Predicting the EPL Top Four: Who Will Qualify for the Champions League?

With Manchester United already making plans about when to hold their celebration parade and where to store their Premier League trophy, attention now turns to the battle for Europe.

As it stands, four teams are trying to squeeze into two places. Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham and Everton all have aspirations of spending time next season in Munich, Milan and Madrid.

Now, I did fail math at school, although I don’t need to reach for the calculator to figure out that two teams are going to end up disappointed.

Which teams will make the cut? To find out, we predicted the remaining games for those sides still in the hunt for third and fourth place. 

Arsenal

Everton (Home) 2-1

A big match, as Arsenal could move four points clear of Chelsea with a win. Everton will put up a fight though.

Fulham (Away) 1-1

Fulham are just waiting for the season to end, although Dimitar Berbatov is always dangerous.

Manchester United (H) 0-2

United are cruising to the title, and they will be too good for the Gunners.

QPR (A) 2-0

QPR will most likely already be relegated at this point; they won’t stand a chance.

Wigan (H) 2-1

Wigan will be playing for their lives, but Arsenal should put them away at the Emirates.

Newcastle (A) 1-1

Newcastle are ready to move on from this miserable season, but are always well supported at home.

Final tally: 70 points (Goal Difference +31)

Chelsea

Fulham (A) 1-0

An unexciting game, but Chelsea will have enough to see off the mild threat posed by Fulham.

Liverpool (A) 2-2

Philippe Coutinho, Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge are a handful for any defence, there will be goals.

Swansea (H) 4-0

Swansea have been inconsistent since their cup win, and Chelsea will cut loose and score heavily.

Manchester United (A) 0-0

A bore draw. Similar to the FA Cup quarter-final replay, these two sides will cancel each other out.

Tottenham (H) 2-2

With the date of this game now confirmed as May 8, via the Daily Mail, fans can prepare themselves for what should be a thrilling game that could prove vital in the race for the top four.

Aston Villa (A) 3-1

Villa have found some form recently, but their defending is woeful. Christian Benteke to score a consolation goal for the Midlands side.

Everton (H) 1-0

Depending on prior results, this could be a massive game. Chelsea have an extra touch of class though.

Final tally: 73 points (GD + 36)

Tottenham

Manchester City (H) 0-2

Roberto Mancini’s side are powering into form, with Samir Nasri looking dangerous for the first time since last season.

Wigan (A) 1-1

Wigan are always tough to play late in the season, and they’ll hold on for a draw at home.

Southampton (H) 2-0

Southampton have steered themselves clear of trouble, complacency will be an issue here.

Tottenham (H) 2-2

With the date of this game now confirmed as May 8, via the Daily Mail, fans can prepare themselves for what should be a thrilling game that could prove vital in the race for the top four.

Stoke (A) 2-0

Stoke are usually good at home, although they’re in free-fall at the moment. This loss will send them to the brink of relegation.

Sunderland (H) 4-4                                                             

Paolo Di Canio has injected some life into Sunderland and they are playing exciting football. This one could be a shootout.

Final tally: 67 points (GD +13)

Everton

Arsenal (A) 1-2

Everton simply have to win this one to stay in touch with the big boys. That's unlikely.

Sunderland (A) 1-2

Sunderland’s resurgence continues as the Toffees are picked apart by Stephane Sessegnon and Adam Johnson.

Fulham (H) 2-0

Kevin Mirallas and Victor Anichebe will terrorise Fulham’s defenders.

Liverpool (A) 1-1

Form is always irrelevant in the Merseyside derby, and this one will be a draw. 

West Ham (H) 0-0

Everton have drawn too many games this season and that won’t change against a defensively strong West Ham.

Chelsea (A) 0-1

Everton’s season will fade out to a dull finish, succumbing to a Demba Ba goal at Stamford Bridge.

Final tally: 60 points (GD +13)

Final Positioning

Third: Chelsea, 73 points

Fourth: Arsenal, 70 points

Fifth: Tottenham, 67 points

Sixth: Everton, 60 points

After all that tension and uncertainty, it looks like the usual suspects have come through in the clutch.

Rafael Benitez has defied every vitriolic Chelsea fan by lifting them into third. If the Blues can win the Europa League as well, Benitez can look back on his time in London as a success. 

Arsene Wenger has yet again steered Arsenal through troubled times into the sanctuary that is Europe. Despite finishing trophy-less (again), Arsenal will view this campaign as a chance to propel themselves into higher company next season.

Meanwhile, Andre Villas-Boas and David Moyes have just missed out on turning decent seasons into great seasons. Moyes is familiar with the taste of disappointment; his Everton side consistently threatens to break through every season but always seem to fall just short.

So, another Premier League season looks destined to finish with the same sides looking down on the rest. Ah well, there's always next season.