The title race might, realistically, be a two-horse race between Liverpool and Manchester City, but there is still plenty of European places up for grabs for the chasing pack.
There are four Champions League, a Europa League and a Europa Conference League places up for grabs, with another Europa League spot opening up if anyone but Crystal Palace win the FA Cup. Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham, Manchester United and perhaps West Ham are all vying for the two remaining, and much prized, Champions League spots, with Wolves also in the mix for a top-seven finish.
For the Champions League, reigning European champions Chelsea look set to qualify as they boast an eight-point gap back to fifth-placed Tottenham. The Gunners are three points clear of their north London rivals and, like the Blues, have a game in hand. It is much tighter for the lesser continental cups with five points splitting Wolves in eighth and Spurs in fifth.
But which teams will be getting their passports ready, and for which tournaments? We asked Reach National’s reporters for their expert opinions...
Neil Squires
Top 6: Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal, Tottenham
For all that Arsenal have a game in hand and points in the bag, Manchester United remain a group of individuals capable of putting a run together. With no Europe to distract them now, they can yet squeeze into fourth spot.
David Maddock
Top 6: Liverpool, Man City, Chelsea, West Ham, Arsenal, Spurs
Chelsea will finish third, and could even join the fringes of the title argument if the top two falter in any meaningful way because their fixture list is extremely kind. And I’m going for West Ham to surprise everyone by nicking fourth place, because they also have a fixture list that can help them ambush the sides above them.
Gideon Brooks
Top 6: Man City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal, Spurs, West Ham
A case of as you are: City, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal in that order followed narrowly by Spurs then a gap to West Ham and another to Man United and Wolves.
An interesting sub-plot may develop if one of the top three win the FA Cup with United and Wolves probably vying NOT to qualify for the Europa Conference in seventh place.
I would take United to reluctantly land it on by a couple of points.
Neil Moxley
Top 6: Liverpool, Man City, Chelsea, Arsenal, Spurs, West Ham
The rest of the Champions League places will be filled by Chelsea - there’s just too much quality in that squad for them not to finish in the top four.
And Arsenal look in better shape than Spurs for that fourth spot. Despite the discipline Antonio Conte will hammer into his squad, the Gunners have no distractions and no other call on their players other than their domestic duties. It ensures they should be fresh enough to see them over the line ahead of their north London rivals.
David Moyes probably didn’t get the credit he deserved for West Ham’s victory over Seville in the Europa League. They’ve put up a fight but the top four is going to be out of reach for them while they are still occupied in Europe.
David Anderson
Top 6: Man City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham, Man Utd
I think the current top four will be the final top four on May 22.
Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea are certainties and I back Arsenal to finish fourth and join them in the Champions League for the first time since 2016.
Arsenal have real momentum and have won six of their last seven Premier League games. They also have a three-point advantage and at least one game in hand on chasing Tottenham, Manchester United and West Ham.
Those three continue to blow too hot and cold and I just don’t see them putting a good enough run together to overhaul the Gunners.
Dave Armitage
Top 6: Liverpool, Man City, Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham, Man Utd
It’s Liverpool, City, Chelsea and Arsenal in that order with Tottenham, Man United and West Ham in the other spots. The likes of Wolves, Villa, Leicester etc have left themselves too much to do and time is running out.
Simon Bird
Top 6: Liverpool, Man City, Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham, West Ham
Nothing changes from the current position, with the scrap four fourth place going to Arsenal who are playing with a freedom, and a game in hand, that means Mikel Arteta will ruin Spurs’ hopes and leave this season as a high water mark for West Ham.
Mike Walters
Top 6: Liverpool, Man City, Chelsea, Tottenham, Arsenal, Man Utd, West Ham
In the battle for fourth place - the tradesmen's entrance to the Champions League which we are supposed to regard as a trophy - Tottenham finally have some wind in their sails, and they should be favourites to pip neighbours Arsenal if they win the rearranged North London derby.
Jeremy Cross
Top 6: Liverpool, Man City, Chelsea, Tottenham, Man Utd, Arsenal
If the battle for the title was tight, then the scrap for a top four finish appears even more gripping. Arsenal hold all the aces, having climbed to fourth while still having a game in hand, but their record of beating the biggest teams is poor and they still have Chelsea and Manchester United to face, not to mention West Ham.
