Finishing in the top four carries with it qualification to Europe’s biggest club competition – the UEFA Champions League and several top clubs are already focussing much of their effort on that, having fallen out of the running for the league.
Among those competing for the top four spot are Southampton, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal, Liverpool and West Ham.
Southampton, impressive at the beginning of the season, have recovered from a slump of form that saw them lose four matches on the trot in December to accrue 13 points from five games recently. Their defence – the meanest in the league thus far, remains their biggest strength.
They are away to Newcastle United at the weekend, hoping to cling on to their position for at least another week, having beaten Manchester United 1-0 last weekend.
Manchester United have been patchy thus far, their home loss to Southampton last weekend coming as confirmation that Louis van Gaal still has a lot of work in his hands to bring them back to their best.
They have the money to buy anyone they need, but still, United are failing to live up to their purse with a number of erratic displays since the season began, which has left them occupying fourth place but not guaranteed to end the season there.
Their away fixture to Queens Park Rangers on Saturday could give a heads-up to where they will end the season.
Arsenal are fifth on the log and like their competitors for the top four, they have been hardly convincing this season and the future of their coach, Arsene Wenger, has been a subject of many questions. Will he stay, or will he not? Only a good outing away at champions Manchester City could give the Frenchman a stay of execution, at least according to the fans.
Tottenham host Sunderland being favoured for a 3-0 home win on Saturday, which will keep them in the fight, especially should the other clubs perform badly. Placed sixth on the log, they are within shouting distance of both the Gunners and the Red Devils, but also not safe from the grip of West Ham, who are a step and a point below them.
The Hammers are themselves favoured in a weekend game that sees them host lowly Hull City on Saturday. Liverpool head off next to struggling Aston Villa on Saturday, hoping to continue with their achievement of last week, when they beat Sunderland 1-0 away, to stay in contention for fourth spot.
Other Fixtures:
Saturday:
Burnley vs Crsytal Palace;
Leicester City vs Stoke City;
Swansea City vs Chelsea
Sunday: Everton vs
West Bromwich Albion
Post published in: Football