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As the English Premier League season edges towards its conclusion, the race for European qualification is in full swing.
Teams are vying for a place among the elite in the UEFA Champions League, Europa League and Europa Conference League, with every match carrying immense importance.
From top-four hopefuls to dark horses pushing for a breakthrough, the competition for these spots is as thrilling as ever.
We dive into who the favourites are to finish in the EPL top seven European places this season, using Bet9ja’s great odds!
Head over to the Bet9ja Blog for daily booking codes, betting tips, break news and analysis!
1st – Liverpool @1.01 to win the Premier League
Liverpool have already confirmed their place in next season’s Champions League, with the Reds sitting 22 points ahead of sixth-placed Chelsea with just 18 points left to play for.
Arne Slot’s side have virtually confirmed their Premier League win as well, as they require just two wins from the remaining six matches to ensure they lift their 20th English top division league title – marking a superb first season under Slot’s guidance.
2nd – Arsenal @1.10 to finish inside the top two
Arsenal are in a strong position to finish second in the league, currently holding a six point lead over third-placed Nottingham Forest with favourable fixtures against the likes of Ipswich Town, Crystal Palace and Southampton before the season’s end.
Mikel Arteta’s men have largely fallen out of the race for the title, due to winning only two of their last seven league outings, but they have certainly been the second best team in the league this term and should go on to secure second spot for a third consecutive season.
3rd – Manchester City @1.50 to finish inside the top four
Man City may have had their worst campaign since Pep Guardiola joined the club in 2016/17, but the Citizens could still secure Champions League football and even finish third in the league.
Guardiola’s men are now unbeaten in their last four league outings and looked almost back to their best as they demolished Crystal Palace 5-2 in their latest match, a result that will give them huge confidence moving forward.
The Citizens also have several favourable fixtures still to play, including against Everton, Wolves and Southampton – three sides they hold formidable records against in recent years – leaving them in a strong position to secure third place.
4th – Nottingham Forest @ 2.50 to finish inside the top four
Nottingham Forest’s remarkable campaign is at threat of coming apart in the final stages, as they have suffered back-to-back league defeats for just the third time this campaign and have seen their performance levels severely dip.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side have struggled to convert chances in recent games, with only two goals in their last four outings, while they have been conceding far more shots in recent weeks than throughout the majority of the campaign.
However, they do have three home matches remaining, and given their immense home record this term – with just three defeats in 16 home league games – Forest will be relying on points in these matches to help secure their top four finish.
5th – Newcastle United @1.08 to finish inside the top six
Newcastle United are on a sensational run heading into the closing stages of the campaign, having won all of their last five games and sitting fourth in the table with a game in hand at the time of writing – which could see them rise to third if they secure all three points.
While that form and the match in hand should provide them with confidence of securing the top four finish, a hard fixture list against the likes of Aston Villa, Brighton & Hove Albion, Chelsea and Arsenal means they could struggle in the final fixtures.
The Magpies will, however, still certainly pick up points, especially given their remarkable scoring form in recent weeks – with 11 goals in their last four games – but we believe a fifth-placed finish is likely for Eddie Howe’s side, which will be enough for Champions League football.
6th – Aston Villa @2.00 to finish inside the top six
Aston Villa have won nine and lost just one of their last 10 games across all competitions, and as they sit just one point outside the top five, they will have huge confidence of securing another Champions League place.
However, the Villans face an immensely challenging run to the end of the campaign, playing the likes of Newcastle United, Manchester City, Fulham, Bournemouth, Tottenham and Manchester United, who will be eager to end the season on a high.
Given this extremely difficult final six fixtures, we expect the Villans to narrowly miss out compared to those with slightly easier final fixtures, leaving Aston Villa as our sixth-placed prediction.
7th – Chelsea @1.01 to finish inside the top half
Chelsea will be extremely disappointed with how their season has played out, once being touted as potential title challengers after a superb start to the campaign and now facing potentially missing out on European football altogether.
The Blues have remarkably won only five of their last 16 Premier League outings, and that form will leave them in a difficult position when they face Fulham, Everton, Liverpool, Newcastle, Man United and Nottingham Forest in their final games.
Enzo Maresca’s side will be relying on their strength at home, which has seen them take 32 points from 16 games – the fourth best home total in the league – but we believe this will ultimately not be enough to save their season as we predict they will finish seventh.
Who misses out?
That leaves us predicting Bournemouth, Fulham and Brighton will narrowly miss out on European places altogether, but with six matches still to play in the Premier League, anything could happen before the end of the campaign.
For more articles like this, be sure to check out the Bet9ja Blog
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