Predicting EPL 2016-17 Champions, Top 4, Relegated

[zudomiriku]

Manchester United set to miss out on top four but will Arsene Wenger earn Arsenal Champions League football for yet another season?

* With Chelsea 10 points clear, the battle is on for fourth place
* Tottenham, Manchester City and Liverpool currently make up the top spots
* But Manchester United and Arsenal will be desperated to catch them
* Everton are also in the race, just six points behind Liverpool
* With plenty of big games to come, Sportsmail tries to makes sense of it all

With Chelsea 10 points clear at the top of the Premier League, it would appear the identity of the 2017 champions is already known.

But what about the fight for the Champions League places that is raging beneath Antonio Conte's imperious team?

As we head into the international break, Tottenham are in possession of second spot after yet another home win while Manchester United's unbeaten run has finally seen them move up from sixth place.



And with Everton just six points behind Liverpool - with a Merseyside derby to come a week on Saturday - we can't rule out Ronald Koeman's improving team either.

With a quarter of the season to go, anything could happen. Here, Sportsmail tries to make sense of it all...


TOTTENHAM: 2nd, 59pts. Form: WLWWW

THE GOOD NEWS

Mauricio Pochettino's team are in form, they are not in Europe, and have the motivation to win every remaining home game before White Hart Lane is pulled down at the end of the season.

With a seven-point lead over Manchester United in fifth, it would be some fall from grace if they were not to make the top four.

The fixture list is in their favour, too. Over a two-week period at the start of May, Spurs face Arsenal, West Ham and United but before then they have a run of winnable games that could see them with one foot over the line before Arsene Wenger's team travel down the Seven Sisters Road on April 30.

THE BAD NEWS

Tottenham are not the same team without Harry Kane. Their prolific centre forward is hoping he can return early from injury after the international break but would be advised not to rush.

With no natural replacement, Tottenham could arguably cope without him at Burnley a week on Saturday but beyond that his return to health will be crucial.

Spurs also have the memory of last season's late collapse to deal with. Will it haunt them or make them stronger this time round? We will see.

KEY STAT

Spurs are yet to lose at home in the league - the only previous top-flight season they have remained unbeaten at home was 1964-65 (21 games, 0 defeats).

PREDICTION: Third

MANCHESTER CITY: 3rd, 57pts. Form: WWWDD

THE GOOD NEWS

City have not lost in the Premier League for more than two months and have improved since their wobbles of mid-winter.

They have key players fit and firing - David Silva and Leroy Sane in particular - and in Willy Caballero a goalkeeper who has taken an opportunity presented by Claudio Bravo's problems by raising the levels of his own displays.

City's squad also has a depth that is not really matched by anybody else's and, once consecutive games against Arsenal and Chelsea are out of the way, they face a run to the finish line that cannot help but encourage them.

THE BAD NEWS

Coach Pep Guardiola says his team's problems lie in attack but they don't.

It's City's tendency to leak goals that holds them back and that is a problem that does not look like being solved until the summer transfer window.

In nine league matches against the current top seven, City have shipped 16 goals so far. Next up are Arsenal and Chelsea away.

KEY STAT

City are unbeaten in seven league matches - their longest streak under Pep Guardiola.

PREDICTION: Second

LIVERPOOL 4th, 56pts. Form: WLWWD

THE GOOD NEWS

When it clicks for Liverpool, there is nobody more capable of taking teams apart and recent performances against Tottenham, Arsenal and Manchester City (two wins and a draw) should give Jurgen Klopp's team confidence to push on.

Klopp is not the kind of manager to transmit pressure to his players, either.

THE BAD NEWS

The form of their best player Philippe Coutinho should worry them. When the little Brazilian doesn't fire then Liverpool can struggle for inspiration.

Coutinho was taken off against Burnley and again at City on Sunday. Liverpool's run-in features a stack of games against middle-ranking teams who will sit deep and smother their opponents. They will need Coutinho then.

KEY STAT

Liverpool have taken 20 points in 10 games against the top six this season, but just 19 points in 10 games against the bottom six.

PREDICTION: Fourth

MANCHESTER UNITED 5th, 52pts. Form: DWWDW

THE GOOD NEWS

No manager in the Premier League has performed better than Jose Mourinho over the winter and he is the best weapon United have as they try to reel in their rivals.

You can see the anxiety written over the faces of Guardiola and Arsene Wenger but you don't see that in Mourinho.

