Who will make the Premier League top four along with Arsenal and Man City?

Fight for the top four – LOWDOWN: Liverpool have form for a late dart, Newcastle look goal-shy… but will troubled Tottenham trump them all? Sportsmail’s predictions as six teams scrap for two spots

Liverpool are starting to build momentum and are closing in on the top four
Man United are well-placed but must bounce back from their Anfield humiliation
Spurs, Newcastle, Brighton and Fulham are eyeing Champions League football

Published: 07:15 EST, 10 March 2023 | Updated: 07:34 EST, 10 March 2023

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The top managers now always say that the first trophy of the season is cementing a top-four finish. Given the riches on offer in the Champions League, it is not hard to see why.

Europe’s elite club competition provides a financial platform for the next year’s spending, so getting on that gravy train is very lucrative indeed.

For a club like Newcastle United, with sky-high aspirations, making it would accelerate their growth potential. For Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool and Manchester United, qualification makes sure they do not fall behind others.

Today, with two-and-a-half months of this season remaining, there are two clubs who feel assured: Arsenal and Manchester City.

There are another six, separated by 11 points, who are all vying for a place at the top table. Some are surprises, others are not. Sportsmail looks at the runners and riders.

Liverpool are heading in the right direction after their huge win over Man United on Sunday

MANCHESTER UNITED

Played: 25

Points: 49

Five key fixtures: Newcastle United (a), Brentford (h), Nottingham Forest (a), Chelsea (h), Tottenham (a)

On the surface, United – still seven points clear of Liverpool – now probably have the gentlest run-in. Decent home games and if they win the majority of those at Old Trafford, then a reintroduction to the Champions League is theirs in Erik ten Hag’s first season. And that was the goal at the beginning of the campaign.

Whether Sunday’s capitulation at Anfield proves to be a blip – an embarrassing one, but only a blip – or something very difficult to shake will only become clear over the coming weeks. Follow the humiliation on Merseyside up with a jittery performance against Southampton this weekend and the questions will linger.

Erik ten Hag will need to ensure that Sunday’s loss at Anfield was just a blip for his side

TOTTENHAM

Played: 26

Points: 45

Five key fixtures: Everton (a), Brighton (h), Newcastle United (a), Manchester United (h), Liverpool (a)

With Liverpool, Manchester United and Newcastle United all to play in the space of a week at the end of April, Tottenham should have more than a fair idea on their top four aspirations by May. It’ll be a defining few days that could have ramifications for the futures of Harry Kane and manager Antonio Conte.

Conte is back in London after recovering from gallbladder surgery in Italy and having that figurehead should provide Spurs with fresh impetus after a chaotic last month where green shoots disappeared with catastrophic defeats in the FA Cup, then at Wolves and also a limp Champions League exit against AC Milan.

Tottenham boss Antonio Conte has plenty to ponder after his side’s recent downturn in form

PREMIER LEAGUE TOP FOUR ODDS

Man United: 1/14

Liverpool: Evens

Newcastle: 23/10

Tottenham: 23/10

Brighton: 11/2

Fulham: 150/1

*Odds provided by Paddy Power

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LIVERPOOL

Played: 25

Points: 42

Five key fixtures: Manchester City (a), Chelsea (a), Arsenal (h), Tottenham (h), Brentford (h)

If they can’t go on and cement a spot in the top four from here than it was never going to happen for Jurgen Klopp’s side.

They have not conceded a goal in their last five Premier League games, thumped their biggest rivals and now are the team to watch in this race.

There is a degree of difficulty to their remaining fixtures – a trip to the Etihad Stadium on April 1 soon followed by hosting Arsenal a couple of games later – but Liverpool are a club of momentum and key players are now recapturing form at the perfect time.

They have made a late dart for a top-four finish before, two years ago, and this feels similar.

NEWCASTLE UNITED

Played: 24

Points: 41

Five key fixtures: Manchester United (h), Tottenham (h), Everton (a), Arsenal (h), Leeds (a)

Has the air gone out of the balloon? No win in five matches and only three goals in their last eight. But during the 2-0 defeat by Man City on Saturday, there were signs that the Newcastle of a few months back is not too far away.

They were progressive through midfield and fashioned some decent openings to create meaningful chances. And they continue to keep things tight. It might be a case of one needing to fly in off Callum Wilson’s knee to get Eddie Howe’s team flying again. They have to beat Wolves at home this weekend.

Newcastle have failed to win any of their last five matches and have dropped down the table

FULHAM

Played: 25

Points: 39

Five key fixtures: Arsenal (h), Aston Villa (a), West Ham United, (h), Manchester City (h), Manchester United (a)

Anything from here should be considered a bonus for Marco Silva, who has to be up there in Manager of the Year contention. Defeat at Brentford on Monday was a damaging loss, but that is no reason for them to completely give up hope just yet.

It’s been a storming season for Fulham regardless, and qualification for Europe is a real possibility. The feelgood factor is back around Craven Cottage and they are already in the echelons of being the best newly promoted team in Premier League history. They could still surprise a few.

Fulham were expected to be involved in a relegation battle, but are now dreaming of Europe

BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION

Played: 23

Points: 38

Five key fixtures: Crystal Palace (h), Tottenham (a), Chelsea (a), Manchester City (h), Arsenal (a)

Would you rather have the points or games in hand? Brighton have got three over Spurs and lie seven points behind. The strong thing for Roberto De Zerbi is how they bounced back from defeat by Fulham to progress in the FA Cup and then soundly beat West Ham United at the weekend.

De Zerbi is not downplaying their chances of finishing in the top six, which is refreshing, and if they are to upset the status quo then they will have to rile a few of the established elite, with some tasty fixtures remaining.