As City Run Away With it, Who Gets Top Four & What do the Odds Say?

Just a couple of weeks ago ,Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s United were sitting at the top of the table and the talk of a title on the red side of Manchester was gaining serious momentum. However, after picking up just two wins from their last seven games, the Red Devils have conceded a 10-point gap to their Manchester rivals, and it now seems a case of when rather than if Manchester City reclaim the Premier League title.

Aside from Pep Guardiola's men, United are the favourites to finish in the top four, but they remain level on points with Chelsea and just six clear of Liverpool in sixth and four clear of the improving Chelsea.

Paul Pogba has undergone another injury lately, and this has been felt in draws with Everton and West Bromwich Albion, but if the likes of Harry Maguire and Bruno Fernandes can stay fit then the Red Devils should be ok.

Manchester United top four odds are 2/7.

Last season, Leicester City occupied a top four spot for most of the season and were even considered title contenders earlier in that campaign, but a complete loss of form during Project Restart saw the Foxes finish in fifth.

Once again this season, the 2015/16 Premier League winners have spent the majority of this campaign near the top of the league, so manager Brendan Rodgers will be determined to avenge their collapse of last season and keep things steady from now until the end.

After a huge 3-1 win over Liverpool recently, morale at the club will be high, as Leicester head into a run of fixtures they will be confident about picking up points in. The club are still in with a shout of winning the Europa League as well, so there are a two ways the Foxes can achieve Champions League status this season.

Currently, Rodgers' men are level on points with second-place United, but sit below them in third due to an inferior goal difference which is only because the Red Devils thumped Southampton 9-0.

Leicester top four odds are at 4/7.

Thomas Tuchel has hit the ground running since taking over at Stamford Bridge, with Chelsea’s 2-0 win over Newcastle United taking them into the top four, meaning they have conceded just one goal and scored seven in the five games he has taken charge.

As a result, the Blues have reestablished themselves in the top four race, after their poor form under Frank Lampard saw them drop down to ninth. After wins against some of the weaker sides in the division, the real test for Tuchel is yet to come, as Chelsea face difficult away trips to Southampton and Leeds United, as well as home games against United and fellow top four hopefuls Everton.

This will be the ultimate test for Londoners in the coming weeks, but it's back in their hands now as they sit in fourth.

Chelsea top four odds have been slashed to 4/6 now Tuchel has got the ball rolling again.

If you were to predict who would finish in the top four right now based solely of form in 2021, Liverpool wouldn't even be in the debate as they have dropped from top of the table in late December, to sixth. And, Everton beat them this weekend, they can go above them if they win their game in hand afterwards, whilst if Aston Villa win their games in hand, they too go above the champions, forcing the Reds into eighth.

Speculation surrounding Jurgen Klopp’s future has begun to circulate, Liverpool currently producing one of the worst Premier League title defences of all-time as they are currently on a streak of three defeats, conceding eight in that time.

There is still plenty of time to turn it around, and a win in the Merseyside derby on Saturday is the perfect place to start, but without Virgil van Dijk and with Sadio Mane's struggles continuing, it doesn't look good.

However, Liverpool top four odds are still way belo evens at 2/5.

One of the surprise packages this season has come in the form of West Ham United, masterminded by David Moyes and they are without question the most underappreciated and least talked about team this campaign, given the club's turnaround.

Their form has seen them rise to fifth in the table, level on points with Chelsea and ahead of the champions. The Hammers face London rivals Tottenham Hotspur, as well as both Manchester clubs in the coming weeks, so their status as top four contenders is sure to be tested, but potentially solidified at the same time.

With the likes of Jesse Lingard, Declan Rice and Thomas Soucek all in great form, there’s no reason why Irons fans can’t dream big.

West Ham top four odds are at 6/1

Everton's season in 2020/21 has been topsy-turvy to say the least and it seems we've bounced from title contenders to top four hopefuls and Europa League-bound countless times already.

Right now, ahead of the Merseyside derby at Anfield, Everton are in seventh having failed to capitalise on their game in hand this week where they lost to City 3-1. The club are still, however, five points off fourth-placed Chelsea and if they beat Liverpool, there odds will not doubt be slashed and then some.

Everton top four odds are currently at 18/1, but expect this to change if they win their game in hand, which will then put them just two behind the top four. However, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin's form far from what it was back when we considered Everton title challengers, the club are having to hope their defence keeps the goals out.

By Luke Feather