Top Four Contenders

Though the title race and relegation slogs are often the primary points of interest in the Premier League, the race to finish in the top-four has become one of the most intriguing sub-plots in football.

Of course, it’s not just the chance to play in the Champions League which the clubs are interested in.

Take Chelsea’s season in 2012/13 for example. After exiting the group stages of the Champions League it’s reported they earned £12m for their endeavours.

Although they went on to win the rather less-esteemed Europa League that season, the winners pot for winning that entire competition was a mere £7m.

Chelsea lead the pack of top-four contenders this year, with a silverware driven Jose Mourinho starved of the titles that makes him the quintessential winner he is.

Factor in the signings of Cesc Fabregas, Fillpe Luis and the predatory Diego Costa, and Chelsea are markedly stronger. They’re favourites with the bookies, and Diego Costa’s pre-season form coupled with his premier league debut, is worth looking at for the golden boot, too.

Next in line are last year’s champions Manchester City. Despite suffering a humbling defeat to Arsenal in the Community Shield, the Citizen’s remain perennial contenders with the bookies, especially after adding Fernando, Eliaquim Mangala, Bacary Sagna, Willie Caballero, Bruno Zuculini and of course, Frank Lampard. The community shield victory could have just been a blip as City easily swept aside Newcastle in their premier league opener with several key men impressing.

Manuel Pelligrini’s men are second favourites in the chase for the top four and after retaining the likes of Sergio Aguero, Yaya Toure and skipper Vincent Kompany, it’s safe to assume they’ll be right in the mix.

Then, it gets interesting.

Arsenal have finished in the top-four for the last 17 seasons straight, last finishing fifth in 1995/96.

The addition of Alexis Sanchez along with Mathieu Debuchy, Callum Chambers and David Ospina for a combined outlay of £61m, has many believing Arsene Wenger’s men can build on last year’s F.A Cup success.

Arsenal and Manchester United cannot be split with the bookmakers in the race for the top-four, as the bookies fancy United to have a resurgent campaign, however that was before the opening day defeat to Swansea.

Dutchman Louis van Gaal had appeared to install a winning mentality at Old Trafford once more and the Red Devils pre-season form has featured wins over the likes of Real Madrid, AS Roma, Valencia and Liverpool, however all that good work went out of the window with an abysmal opening day defeat to the Welsh club.

Whilst not being priced as favourites, other teams expected to be in the shake-up include Liverpool, Everton and Tottenham.

After losing the mercurial Luis Suarez to Barcelona, Liverpool have significantly strengthened their squad in preparation for European competition and can be found at evens with most bookies.

Brendan Rodgers troops had no European competition to worry about last season, but this term his squad will surely be pushed to their limits.

Roberto Martinez continues to renovate the footballing ethos at Goodison Park and the permanent signing of the prolific Romelu Lukaku must be seen as a significant stride upwards.

Spurs on the other hand haven’t made any gala signings as it were, but have strengthened problem areas from last term. The impressive Ben Davies has come in from Swansea with goalkeeper Michel Vorm for a combined £15m, whilst American DeAndre Yedlin and Eric Dier from Sporting Lisbon have both bulked up new boss Mauricio Pochettino’s defence and Dier could add goals judging by his opening day performance.

The Argentine boss carved out a good reputation for himself at Southampton before heading to White Hart Lane and his side are around sixth favourites to land Champions League qualification in his first term at the helm.