England's Big Four This Season: Better Or Worse?

Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United.

England's top four footballing teams. Teams which spread fear through the English Premier League.

But now they are in trouble.

Teams like Everton, Man City, Aston Villa and Tottenham (England's Little Four) are all trying to break that top four, especially Tottenham and Man City. The top four are losing more games against the likes of the Little Four (Chelsea against Villa, Liverpool against Tottenham, Arsenal against Man City and Man Und against Burnley (although they are not in the Little Four)).

Here are the teams that could break the top four, something which has been tried but never done (except Everton in 2005):

Tottenham - Have a great manager in Harry Redknapp, and a squad with good depth and star players like Jermain Defoe, Luka Modric, Ledley King, Aaron Lennon, Robbie Keane, Vedran Corluka and also Peter Crouch, David Bentley and Sebastian Bassong. Have a good chance of breaking the top four but probably won't. They need to improve on their travels but are strong at home.

Aston Villa -  People said they would struggle without Gareth Barry and others thought it was true after Wigan's 2-0 win over them at Villa Park. But after a magnificent victory over Liverpool at Anfield, they have got better and better. They have strengthened their defence with Richard Dunne and Stephen Warnock, they have Steven Sidwell in midfield and James Milner, Ashley Young, Emile Heskey, Gabriel Abonglohor, John Carew and Stewart Downing (injured at the moment) in attack. Good at home and hit on the counter attack away, which works with their pace. Will miss out though on top four.

Man City - Millions and millions have been spent by Mark Hughes and his rich owners to get into the top four this year, and they have the best chance if they can carry on gelling. Arrivals include Carlos Tevez, Emmanuel Adebayor, Roque Santa Cruz, Gareth Barry, Joleon Lescott and Kolo Toure, plus a few more. Strong at home but need to pick up more points away.

Everton - They are not likely to break the top four because David Moyes needs money. His squad is getting thin and being hampered by injuries. Everton have a good squad when fit, with Phil Jagielka, Tim Howard, Leighton Baines, Leon Osman, Tim Cahill, Mikel Arteta and Yakubu. Need to improve at home, they give silly points away (e.g - Wolves) but are pretty good on their travels. Need more money to increase squad depth though.

So there are good teams that could break the top four (haven't even mentioned Sundeland), but for this season I think they will just stay together. This is my end of year table (you might be surprised!).

1. Liverpool

2. Chelsea

3. Arsenal

4. Man Und

5. Man City

6. Tottenham

7. Aston Villa

8. Everton

9. Sundeland

10. Stoke

11. Fulham

12. Wigan

13. Bolton

14. West Ham

15. Blackburn

16. Portsmouth

17. Burnley

18. Hull

19. Birmingham

20. Wolves