While the Premier League title race obviously gets the most attention, the top four race is incredibly compelling again this season. Here is a predicted top four of who is locked in for the Champions League next season after 30 Matchdays played.
4. Manchester United
Manchester United are a legitimate threat under Michael Carrick, and while some cracks have begun to show, most prominently against another strong team in Newcastle United, the Red Devils are a very strong team, led by Premier League Player of the Season favorite Bruno Fernandes.
What makes Man United so good is how much they have improved on offense over the summer, and once their injury crisis resolves, they should be able to sew up at least a fourth placed finish.
3. Liverpool
Liverpool need more out of their wingers, but Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah aren’t terrible players, even if they lack the explosiveness to really stretch teams. If the Reds can replace Gakpo with Rio Ngumoha in more games, that should give them the speed and one on one ability they need to open things up for a still technically prolific Salah.
The Reds midfield and defense have regressed, too, but something tells me there is more fight left in this dog. Players like Virgil van Dijk and Dominik Szoboszlai are still as good as anyone in the Premier League, and Ryan Gravenberch should be turning it around soon. Add in a healthy Alexander Isak down the stretch, and the Reds should come charging back into the top four over Aston Villa.
2. Manchester City
Manchester City are too inconsistent and suddenly have too many flaws in the middle of the park to truly challenge a more balanced and defensive Arsenal squad, but the signings of Antoine Semenyo and Marc Guehi are already paying dividends.
This may not be the year Man City win the title back, but there is no way the teams behind them in the Premier League table catch up. Those guys are far inferior to the quality in the City squad.
1. Arsenal
Even if you gave Manchester City the full three points for their game in hand, they would still be a comfortable six points behind the Gunners. While that is not coasting territory for Arsenal, Mikel Arteta’s men remain clear favorites on the strength of an elite defense and midfield.
The attackers like Bukayo Saka could stand to step up, but Arsenal are having a special season and finally embracing Arteta’s dark arts to win by any means necessary. If you want to be the best in England, you need to be hated.
Joe Soriano is the editor of The Trivela Effect and a FanSided Hall of Famer who has covered world football since 2010. He’s led top digital communities like The Real Champs (Real Madrid) and has run sites covering Tottenham, Liverpool, Juventus, and Schalke. He also helped manage NFL Spin Zone and Daily DDT, covering the NFL and pro wrestling.