CHAMPIONS LEAGUE RACE PREDICTION: Who's set to finish in the top four?
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE RACE PREDICTION: Will Man United be dragged into it, can Liverpool or Spurs finally put a winning run together… or could Newcastle, Brighton or Brentford gatecrash the top four?
- Brighton’s form under Roberto De Zerbi could see them make history in Europe
- United have flourished under Ten Hag but can they stick it out in the top four?
- Liverpool’s recent results see them rise to sixth but inconsistency is a worry
With less than two months until the final day of the Premier League, the summit of the table is still fiercely contested between table-topping Arsenal and last year’s winners, Manchester City.
But there’s another fight afoot – as the league restarts this weekend after the international break, a number of clubs will be fighting for the final two places in the Champions League.
As it stands, Manchester United are third on 50 points, and Tottenham sit a place below with 49 points.
But snapping at their heels are Newcastle, Liverpool, Brighton, and Brentford, with all six teams separated by only eight points.
As the final whistle blows on the last day of the season, who’ll be looking ahead to a future in Europe? And who only just misses out? Sportsmail takes a look at the contenders’ remaining matches to predict who might end up in those coveted positions.
Manchester United look poised to seal a Champions League spot with a top four finish
But could Brighton break new ground in Europe in 2023 after a dazzling season?
Game week 29 – predictions
Week 29 – predictions
Manchester City 3-0 Liverpool
Brighton 2-1 Brentford
Newcastle 2-1 Man United
Bournemouth 1-3 Brighton
Everton 0-1 Tottenham
Man United 1-1 Brentford
West Ham 0-2 Newcastle
Chelsea 2-1 Liverpool
TABLE
3. Newcastle – 53
4. Tottenham – 52
5. Manchester United – 51
6. Brighton – 48
7. Brentford – 43
8. Liverpool – 42
Liverpool were hit with a wave of inconsistency heading into the international break, and in their first week of Premier League ties after the restart could still be without important players such as Luis Diaz and Thiago Alcantara at full fitness.
19th-placed Bournemouth might not prove the challenge that rivals for Europe Brentford will for Brighton, but Roberto De Zerbi’s side are in white-hot form and they will be keen to continue it after the break.
United might struggle, however, as they continue to go without Casemiro due to his three-match ban following a red card picked up at Southhampton earlier in the month. Brentford will waste no time capitalising on his absence, and those of a number of United players, potentially including Christian Eriksen, Marcel Sabitzer, and Marcus Rashford.
Casemiro’s red card against Southampton could have dire consequences for United
Week 30 – predictions
Manchester United 3-1 Everton
Brentford 0-1 Newcastle
Tottenham 0-1 Brighton
Liverpool 2-2 Arsenal
TABLE
3. Newcastle – 56
4. Manchester United – 54
5. Tottenham – 52
6. Brighton – 51
7. Liverpool – 43
8. Brentford – 43
Sean Dyche’s beleagured Everton side are more than capable of providing a stitch-up – their late equaliser at Stamford Bridge before the international ties is a testament to their never-say-die spirit as they battle relegation – but away from home, a strengthened United side should have no trouble swiping the win.
Newcastle might not put five past Brentford as they did in October, but the promise of solidifying their grip on third place should prove too good to pass up.
Unless Tottenham find greater unity and verve under interim manager Cristian Stellini, Brighton will be able to make hay at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and a trip to Anfield should prove an interesting psychological battle for league-leaders Arsenal.
Tottenham snuck past Brighton at home early in new manager Roberto De Zerbi’s tenure
Week 31 – predictions
Aston Villa 0-2 Newcastle
Chelsea 2-2 Brighton
Tottenham 1-0 Bournemouth
Wolves 0-2 Brentford
Nott’m Forest 1-3 Man United
Leeds 0-2 Liverpool
TABLE
3. Newcastle – 59
4. Manchester United – 57
5. Tottenham – 55
6. Brighton – 52
7. Liverpool – 46
8. Brentford – 46
The most interesting tie of a seemingly-straightforward game week, sees Brighton travel to Stamford Bridge.