United are also unbeaten in the league since mid-October and after Liverpool and Arsenal dropped points at the weekend, their great rivals now have their top-four destiny in their own hands for the first time.


Jose Mourinho's Manchester United are unbeaten in the Premier League since mid-October. But United's progress in the Europa League, and the fixtures it brings, could cost them dear

THE BAD NEWS

Given their fixture schedule and participation in the Europa League, something has to give and I think it will. United still have to travel to Tottenham, Arsenal and City and I think that will get them in the end.

KEY STAT

Manchester United ended the weekend inside the top five for the first time in 184 days (since September 16, 2016).

PREDICTION: Sixth

ARSENAL 6th, 50pts. Form: LLWLL

THE GOOD NEWS

Arsenal always finish the season well, usually when it's too late in terms of trophies. It is very possible that this will happen again.

THE BAD NEWS

There is too much confusion and uncertainty around Arsenal at the moment. It seems that Wenger will stay but what about players such as Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil?

Arsenal don't look like a team who have any kind of collective will and understanding any more and it is likely they will now pour all their emotional energy into their FA Cup semi-final against City.

KEY STAT

Arsenal have lost four out of five league games for the first time since April 1995 (under caretaker manager Stewart Houston).

PREDICTION: Fifth

EVERTON 7th, 50pts. Form: DWLWW

THE GOOD NEWS

Koeman and his players have enjoyed a season of real progress and anything they achieve from here is a bonus.

That means there should be an absence of pressure and with Ross Barkley and Romelu Lukaku on form, they have the capacity to hurt teams.

Everton know that a win in the derby on April 1 would scare the life out of their neighbours.

THE BAD NEWS

Everton have played more games than anyone but Liverpool and that will probably prove crucial. They are on a great run and started the season brightly.

But 10 games that yielded seven points between September and December will come back to haunt them.

KEY STAT

Everton have had more different scorers than any other side in the top flight this season (15).

PREDICTION: Seventh

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-4332706/Man-United-set-miss-four-Arsenal.html

gpp deh peringkat 6 diakhir musim, yg penting bisa juara EL & lolos ke UCL musim depan

[zudomiriku]

kalo United bisa menang vs Chelsea & Ibra yg onfire kayaknya 4 besar bisa diraih. prediksi saya 4 besar adalah duo London (Chelsea & Spurs) & duo Manchester

[Riskur]

Kalau dilihat dari jadwal PL yang akan datang sih menurut saya Liverpool & City lebih berpeluang untuk mendamping Chelsea&Spurs di 4 besar
Berharap united juara di UEL aja

[penk22_]

Posisi 3 bisa lah ya kalau mainnya konsisten terus

[zudomiriku]

[penk22_]

Dengan kekalahan dari Chelsea, Middlesbrough dipastikan degradasi menyusul Sunderland..Bertahan semusim doang

[zudomiriku]

Originally Posted by penk22_

Dengan kekalahan dari Chelsea, Middlesbrough dipastikan degradasi menyusul Sunderland..Bertahan semusim doang

tinggal 1 lagi nih, kayaknya antara Swansea & Hull. melihat konsistensi belakangan ini, saya prediksi Swansea bisa bertahan di PL, Hull menyusul Sunderland & Boro

[zudomiriku]

Manchester United, City, Arsenal and Liverpool all battling for top-four spot: Game-by-game analysis of the race for a Champions League place

* There are now just 13 days of the 2016-17 Premier League season remaining
* Liverpool and Manchester City occupy the final two Champions League places
* Arsenal have two games in hand on the Reds after beating Manchester United
* Sportsmail breaks down each matchday to figure out who will win the race

It's a conundrum that still has to be solved: how to fit four into two.

After the weekend's results, the race for a Champions League place is still wide open - with Arsenal's victory over Manchester United and Liverpool's draw with Southampton leaving several outcomes possible.

Here, Sportsmail breaks down the games still to be played in an effort to figure out which sides will be representing the Premier League on the elite European stage next season.


Manchester United are the outsiders in the race for a top-four place this season

WEDNESDAY, MAY 10

Southampton vs Arsenal

Buoyed by finally getting the better of Jose Mourinho, Arsene Wenger will take his team to St Mary's keen to make the most of the first of the Gunners' two games in hand on third-placed Liverpool. But it won't be easy.
Southampton might be meandering along in mid-table with little to play for but their recent home record against Arsenal is formidable - no defeat since December 2003 - so something's got to give. Or not.

