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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Tom Blow

Premier League top four race analysed as Tottenham hold five games in hand on Chelsea

A few months ago, many were backing Chelsea to challenge Manchester City and Liverpool for the Premier League title.

Now, however, the Blues are looking over their shoulder as the race for Champions League qualification hots up.

Six teams are currently battling for a top-four finish: Chelsea, West Ham, Arsenal, Tottenham, Manchester United and Wolves.

Leicester, who have five games in hand on Thomas Tuchel's side, still have an outside chance of pushing for Europe but aren't being considered at this moment in time.

Here, Mirror Football analyses each team and their chances of playing in Europe's biggest competition next season.

Who will finish in the top four this season? Let us know in the comments below!

Chelsea

Thomas Tuchel hopes his Chelsea team can get back on track (Getty Images)

The reigning European champions should still have more than enough to finish in the top four, despite their lacklustre 1-1 draw against Brighton on Tuesday evening.

Chelsea have won just one of their last five Premier League games during the most disruptive moment of Tuchel's one-year reign.

Romelu Lukaku's controversial interview with Italian reporters - released at the end of last month - threw a spanner in the manager's plans and the team are yet to recover.

Unless something dramatic happens to Man City's and Liverpool's form, their chances of winning the title are none existent.

"If you look at our schedule, look at where we come from, we struggle with it," said Tuchel after the Brighton game.

"When you're tired - mentally and physically - you have a lack of position and a lack of focus. You can see it in our game but we know where it comes from.

"I can even feel it myself. At some point you sit on the bus and think 'where are we going?'

"You have to refocus and think where are we going, when are we there, which time do we play and when is the next meeting?

"It's like this since November. We are the team that plays and plays and plays so you feel it, of course.

"That's why we need to de-connect, recharge the batteries and come back with hunger and joy to fight these matches. It's necessary."

Tuchel will need to get his talisman firing again if they are to make sure of their Champions League status - allowing them to focus on retaining their European crown, winning the EFL Cup final and challenging for the FA Cup.

West Ham

David Moyes is doing a stunning job at West Ham (PA)

The Hammers are currently fourth and have been consistent throughout the season, often bouncing back from a defeat.

The table is misleading, though. David Moyes' team have played more games than all of their top-four rivals - bar Chelsea - and hold a mere two-point lead.

The chasing pack are hunting them down and, unless they add to their squad in January, will probably run out of steam against their richer opponents.

Still, Moyes and his ambitious players won't be giving up without a fight.

"The reason why I’m able to say we can challenge them [the top teams] is because of what I’ve seen from the players," said the Scottish manager last month.

"What I’ve seen from the players and what I’ve seen during the start is not disappointing. It’s given me confidence to talk about the players in a positive way.

"The players have stepped up again and they are on it... we have improved and it has given me confidence that we can challenge the top four.

"I could never turn around and say we will be a top four team, not where we are at the moment.

"I think the consistency to stay in the top eight will always give us a chance of seeing what we can do."

Arsenal

Mikel Arteta is eyeing-up a Champions League spot with Arsenal (Getty Images)

Many believe the Gunners will win the Champions League race after an impressive revival under manager Mikel Arteta.

After losing their first three Premier League games of the season, Arsenal have stormed into fifth and almost stopped Man City's winning run last time out in a 2-1 defeat.

Arteta's side are currently two points behind West Ham and two points ahead of Tottenham, beating teams in the bottom half of the table - bar Everton - with ease.

And if they win their three games in hand on Chelsea, they will go level on points with the European champions.

The problem for Arsenal is the teams below them all have games in hand, too. Will they crack under the pressure?

Finishing in the top four is a big ask for a team that was expected to break back into the top six at the beginning of the season.

"If Arsenal lose five games in a row and end up 10th in the table then people will be calling for his [Arteta's] head again," said Arsenal legend Ray Parlour last month.

"He’s just got to keep this going now... that would be an unbelievable season if Arsenal can come fourth."

Tottenham

Antonio Conte's Tottenham are quietly going about their business (PA)

Looking at the table and the impact Antonio Conte has had since his appointment in November, Spurs fans will be confident of a top-four finish.

Tottenham haven't lost in the Premier League since the Italian succeeded Nuno Espirito Santo and are just four points behind West Ham with four games in hand.

In fact, Conte's side will go four points clear of Chelsea if they win all five of their games in hand on Tuchel's battling giants.

That is a big if, of course, but Harry Kane and his team-mates will be confident of winning enough games to force their way into Europe's elite.

Considering their form and games in hand, Tottenham - after Chelsea - have to be the favourites to bag a Champions League spot.

"I am not scared, I trust in my players to fight and stay close," said Conte in November, shortly after his appointment.

"Then if there is one team that slips this season or makes a mistake, we must be there to do our best. I repeat I don’t want to say we’ll finish in this position or that.

"The club called me to improve the situation for the present and the future... I know that I can work here in the way I like and that we can improve to fight."

Manchester United

Ralf Rangnick's hopes of guiding Manchester United to the Champions League look slim (Getty Images)

The Red Devils may have the most expensive squad - in terms of wages - in the Premier League but its hard to see them putting a run together at this moment in time.

That's not to say that's impossible. Man Utd are seventh, five points behind West Ham with two games in hand. They're not out of the race just yet.

The team is a mess, however, and haven't put a decent run together since Cristiano Ronaldo returned to the club. Coincidence? Not a chance.

Since Ralf Rangnick's appointment in November, Man Utd have won, won, drawn, won, lost and drawn in the Premier League. If they keep that form up, it won't be good enough.

Arsenal and Tottenham already have a head start in their top-four hunt and it'll be hard to better their respective results between now and May.

"Man Utd have a great chance to build momentum and get on a good run," said ex-striker Dimitar Berbatov earlier this month.

"They could be back in the mix under Ralf Rangnick. It's a marathon, not a sprint."

Wolves

Bruno Lage's Wolves were tipped for the Championship... now they're pushing for the Champions League (Getty Images)

Bruno Lage's side will go level on points with West Ham if they win their two games in hand, but it would be an almighty achievement to leapfrog Arsenal, Tottenham and Man Utd.

Wolves have impressed this season and should finish in the top 10. Remaining in their current spot - eighth - would be viewed as a success by the Molineux faithful.

To even be mentioning them in the Champions League race is testament to the job Lage has done. They were being tipped for relegation at the start of the season.

"I said it at the start of the season before any ball was kicked that Wolves could be in a relegation battle and for me they will be," said Gabby Agbonlahor last September.

Speaking in December, Wolves skipper Conor Coady praised the impact Lage has had since he was appointed last summer.

"We're just enjoying learning a new way of football," explained the England international.

"A lot of people look at us, the way we play and think that it's still the same formation and think it's a similar Wolves from the last few years, but it's completely not.

"It's a lot more aggressive Wolves and it's up to us to try and adapt to the way the manager wants to do that. All the boys have done that, not just myself.

"The manager has been fantastic. The way he speaks, organises and his attention to detail is incredible."

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