Battle for fourth place heats up

With ten games to go until the end of the season the all important race for a place in the top-four is reaching a critical phase. Excluding the Manchester clubs, there are five other teams battling it out for the next five places and only two of those teams will reach the holy-grail of Champions League football.

Four of these teams will be in action this Wednesday evening, with the showpiece game being a resurgent Chelsea versus Manchester City, looking to bounce back from successive defeats. Here's my take each of the teams in the running and where they can expect to and will want to finish the season.

Tottenham Hotspurs

Up until moral-sapping defeats against the two Manchester sides, Spurs looked like they might have been able to mount a serious title challenge. However, these two setbacks were compounded with a heavy 5-2 defeat against Arsenal and their season is in danger of imploding with three defeats in a row in the league. Harry Redknapp’s position as favourite for the England job seems to be affecting the team and even getting to him on a personal level; appearing frustrated and irritated in his last few games. Now the stated aim is to secure a place in the top four and they face a tricky game tomorrow evening, with Stoke coming to visit. Redknapp’s side face Chelsea straight after Stoke and the all-London affair may go some way as to deciding whether Spurs get a second crack at the Champions League. A top four berth seems vital if they are to succeed in signing the big movers this summer, notably Eden Hazard and Jan Vertonghen. 

Arsenal

After an appalling start to the season, including an 8-2 defeat against United and a 4-3 defeat against an even more floundering Blackburn side, Arsenal have steadily rebuilt their season. Their injury ravaged defence have finally all returned and with Robin Van Persie up-front, Arsenal will always remain a serious goal threat. After coming from behind to win in their last four league games, a League record, Arsene Wenger’s boys are one of the form teams in the league and there will be hope that they can pinch the automatic Champions League spot from their North London rivals. Whilst summer investment appears essential, Arsenal have a youthful and attacking squad, with young Oxlade-Chamberlain impressing and staking a serious claim for EURO 2012. They face a tricky away visit to Everton on Wednesday but if their recent, almost United like performances (insofar as snatching late wins) is an indicator, then they could find themselves edging Spurs to third place. 

Chelsea

Interim boss Roberto Di Matteo’s 100% record since replacing Villas Boas faces another stern test against City on Wednesday evening. After overturning the two goal deficit against Naploi last week, Di Matteo even succeeded in getting Fernando Torres to score, as he hit two to book a FA Cup semi final date. The ageing players who seemed below par for much of this season have stepped it up in the last four matches, knowing that they are playing for a place in the team and their future. Mourinho’s spine still runs through the side; with Cech, Cole, Terry, Essien, Lampard and Drogba all starting the last few matches and seeming to prove AVB wrong with some performances of yesteryear. In hosting a well organised Manchester City they will face their toughest test, knowing that they can’t afford to drop many points if they wish to be a Champions League side next season. The shoots of recovery are there for Chelsea and their old squad; to make the top four this year is going to be difficult and even if they do the squad still requires an overhaul. 

Newcastle

Alan Pardew’s side continue to ride high in sixth place in the Premier League, though you sense they would bite your hand off for a sixth place finish now, rather than targeting the top four. Having spent modestly, compared to the surrounding clubs, Newcastle are actually making money thanks to the diligent ownership of Mike Ashley. As well as competing financially Newcastle have found some form in the league, mainly thanks to the goals of Demba Ba and the impressive Tim Krul and Fabricio Coloccini in front of him. Newcastle have struggled for form since Steven Taylor’s injury but a vital win over Norwich means the dream of European football is still a possibility. Finishing in the top six might prevent Newcastle’s key players moving on in the summer, with suitors casting admiring glances at Krul, Tiote, Ba, Cabaye and Ben Arfa.

Liverpool

With an outlay of over £100 million Liverpool were expected to be seriously challenging for fourth place this season but have struggled domestically and are ten points behind Arsenal in fourth place. It will take a mammoth effort to finish in the top four this season, starting with their game at QPR, which was the publicly stated aim of the club. Liverpool’s main problem this campaign has been goals; with Luis Suarez needing, on average, 14 shots to score and a £35 million striker who can’t even get a look in. Dalglish may have appeased the fans with the Carling Cup but a number of question marks remain over their expensive signings and Liverpool may need even more investment in order to compete with the big boys again.