Premier League Analysis: Who will finish in the top 4

21 years</a> since that has happened and long-suffering Spurs fans would like nothing more than adding to Arsenal’s woes.</p> <p>The North London derby takes place at White Hart Lane on April 30th. Anything but an Arsenal win and Spurs should accomplish their goal.</p> <p>Other challenging fixtures include a trip to West Ham at the London Stadium on May 6th and a visit from Manchester United on May 13th.</p> <p>Seven of Tottenham’s remaining ten matches are against teams in the bottom half of the table including Hull, Burnley, Watford, Swansea and Crystal Palace.</p> <div class="fixtures-table team-fixtures full-table-medium"> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #0" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://playingfor90.com/2017/03/30/premier-league-battle-for-the-top-4/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Manchester City </a> </div> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="bbccom_leaderboard_1_2_3_4" class="bbccom_slot bbccom_standard_slot bbccom_visible"> <div id="bbccom_leaderboard" class="bbccom_advert "> <div id="leaderboard_ad_container"> <div id="dclk-studio-creative_1490630887792"> <div id="DfaVisibilityIdentifier_1490630887841" class="GoogleActiveViewClass"> <div id="attachment_433560" class="wp-caption alignnone"> <img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-433560" src=https://playingfor90.com/2017/03/30/premier-league-battle-for-the-top-4/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fplayingfor90.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F03%2F652021446-middlesbrough-v-manchester-city-the-emirates-fa-cup-quarter-final.jpg-850x560.jpg" alt="" width="590" height="389"><p class="wp-caption-text">MIDDLESBROUGH, ENGLAND – MARCH 11: David Silva of Manchester City (L) celebrates scoring his swides first goal with his Manchester City team mates during The Emirates FA Cup Quarter-Final match between Middlesbrough and Manchester City at Riverside Stadium on March 11, 2017 in Middlesbrough, England. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)</p> </div> <h3>Manchester City</h3> <p>Pep Guardiola’s first season in the Premier League has been a learning experience for the Spaniard. His club came out of the gate guns a blazing, but have had some stumbles along the way.</p></div></div></div></div></div> <p>City is currently in third place 12 points off the top and two points behind Tottenham. Of the club’s remaining ten fixtures five are at home and five are on the road.</p> <p>The most difficult matches City will face include this weekend’s trip to Arsenal followed three days later versus Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.</p> <p>Manchester bragging rights will be up for grabs on April 27th as Jose Mourinho’s United visit the Etihad Stadium.</p> <p>City’s last four league fixtures are against clubs in the bottom third of the table and should present little trouble.</p> <p>If City leave London next week with positive results, the team’s chances of finishing inside the top four will be looking very good.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #0" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://playingfor90.com/2017/03/30/premier-league-battle-for-the-top-4/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Liverpool </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_433562" class="wp-caption alignnone"> <img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-433562" src=https://playingfor90.com/2017/03/30/premier-league-battle-for-the-top-4/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fplayingfor90.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F03%2F655231908-manchester-city-v-liverpool-premier-league.jpg-850x560.jpg" alt="" width="590" height="389"><p class="wp-caption-text">MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – MARCH 19: James Milner of Liverpool (R) celebrates scoring his sides first goal with his Liverpool team mates during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Liverpool at Etihad Stadium on March 19, 2017 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)</p> </div> <div id="blq-content" class="stats"> <div class="headline-wrapper"> <h3>Liverpool</h3> <p>Liverpool are hoping to qualify for next season’s Champions League for just the second time in the past six years.</p><div class="widget fs_ads"> <div class="fs_ad_widget-ad" style="margin:0 auto; width: 300px;"> <div class="fs-ll-ad" data-ad-type="minutemedia_slideshow_inline_300x250__desktop__tablet" data-vendor="minutemedia"> <div id="minutemedia_slideshow_inline_300x250__desktop__tablet" data-position="slideshow_inline" data-slot="inline_433550" style="width:300px;margin: 0 auto;"> <script> googletag.cmd.push(function () { googletag.defineSlot("/175840252/fansided.com/Playingfor90/mpu",[300, 250], "minutemedia_slideshow_inline_300x250__desktop__tablet") .addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.enableServices(); googletag.display("minutemedia_slideshow_inline_300x250__desktop__tablet"); }); </script> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div></div> <p>Jurgen Klopp’s team currently occupy the fourth Champions League qualifying position. His side has played one more time than the three clubs above them and two more than fifth place Manchester United and sixth place Arsenal.</p> <p>The Reds’ most difficult test is this weekend as crosstown rivals Everton visit Anfield.</p> <p>Other challenges include tricky away matches at Stoke on April 8th, at West Brom on April 16th and at West Ham on May 13th.</p> <p>Liverpool have a history of collapsing at the end of the season and time will tell if the club can change the narrative.</p> <p>United and Arsenal are not far behind and it’s looking like they will be battling the Reds for a top four place.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #0" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://playingfor90.com/2017/03/30/premier-league-battle-for-the-top-4/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Manchester United </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—></p><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_433567" class="wp-caption alignnone"> <img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-433567" src=https://playingfor90.com/2017/03/30/premier-league-battle-for-the-top-4/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fplayingfor90.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F03%2F645560772-manchester-united-v-southampton-efl-cup-final-wembley-stadium.jpg-850x560.jpg" alt="" width="590" height="389" srcset="https://playingfor90.