The Blues were thrashed by Roberto De Zerbi’s side at the Amex earlier in the season, making for an ignominious return for Graham Potter.
But the former Seagulls manager is in charge of a new-look (if still uneven) Chelsea – likely to include the much-missed N’Golo Kante as well as late-season standouts Enzo Fernandez and Joao Felix.
Graham Potter’s return to the Amex in October was not the triumph he might have hoped for
Week 32 – predictions
Brentford 1-0 Aston Villa
Liverpool 1-0 Nott’m Forest
Newcastle 3-1 Tottenham
TABLE
3. Newcastle – 62
4. Manchester United – 57
5. Tottenham – 55
6. Brighton – 52
7. Liverpool – 49
8. Brentford – 49
Forest bloodied Liverpool’s nose in October, but Jurgen Klopp’s men are likely to return the favour at the business end of the season. An uptick in positive results should see the home side run out as winners.
With Brighton and United on FA Cup duty, Newcastle have no time to waste in shoring up their hold on the third Champions League place.
Eddie Howe’s men took all three points on the road in north London, and have a better chance to do so at St James’ Park.
Liverpool have had a season of highs – such as the 7-0 victory against United – as well as lows
Week 33 – predictions
Nott’m Forest 0-2 Brighton
Chelsea 1-0 Brentford
West Ham 0-2 Liverpool
Everton 0-1 Newcastle
Tottenham 0-2 Man United
TABLE
3. Newcastle – 65
4. Manchester United – 60
5. Brighton – 55
6. Tottenham – 55
7. Liverpool – 52
8. Brentford – 49
Free-flowing and highly creative, a full-strength United side is the antithesis of how a retroactive Spurs side have looked under former manager Antonio Conte, and it remains to be seen if Stellini can unpick the team’s knottiness.
In recent history, Chelsea have been at their hardiest against Brentford, and kept Thomas Frank’s arguably stronger side from inflicting too much damage in their 0-0 draw in October.
If it looks likely that with more time with his January window-inflated squad improves Potter’s Chelsea, they might be able to sneak the win. Liverpool can then take the opportunity to overleap the Bees.
Marcus Rashford has been on form for Man Utd but can he impress across competitions
Week 34 – predictions
Brentford 1-1 Nott’m Forest
Brighton 1-0 Wolves
Man United 2-1 Aston Villa
Newcastle 4-0 Southampton
Liverpool 1-0 Tottenham
Liverpool 1-1 Fulham
Brighton 2-1 Man United
TABLE
3. Newcastle – 68
4. Manchester United – 66
5. Brighton – 60
6. Liverpool – 56
7. Tottenham – 55
8. Brentford – 50
Forest’s Steve Cooper appears to have the measure of Brentford, holding the Bees to draws in their last two meetings. In a bid to avoid the relegation zone, Forest will be prepared for a scrap.
Liverpool, United and Brighton have the opportunity to add to their tally in a packed game week, with the ghosts of the season-opening draw against Fulham more likely to impact their thinking than last year’s win over Tottenham. Klopp’s players have a strong home record in a patchy season, and Spurs may not be able to avoid slipping out of the hunt.
When both in-form, United and Brighton’s tie should make for a highly entertaining spectacle – under pressure from Spurs for fifth place, the Seagulls should edge it.
Brentford have slithered past a number of Premier League teams this season but have had trouble getting past Steve Cooper’s side
Week 35 – predictions
Tottenham 2-1 Crystal Palace
Liverpool 1-2 Brentford
Newcastle 1-1 Arsenal
West Ham 0-3 Man United
Brighton 1-0 Everton
TABLE
3. Newcastle – 69
4. Manchester United – 69
5. Brighton – 63
6. Tottenham – 58
7. Liverpool – 56
8. Brentford – 53
Brentford are the sort of team that Liverpool have faltered against a number of times this season – doing so to the Bees themselves in January’s 3-1 defeat.
