Chelsea's top four bid: Predicted final table and how their run-in compares to Man Utd and Liverpool
A look at how the top four race is shaping up as we enter the final section of the season.
Chelsea remain firmly in the top four race as we head into the last 12 games of the season. A steady transition under Liam Rosenior has allowed the Blues to keep up with the in-form Manchester United, but the Red Devils are not the only team to worry about.
Liverpool are also firmly in the race, while Brentford are on the periphery, and who knows, Aston Villa in third could also come into the mix despite looking as though they are well-positioned for Champions League qualification.
As is the modern way, fifth spot could become a Champions League spot if the English clubs do well in Europe, but for now, we will focus on the race being for fourth spot only, given that is the only assured final spot at this stage. Let’s see how the race is shaping up and how it might be likely to go.
Current Premier League table
Here is how the Premier League table currently looks.
3rd - Aston Villa - 50pts // 10GD
4th - Man Utd - 45pts // 10GD
5th - Chelsea - 44pts // 17GD
6th - Liverpool - 42pts // 6GD
7th - Brentford - 40pts // 5GD
Predicted final table
Here is the predicted final Premier League table from OPTA, who use many simulations to put together the most likely final standings.
3rd - Aston Villa - 70.98pts // Top four probability - 91.81%
4th - Liverpool - 62.98pts // Top four probability - 34.99%
5th - Chelsea - 62.74pts // Top four probability - 35.92%
6th - Man Utd - 62.38pts // Top four probability - 29.44%
7th - Brentford - 58.23pts // Top four probability - 6.82%
Run-ins compared
Aston Villa
Leeds (H), Wolves (A), Chelsea (H), Man Utd (A), West Ham (H), Nottingham Forest (A), Sunderland (H), Fulham (A), Tottenham (H), Burnley (A), Liverpool (H), Man City (A).
Man Utd
Everton (A), Crystal Palace (H), Newcastle (A), Aston Villa (H), AFC Bournemouth (A), Leeds (H), Chelsea (A), Brentford (H), Liverpool (H), Sunderland (A), Nottingham Forest (H), Brighton (A).
Chelsea
Burnley (H), Arsenal (A), Aston Villa (A), Newcastle (H), Everton (A), Man City (H), Man Utd (H), Brighton (A), Nottingham Forest (H), Liverpool (A), Tottenham (H), Sunderland (A).
Liverpool
Nottingham Forest (A), West Ham (H), Wolves (A), Tottenham (H), Brighton (A), Fulham (H), Everton (A), Crystal Palace (H), Man Utd (A), Chelsea (H), Aston Villa (A), Brentford (H).
Brentford
Brighton (H), Burnley (A), AFC Bournemouth (A), Wolves (H), Leeds (A), Everton (H), Fulham (H), Man Utd (A), West Ham (H), Man City (A), Crystal Palace (H), Liverpool (A).
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