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/03/645560772-manchester-united-v-southampton-efl-cup-final-wembley-stadium.jpg-850x560.jpg 850w, https://playingfor90.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/03/645560772-manchester-united-v-southampton-efl-cup-final-wembley-stadium.jpg-768x505.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 590px) 100vw, 590px"><p class="wp-caption-text">Manchester United’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic celebrates scoring his side’s first goal of the game during the EFL Cup Final at Wembley Stadium, London. (Photo by Adam Davy/PA Images via Getty Images)</p> </div> <h3>Manchester United</h3> <p>It’s taken Manchester United months to catch up to the rest of the contenders. The Red Devils recently moved above Arsenal with their 1-3 victory at Middlesbrough.</p> <p>Jose Mourinho’s side have 11 matches remaining with seven of them against sides in the top ten.</p> <p>Notable home fixtures include meetings with West Brom this Saturday, Everton on April 4th and Chelsea on April 16th.</p> <p>United will head across town for the Manchester derby on April 27th. The club also faces tough road match-ups at Arsenal on May 6th and Tottenham on May 13th. There will also be a trip to Southampton which has yet to be rescheduled.</p> <p>In order for United to finish in the top four, the squad will have to play its best football of the season and get definitive results versus direct rivals. At the same time, the Red Devils will be relying on the other challengers to trip up.</p> <p>It’s looking more likely that United will be playing on Thursday nights next season rather than in the Champions League.</p> <div class="bbc-st-count"> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #0" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://playingfor90.com/2017/03/30/premier-league-battle-for-the-top-4/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Arsenal </a> </div> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="blq-content" class="stats"> <div id="blq-content" class="stats"> <div class="headline-wrapper"> <div class="share-tools-toolbar blq-clearfix"> <div class="bbc-st-count"> <div id="attachment_433569" class="wp-caption alignnone"> <img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-433569" src=https://playingfor90.com/2017/03/30/premier-league-battle-for-the-top-4/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fplayingfor90.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F03%2F634737034-arsenal-v-hull-city-premier-league.jpg-850x560.jpg" alt="" width="590" height="389"><p class="wp-caption-text">LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 11: (L) Alexis Sanchez celebrates scoring the 1st Arsenal goal with (2ndL) Kieran Gibbs during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Hull City at Emirates Stadium on February 11, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> <h3 class="table-header">Arsenal</h3> <p>Gunners fans have been in rare form over the past month as their club has gone in to free fall. What was once a potential title run has become a battle to stay in the top four.</p></div></div> <p>Arsenal have a difficult schedule over the last part of the season. The team’s remaining 11 matches include home visits from Manchester City this Sunday, West Ham on April 5th, Manchester United on May 6th and Everton on May 21st.</p> <p>Add to that away trips to Stoke on May 13th and Southampton in a yet to be rescheduled game.</p> <p>The Gunners’ biggest test comes on April 30th at White Hart Lane. It would be small consolation for a disappointing season, but finishing above Spurs would be celebrated.</p> <p>The truth is that it is looking very likely that this will be a year without a <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2017/03/30/premier-league-battle-for-the-top-4/"http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/what-st-totteringhams-day-come-7977829">St. Totteringham’s Day</a>. Arsenal have looked less than convincing since Christmas with losses to Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool. Adding to the fans’ misery were unexpected losses to Watford and West Brom.</p> <p>If Arsenal are going to finish in the top four for the 21st consecutive season, they are going to have to be near perfect.</p> <p>It’s looking iffy, but the <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2017/03/30/premier-league-battle-for-the-top-4/"https://playingfor90.com/2017/03/26/arsenal-dont-qualify-champions-league-not-end-world/">Gunners will survive</a> if the club’s streak ends.</p> <div class="bbccom_slot"> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #0" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://playingfor90.com/2017/03/30/premier-league-battle-for-the-top-4/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Everton </a> </div> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_433570" class="wp-caption alignnone"> <img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-433570" src=https://playingfor90.com/2017/03/30/premier-league-battle-for-the-top-4/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fplayingfor90.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F03%2F654838688-everton-v-hull-city-premier-league.jpg-850x560.jpg" alt="" width="590" height="389"><p class="wp-caption-text">LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – MARCH 18: Romelu Lukaku celebrates his second goal during the Premier League match between Everton and Hull City at the Goodison Park on March 18, 2017 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Tony McArdle/Everton FC via Getty Images)</p> </div> <div id="blq-content" class="stats"> <div id="blq-content" class="stats"> <div class="stats-body"> <h3 id="fixtures-data" class="fixtures-table team-fixtures full-table-medium">Everton</h3> <p>Everton are included here as the club is currently even with Arsenal on points and two behind Manchester United. The team has, however, played two more matches than those above them.</p></div></div></div> <p>Even if Ronald Koeman’s side come out on top in this weekend’s Merseyside derby, the chances are slim that Everton will be able to sneak in to the top four. Following the Liverpool match, The Toffees face difficult trips to Manchester United on April 4th, West Ham on April 22nd and Arsenal on the last day of the season.</p> <div class="next-post amp-get-next-post lg"><a class="location" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-post-shortcode" href=https://playingfor90.com/2017/03/30/premier-league-battle-for-the-top-4/"https://playingfor90.com/2017/03/30/the-alternates-italy-national-team/">