Tottenham have a manager with more experience in the shape of Antonio Conte, while United appear too inconsistent to finish above their London rivals, while the Hammers have the distraction of the Europa League to contend with. Tottenham should clinch fourth spot, with United, Arsenal and the Hammers taking the Europa League places.
James Nursey
Top 6: Man City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal, Spurs, Man Utd
With City en route to the title, I expect Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal to finish behind them in the top four and there has to be a chance Arsenal will overhaul crisis club Chelsea and bag third. Mikel Arteta has done a superb job to get the Gunners to improve on eighth place last season and got a lot of big calls right like offloading Pierre Emerick Aubameyang.
Behind them Spurs and Manchester United look set for fifth and sixth as West Ham will understandably have one eye on success in the Europa League where they face Lyon next in the quarter-finals. The seventh-placed Hammers went into the break on the back of a defeat at Spurs and must be wary of Wolves pipping them. Wolves have a solid settled side with most of their stars like Pedro Neto, Willy Boly and Jonny now back from long-term injuries but Ruben Neves' knee injury could be costly.
David McDonnell
Top 6: Man City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham, Man Utd
With City and Liverpool occupying the first two places, I fully expect Chelsea to cement third spot and Arsenal to win the race for that coveted fourth Champions League slot. As it stands, Manchester United don't have the consistency to claim fourth, nor do Tottenham or West Ham. I would expect Spurs and United to finish in the Europa League places and West Ham to finish seventh, to qualify for the Europa Conference League.
John Cross
Top 6: Man City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Tottenham, Arsenal, West Ham
I fancy Antonio Conte will steer Tottenham into fourth because of his experience and know how plus Harry Kane and Heung-Min Son who give them the edge over Arsenal, in my view.
I think it'll be a thrilling race, Arsenal will go close but few expected Mikel Arteta to be in this position, fourth would be a bonus and they are making obvious strides.
West Ham can take the other position and it'll be interesting to see the dynamic of the other places.
Paul Brown
Top 6: Man City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham, Wolves
No-one is catching the top three of City, Liverpool and Chelsea. They are streets ahead of the rest in terms of quality. Arsenal should finish fourth. They have no distractions, nice fixtures, points in the bag and games in hand.
Somehow I fancy Wolves to sneak into Europe ahead of either West Ham or Manchester United - but Tottenham suddenly look a good bet to finish fifth.
Andy Dunn
Top 6: Liverpool, Man City, Chelsea, Man Utd, Tottenham, Arsenal
On the basis that such a talented squad will surely click at some stage, Manchester United can go on the sort of run that would give them an unlikely fourth place finish but Arsenal will fade to sixth, Spurs will be a steady fifth and West Ham will finish seventh.
Darren Lewis
Top 6: Liverpool, Man City, Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham, Man Utd
Arsenal to remain masters of their own destiny and clinch fourth. Spurs to finish fifth with Antonio Conte’s side showing vast improvement ahead of the international break. The concern remains their propensity to gift goals to opponents when they shouldn’t. Manchester United remain a team you simply cannot trust with too many players living off their reputations. They will continue to drop points in games they should be winning.
West Ham to finish seventh with their squad too thin to challenge for the Europa League and the top four.
Chris McKenna
Top 6: Liverpool, Man City, Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham, Man Utd
Arsenal have the top four in their grasp and only Tottenham can catch them while I think Wolves will overtake West Ham late in the season.
Tony Banks
Top 6: Man City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Tottenham, Arsenal, Man Utd
City and Liverpool are stitched on for first and second. Chelsea will keep hold of third place but fourth is still up for grabs. Arsenal still have a wobble in them - and Antonio Conte is capable of driving even an erratic Tottenham team into fourth. But it will be tight.
Simon Mullock
Top 6: Man City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham, Man Utd
The top three places are already decided - and I think Arsenal have got the consistency and momentum to clinch fourth and a return to the Champions League. Tottenham have enough to hold off Manchester United for fifth - meaning the Reds' next manager will be in the Europa Conference League because I'm taking one of the top three to also win the FA Cup. With Liverpool already winning the Carabao Cup, I reckon they will be joined by West Ham.
Neil McLeman
Top 6: Man City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham, Man Utd
Arsenal’s visit to Crystal Palace to face their former captain Patrick Vieira on Monday night will be crucial. The Gunners will lose at Chelsea but should have the momentum to beat Spurs and Manchester United in their head-to-head meetings before the end of the season.
Harry Pratt
Top 6: Liverpool, Man City, Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham, West Ham