Klopp’s men have been able to mentally rise to the occasion to see off greater threats (see that 7-0 rout of a thunderstruck United) but find it harder against the slick team performances Frank’s players have been pulling off in west London.
Newcastle’s hosting of Arsenal will make for interesting viewing and will likely be a cagey affair as the north London side feel City breathing down their neck at the top of the table. With nothing more than a point, their goal difference will keep the Magpies an inch ahead of United.
Liverpool were overturned by Brentford at the start of the year during a worrying dip in form
Week 36 – predictions
Arsenal 3-2 Brighton
Aston Villa 0-1 Tottenham
Brentford 1-0 West Ham
Leeds 0-2 Newcastle
Leicester 0-2 Liverpool
Manchester United 2-0 Wolves
TABLE
3. Newcastle – 72
4. Manchester United – 72
5. Brighton – 63
6. Tottenham – 61
7. Liverpool – 59
8. Brentford – 56
With only a handful of matches to play, expect Arsenal to ramp up their grip on the Premier League title by providing a ruthless performance that even the strongest of showings from Brighton can’t unpick.
Otherwise, the remainder of the contenders face weaker opposition.
Save for Tottenham, who will travel to Villa Park seeking revenge for their 2-0 defeat in January and in desperate need of the points necessary to stay in the race.
Spurs lost against Unai Emery’s men at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and will seek revenge
Week 37 – predictions
Bournemouth 1-2 Man United
Brighton 3-1 Southampton
Liverpool 2-1 Aston Villa
Newcastle 3-0 Leicester
Tottenham 1-1 Brentford
TABLE
3. Newcastle – 75
4. Manchester United – 75
5. Brighton – 66
6. Liverpool – 62
7. Tottenham – 62
8. Brentford – 60
Spurs were held to a 2-2 draw by Brentford on Boxing Day and it could be an even tighter match as the season ticks down to its conclusion.
Inferior goal difference to Liverpool drops Tottenham out of European contention, after harnessing the Anfield faithful to secure a narrow win against Unai Emery’s Aston Villa.
Newcastle and United keep pace, with wins over Leicester and Bournemouth, whose relegation battles will be coming to a crescendo.
Alexander Isak’s return to full fitness has been crucial for Newcastle’s recent form
Week 38 – predictions
Aston Villa 0-1 Brighton
Brentford 1-2 Manchester City
Chelsea 1-0 Newcastle
Leeds 0-1 Tottenham
Manchester United 0-1 Fulham
Southampton 0-2 Liverpool
TABLE
3. Newcastle – 75
4. Manchester United – 75
5. Brighton – 69
6. Liverpool – 65
7. Tottenham – 65
8. Brentford – 59
Chelsea will leave their upset too late for any difference to be made to their future in Europe, but if the Blues are able to build upon positive end-of-season results, they might be able to clinch a final home win before the prospect of a wholly-domestic season to come.
As the side with the most clustered fixture list, it is likely that United run out of steam, and Fulham – who might have knocked the Red Devils out of the FA Cup on another day – are ideally suited to poor cold water on United’s final match.
Newcastle will return to European competition, after a long absence, under Eddie Howe
But there’s a few fixtures left to settle…
Not yet scheduled
Brighton 1-2 Manchester City
Man United 3-3 Chelsea
Newcastle 1-1 Brighton
FINAL PREMIER LEAGUE TABLE
3. Newcastle – 76
4. Manchester United – 76
5. Brighton – 70
6. Liverpool – 65
7. Tottenham – 65
8. Brentford – 59
United will be most concerned about their as-yet-unscheduled tie against Chelsea, particularly if they meet the team during one of their stronger moments.
Again, fatigue and challenges related to overstretched first-team players might come to the fore here.
That rules out a late hop over Newcastle to third but cements their spot in next year’s Champions League.
Brighton will have their first taste of European competition in the club’s history with a place in the Europa League, and Klopp’s side have a debut ahead of them too, in the Europa Conference League – depending on the winners of the FA Cup.
United have flourished under Erik ten Hag and should reap the rewards in Europe next season
Source: Read Full Article