Premier League 21/22 Title Race and Top Four Predictions

We are witnessing another intense season of the Premier League, which will continue with crunchy matches this weekend.

The race for several places in the Premier League appears to stretch to the very end.

Manchester City and Liverpool are in a heated race at the top, while Manchester United, Chelsea, Tottenham, and Arsenal are fighting for two places in the Champions League spots.

The bottom of the table is no exception to the uncertainty that builds around the season with several teams in an attempt to avoid a drop in the championship.

According to the Premier League predictions, Norwich City are favourites to be sent back to the championship. Other vulnerable teams such as Brentford, Everton, Leeds United, Watford, and Burnley are in a relegation battle to fill the remaining two spots.

In this article, we concisely assess who might eventually win the Premier League crown and the odds of other clubs getting a place in the top four.

The Title Race

Manchester City

Pep Guardiola’s team doesn’t seem tired despite their involvement in many competitions and didn’t seem out of rhythm in their 1-0 win over Athletico Madrid.

With squad depth not an issue, Pep has done multiple rotations since the turn of the year, and his most prominent performers have been up to the task in significant games. 

They have an easier run of fixtures than their counterpart, and their manager has indicated that his team needs to take every game as a final to become eventual winners. 

It would require a massive drop in form for the Citizens not to claim the crown as their only herculean task is a Liverpool showdown at the Etihad.

Liverpool

Jurgen Klopp and his men have always ensured the Premier League is not a one-horse race. They did so again by narrowing the gap between them and the leaders to one point after three months of being far behind.

Their defensive stability and multiple attack options contributed to a resurgence in the squad. A victory at Etihad would take them to the top of the table with eight games left.

Klopp’s side has won 10 league games in a row, but the German believes that a win at Etihad doesn’t make them the title favourites.

Liverpool have the harder run-in heading into the final fixtures of the season as they still have to host Manchester United and Tottenham at Anfield.

Prediction: Manchester City to win the title

The Battle for the Best of the rest

Much is at stake for the four clubs in this scrap, as being in the Champions League attracts prestige and, more critical, additional revenue in the current inflated market. 

We look at the other two teams seeking to join Manchester City and Liverpool in the European elite spots amidst the delicate series of remaining matches.

Chelsea

Despite starting the season as title favourites, the Blues have been in a mix of form and are currently in third place, albeit having a match in hand.

Thomas Tuchel sought to reinforce his side with the addition of Saul Niguez and Romelu Lukaku to assist the misfiring Timo Werner. Both signings have done nothing to steer the European Champions towards Premier League glory.

The German also handled the club’s off-field turmoil well, which included Lukaku’s insensitive interview and the United Kingdom’s ban on its owner, ensuring it does not affect their aspirations.

They enter the season’s final games on the back of a 4-1 home defeat against Brentford in a bid to secure third place.

Tottenham

Inconsistency has been their season’s order, but they have sparked a late rejuvenation to get a top-four finish.

Antonio Conte, in January, turned to his old side for the signatures of Dejan Kulusevski and Rodrigo Betancur. Both proved essential in his philosophy driving the North London side to fourth place on the table.

The Lilywhites still have a lot of tough matches in their final eight fixtures facing the likes of Liverpool, Arsenal, and Leicester. 

The Italian coach, however, took to the media to praise his team and express his confidence and ambition to finish in one of the champions league positions. 

An in-form Harry Kane can trigger a late drama, and how they make it through the big games would be crucial for their top-four hopes.

Manchester United

Manchester United are going through a horrible season, and their catastrophic results and abysmal displays have cost them many times this season.

An early exit in the Carabao Cup, a defeat to Championship side Middlesbrough, trashing at the hands of Manchester City, Liverpool and Watford, and their most recent exit from the Champions League are the highlights of their horrendous season. 

Despite their managerial change and a team boasting of high-profile players such as Christiano Ronaldo, Jadon Sancho, Paul Pogba, and Raphael Varane, their top-four hopes continue to fade away. 

The Red Devils currently sit seventh and would be hoping for a slip from Tottenham or arsenal to cement a place in the top four.

However, with trips to Liverpool, Arsenal, and a home game to Chelsea in the bag for the Red Devils, it does not look like they’ll make it to the Champions League this season.

Arsenal

The Gunners were humbled in their most recent outing against crystal palace, conceding three goals without reply, but that has done nothing to mask their enormous progress this season. 

Mikel Arteta’s side has been in a stellar run of form and currently sits in the fifth position, although they have a game in hand.

With eight games remaining, Arsenal are in pole position to finish in one of the Champions League spots.

They still have a tough run of fixtures against some Premier League heavyweights and hope to keep their in-form stars fit to keep their aspirations alive.

Prediction: Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal to qualify for next season’s Champions League group phase