With the title race successfully over and the three promoted groups wanting more and more doomed to relegation, it’s the race for European qualification that would present probably the most intrigue and drama within the remaining months of this marketing campaign.
The Premier League is anticipated to obtain 5 locations subsequent season, and it may very well be argued that greater than half the division may legitimately be concentrating on these spots. In any case, solely seven factors separate fifth-placed Newcastle United from Eleventh-placed Brentford.
Assuming that Liverpool and Arsenal end first and second, there are subsequently three Champions League locations up for grabs for 9 groups – and presumably even 10 groups, if Tottenham Hotspur can produce a late cost.
Right here, Telegraph Sport assesses which sides are finest positioned to compete for a spot in Europe’s premier competitors.
Nottingham ForestBiggest power
Their defensive resilience. Solely Liverpool have stored extra clear sheets (11) than (10) this season and, of the groups beneath them within the league, solely Bournemouth have conceded fewer objectives. Forest centre-backs Murillo and Nikola Milenkovic have been largely wonderful all through the marketing campaign.
The priority right here, although, shall be that this solidity has twice evaporated in latest weeks. Forest conceded 5 at Bournemouth in January after which 4 at Newcastle on Sunday. These had been alarming outcomes.
Greatest weak spot
For Forest, it’s a query of sustainability. has been distinctive in assault, scoring many extra objectives than his anticipated objectives tally would counsel he ought to have completed. Can he preserve such overperformance for the rest of this marketing campaign, although? And may the group as a complete produce sufficient objectives to safe their place within the prime 5?
Forest rank eighth within the Premier League for objectives scored and solely 14th for the variety of photographs they’ve taken. Their collected anticipated objectives determine for the marketing campaign is 33.9, which is barely the 14th highest within the division.
Fixtures
Arsenal (H), Manchester Metropolis (H), Ipswich (A), Manchester United (H), Aston Villa (A), Everton (H), Spurs (A), Brentford (H), Crystal Palace (A), Leicester Metropolis (H), West Ham United (A), Chelsea (H)
Predicted ending place: sixth
Manchester CityBiggest power
The standard of their attacking gamers. Even in a dreadful season for his membership, Erling Haaland has nonetheless scored 19 objectives in 25 league appearances. New signing has already struck a hat-trick within the Premier League and appears primed to trigger some harm to opponents within the the rest of this season. Phil Foden may flicker again into type at any second, whereas Savinho appears to be rising in stature.
Greatest weak spot
The psychological impression of this season’s struggles, on the taking part in squad and on Pep Guardiola, is evidently appreciable. are merely not a contented membership in the intervening time. Their harm record is problematic, too, with John Stones and Manuel Akanji each out with long-term issues (becoming a member of key midfielder Rodri on the sidelines).
Fixtures
Spurs (A), Forest (A), Brighton (H), Leicester (H), United (A), Palace (H), Everton (A), Villa (H), Wolves (H), Southampton (A), Bournemouth (H), Fulham (A)
Predicted ending place: third
Newcastle UnitedBiggest power
In, possess maybe one of the best centre-forward within the division proper now. His two objectives in opposition to Forest on Sunday took him to 19 within the Premier League this season and he undoubtedly has the power to fireplace Newcastle again into the Champions League.
Greatest weak spot
Inconsistency. Previously few weeks, Eddie Howe’s facet have misplaced at house to Bournemouth and Fulham, and produced a horrific exhibiting in a 4-0 defeat at Metropolis. This can be a group that has been blowing cold and hot because the flip of the yr. When they’re good, they’re virtually unstoppable. When they’re unhealthy, they’re remarkably weak.
Fixtures
Liverpool (A), West Ham (A), Brentford (H), Leicester (A), United (H), Palace (H), Villa (A), Ipswich (H), Brighton (A), Chelsea (H), Arsenal (A), Everton (H)
Predicted ending place: 4th
BournemouthBiggest power
Andoni Iraola’s tactical strategy, with high-intensity urgent and boldness in possession, makes his group a particularly awkward opponent for any facet within the Premier League. Guardiola himself has mentioned type is the brand new “fashionable soccer”.
Bournemouth’s outcomes in opposition to the massive groups converse for themselves: this season they’ve dismantled Arsenal, Metropolis, Spurs, Newcastle and Forest. Their anticipated objectives tally (47.7) is the third highest within the division, whereas additionally they have the third finest defensive file.
Greatest weak spot
Bournemouth have performed for a very long time with a big harm record, and so they function with an aggressive and bodily draining type of soccer. Even with the return of injured gamers, it’s doable that they start to expire of vitality by the tip of the marketing campaign.
This occurred, to an extent, final season: Iraola’s group misplaced their ultimate three league video games of the season and gained solely two of their final eight.
Fixtures
Brighton (A), Spurs (A), Brentford (H), Ipswich (H), West Ham (A), Fulham (H), Palace (A), United (H), Arsenal (A), Villa (H), Metropolis (A), Leicester (H)
Predicted ending place: seventh
ChelseaBiggest power
are at present on a determined run of type however there might be no doubting the standard of Enzo Maresca’s squad, particularly as soon as key striker Nicolas Jackson is on the market once more. Cole Palmer, particularly, has demonstrated that he has the power to win matches on his personal.