Prediction: 1-1

SATURDAY, MAY 13
Manchester City vs Leicester City

Under Craig Shakespeare, Leicester have mounted a stunning revival, claiming 19 points from nine games. Over a 38-game season that's Champions League qualification form and City will be well advised to take that into account this weekend.

Pep Guardiola's team look revitalised by the second coming of Gabriel Jesus, however, even if they only have one victory over a top-10 club since before Christmas. They'll edge it.

Prediction: 2-1

Stoke City vs Arsenal

Mark Hughes is once again in pursuit of mid-table comforts with Stoke and a gentle trip to the Potteries won't frighten the Gunners - particularly given the home side only have one Premier League win in nine.

Wenger will be praying history doesn't repeat itself - the Potters haven't lost at home to Arsenal in more than seven years - but his team should have too much for their opponents.

Prediction: 0-2

SUNDAY, MAY 14

West Ham vs Liverpool

The Hammers are unbeaten in five, with four clean sheets, going into this one - with victory over Tottenham at the London Stadium still very fresh in their memories.

Compare that with Liverpool's very binary recent goalscoring record and it's hard to anticipate much action at either end.

Prediction: 0-0

Tottenham vs Manchester United

While Old Trafford has always caused Spurs a headache, White Hart Lane has provided a few home comforts - particularly when United get stuck in the north London traffic.

With the Europa League final just 10 days on from this game (we're taking a leap of faith that United will finish the job against Celta Vigo), Mourinho could well rest key players and if the title race has even only the slightest sign of life Spurs will look to take advantage.

Prediction: 1-0

TUESDAY, MAY 16

Arsenal vs Sunderland

This ought to be a foregone conclusion. Relegated Sunderland making the long trip to play a team who put four past them in October.

The Black Cats ended a three-month wait for a win at Hull last weekend but this has to be a step too far.

Prediction: 3-1

Manchester City vs West Brom

The Baggies will be boing-boinging towards their summer break and that's not ideal for 90 minutes in the company of Aguero, Jesus, Silva and Co.
Especially given an out-of-form City pulled Tony Pulis's side apart with ease at The Hawthorns earlier in the season.

Prediction: 2-0

WEDNESDAY, MAY 17

Southampton vs Manchester United

The Saints will be exhausted by the time their run against the big boys comes to an end - with matches against City, Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal and United all sardined into a five-week period.

United could be in a prime position to take advantage but, once again, Mourinho's team selection will be key.

Prediction: 1-2

SUNDAY, MAY 21

Liverpool vs Middlesbrough

Boro will inevitably be down and playing for pride (or a place in the shop window ahead of the summer transfer merry-go-round) and, at Anfield, there'll be little excuse for Jurgen Klopp's men failing to finish the job of qualifying for the Champions League.

Middlesbrough haven't won at Anfield since March 1976 and there is absolutely zero reason to suggest that run is about to end here.

Prediction: 3-0

Watford vs Manchester City

The Hornets are safe, City have guaranteed third... there's just enough time for a stroll in the sun around Vicarage Road before the season comes to a close.

Neither set of players will have much riding on this and so it's entirely plausible that the hosts can snatch a point from an entertaining draw (other outcomes are available).

Prediction: 2-2

Arsenal vs Everton

The Gunners will go into the game knowing that they'll have to better Liverpool's result to grab a top-four place at the death.

Once upon a time, Everton were the visitors on the day of Arsenal's coronation as champions. There'll be no such scenes this time around, regardless of the scoreline.

Prediction: 2-1


Jose Mourinho could well focus on the Europa League as Manchester United's top priority

Manchester United vs Crystal Palace

If Hull win at Selhurst Park a week prior, Palace could be facing possible relegation at Old Trafford.

Yet, with the Europa League final (yep, that old chestnut) now only three days away and the Champions League places out of reach, Sam Allardyce's side could find themselves playing the kids on the last day. And a point could be enough for survival.

Prediction: 0-0

HOW THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE RACE WOULD FINISH
--------------------------Games-GF---GA---GD---Pts
3---Manchester City--- 38---76---42---34---76
4---Liverpool---------------38---74---42---32---74
5---Arsenal------------------38---74---45---29---73
6---Manchester United-38---53---29---24---69

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-4484084/Man-United-City-Arsenal-Liverpool-FC-four-race.html