Race For European Places Heats Up In Premier League

The Premier League has been back in action for a few weeks now, and while the title race may have already been decided with Liverpool claiming the top spot, there’s still a whole lot left to be determined.

The relegation battle is in full flow with five or six teams still being in trouble, but beyond that, we still don’t really know who is going to qualify for the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League.

We’ll have to wait and see whether or not Manchester City are even going to be allowed to take part next season, as they currently face a two-year ban from European competitions – although they are set to appeal that.

Today, we want to take a quick look at all the contenders and what their chances of actually qualifying are as it stands.

Leicester

Despite being in the top four for most of the season, Leicester are in freefall right now with many fans expecting them to drop out of the Champions League places altogether. If Brendan Rodgers doesn’t change something soon, they could be in for a very disappointing finish.

Chelsea

The problem with the Blues right now continues to be their inconsistency. While they can look great one week, they tend to follow a positive performance up with a questionable one – as seen in their loss to West Ham.

Manchester United

Manchester United have turned into the in-form team in the league since the restart, and it really does feel like Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is capable of guiding them back into the Champions League. Now, they just need to hope all of their star players stay fit.

Wolves

Under Nuno Espirito Santo, Wolverhampton Wanderers have looked tremendous this season and especially since the restart. Their calm and composed approach to every single game looks set to land them another year of European football, so long as they can get through their next few games unscathed.

Sheffield United

The Blades looked down and out after their first few games following the restart, but against Tottenham, they exploded back into life with a huge 3-1 win to get their Europa League ambitions back on track. Now, it’s all about keeping that defensive consistency.

Arsenal

Losing to Brighton was a low point for this Arsenal team, but after back-to-back wins in the league, they appear to be back to their best. They always seem to perform better when they’re chasing something down, and if they beat Wolves on Saturday, they’ll be right back in the hunt.

Tottenham

It’s one step forward and two steps back for Spurs as of late, with questions being asked of Jose Mourinho after their defeat to Sheffield United. If they can’t get past Everton on Monday night, their Champions League dreams will be all but over.

Everton

With two wins and a draw against champions Liverpool since the restart, there’s plenty of cause for excitement at Goodison Park. Carlo Ancelotti has them playing some good football, and with a decent schedule between now and the end of the season, they could be the dark horses in this race.