The returns of Jackson, Roméo Lavia and Noni Madueke ought to give Chelsea a unique edge within the ultimate a part of the season. It’s also value noting that Chelsea have the second-highest anticipated objectives determine (51.5, behind solely Liverpool) within the league. Their followers will hope it’s only a matter of time earlier than their assault clicks again into gear.
Greatest weak spot
The is deeply alarming. Chelsea have stored solely 4 clear sheets all season (solely 4 Premier League groups have stored fewer) and neither Robert Sánchez nor Filip Jorgensen have impressed between the posts. Jorgensen’s error in opposition to Villa on Saturday was a horrible second for the 22-year-old.
Chelsea may also must navigate the calls for of taking part in European soccer on Thursday nights, with Maresca’s facet anticipated to go all the way in which within the Convention League.
Fixtures
Southampton (H), Leicester (H), Arsenal (A), Spurs (H), Brentford (A), Ipswich (H), Fulham (A), Everton (H), Liverpool (H), Newcastle (A), United (H), Forest (A)
Predicted ending place: fifth
Aston VillaBiggest power
After a busy January switch window, have actual power in depth in assault. The arrivals of , Donyell Malen and Marco Asensio have supplied Unai Emery with a unique dynamic and extra choices within the ultimate third. All three gamers seem to have settled in rapidly, with Rashford specifically wanting sharp regardless of his exile at Manchester United.
Greatest weak spot
Villa have excelled within the Champions League this season and they’re going to count on to progress past Membership Brugge within the spherical of 16. It’s no simple job to steadiness European commitments with Premier League duties, and this threatens to be Villa’s downfall within the race for the highest 5.
Solely as soon as in eight makes an attempt this season have Villa gained the league match instantly following a midweek recreation within the Champions League.
Fixtures
Palace (A), Brentford (A), Brighton (A), Forest (H), Southampton (A), Newcastle (H), Metropolis (A), Fulham (H), Bournemouth (A), Spurs (H), United (A)
Predicted ending place: ninth
BrightonBiggest power
squad is stacked with proficient attacking gamers who can produce moments of magic within the ultimate third. Few groups in Europe boast as many thrilling forwards. Kaoru Mitoma, Danny Welbeck, João Pedro, Yankuba Minteh, Georginio Rutter, Brajan Gruda and Simon Adingra have the power to trigger issues for even the meanest defence.
Greatest weak spot
Brighton have the second-youngest group within the division (behind Chelsea) and the youngest supervisor in Premier League historical past. A frequent consequence of youth is inconsistency, and Brighton have demonstrated this in latest weeks. The identical group which have since gained three matches in a row in all competitions.
Fixtures
Bournemouth (H), Fulham (H), Metropolis (A), Villa (H), Palace (A), Leicester (H), Brentford (A), West Ham (H), Newcastle (H), Wolves (A), Liverpool (H), Spurs (A)
Predicted ending place: eighth
FulhamBiggest power
Though don’t hold many clear sheets, their defensive file is strong and so they have conceded solely 35 Premier League objectives this season (the seventh-best file within the league). This can be a group that’s at all times aggressive and their matches are normally shut affairs: because the begin of December they haven’t gained or misplaced a league recreation by greater than two objectives.
Greatest weak spot
Marco Silva’s facet are missing in firepower. On each objectives and anticipated objectives, they rank twelfth within the Premier League. This can be a totally mid-table output and it feels unlikely that they’ll have sufficient attacking class to make a push in the direction of the highest 5.
Fixtures
Wolves (A), Brighton (A), Spurs (H), Arsenal (A), Liverpool (H), Bournemouth (A), Chelsea (H), Southampton (A), Villa (A), Everton (H), Brentford (A), Metropolis (H)
Predicted ending place: twelfth
BrentfordBiggest power
The goalscoring duo of . Brentford are the one group to have two gamers in double digits for objectives this season. Kevin Schade is able to contributing, too. are by no means afraid to assault groups and so they have actual high quality of their entrance line.
Greatest weak spot
Brentford are in all probability an excessive amount of enjoyable. Their matches are normally splendidly entertaining and open contests, however this may additionally work in opposition to them. Thomas Frank’s facet have shipped 42 objectives within the Premier League this season – solely 5 groups within the division have conceded extra.
Fixtures
Everton (H), Villa (H), Bournemouth (A), Newcastle (A), Chelsea (H), Arsenal (A), Brighton (H), Forest (A), United (H), Ipswich (A), Fulham (H), Wolves (A)
Predicted ending place: Eleventh
Tottenham HotspurBiggest power
Their injured gamers are coming again. may rapidly seem like a wholly totally different facet to the group that has struggled so badly in latest months. The final 10 days have introduced constructive indicators on this regard and, supplied there aren’t any extra setbacks, Spurs may very well be sturdy and rejuvenated for the run-in.
Greatest weak spot
Even when Spurs can reunite their finest gamers on the pitch, they’re thus far behind the pack that will probably be extraordinarily tough for them to make up sufficient floor in time. On the time of writing, they’re 11 factors behind fifth-placed Newcastle. There may at all times be extra accidents, too.
Fixtures
Metropolis (H), Bournemouth (H), Fulham (A), Chelsea (A), Southampton (H), Wolves (A), Forest (H), Liverpool (A), West Ham (A), Palace (H), Villa (A), Brighton (H)
Predicted ending place: tenth