talking points and pundit picks for the new season
By Mike Starling Published
-
‘Genuine visionary’: is Pep Guardiola the greatest of all time?
feature Spaniard has now won two trebles following Man City’s Champions League triumph
By The Week Staff Published
-
Champions League final: Man City vs. Inter predictions and preview
feature Can Guardiola’s team finally win the Champions League and complete a historic treble?
By Mike Starling Last updated
-
Man City: can ‘one of the best sides in history’ win the treble?
feature Guardiola’s Premier League champions have two more trophies in their sights
By The Week Staff Published