We reveal our predictions for this season’s Premier League top-six

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Some simple maths tells you what six into four doesn’t really work, so two managers of the Premier League’s top-six sides are going to be very disappointed in a few months’ time. But which pair will be left with such a dilemma?

While Chelsea run away with the title at the top of the table, three Champions League-qualifying spots are waiting to be filled.

But the five sides battling it out are split by extraordinarily close margins.

Never ones to shy away from a challenge, at Ladbrokes News we’re putting our necks on the line and calling the final top-six placings right now…

Richard Marsh

  1. 1. Chelsea
  2. 2. Tottenham Hotspur
  3. 3. Liverpool
  4. 4. Arsenal
  5. 5. Manchester City
  6. 6. Manchester United

We all know Chelsea will land the title, it’s just a matter of when. Behind them, I still question Man City’s mental strength – they go missing far too often. That’s not something you can say about Tottenham, and they’re second for me here.

Liverpool’s lack of European – and Emirates FA Cup – football we be a huge benefit in the coming weeks, and with Sadio Mane back I fancy them to hit their pre-Christmas form. Plus, they’ve got an excellent run of fixtures to end the campaign.

So it’s between Arsenal and Man City for fourth, and I just think Arsene Wenger will save his own bacon. City have a run of fixtures which sees them visit Monaco, playing Liverpool, then head to both Arsenal and Chelsea all in succession and I think that will be their undoing.

A quick look at Man United’s fixtures shows up a lot of tricky away trips – including to Man City, Arsenal and Tottenham. They’ve got to play Swansea and Crystal Palace at the tail end of the season too, and that’s not when you want to face sides battling the drop.

All that, coupled with a Europa League run, will see United fall short.

William Geldart

  1. 1. Chelsea
  2. 2. Manchester City
  3. 3. Tottenham Hotspur
  4. 4. Manchester United
  5. 5. Arsenal
  6. 6. Liverpool

This will be the year Arsenal finally fall out of the top four. And the Gunners will start to unravel pretty soon, with a double header against Bayern Munich and an upcoming away clash at Liverpool the pre-cursor to theirs – and Arsene Wenger’s – downfall.

Jurgen Klopp’s Reds will continue to pick up points against the rest of the top six but disappointing results elsewhere will see them fall short of a Champions League spot.

Meanwhile, we all know Chelsea are champions in-waiting with Manchester City possessing the greater strength in-depth to chase them down.

Spurs and Mourinho’s resurgent Manchester United could be interchangeable in third and fourth respectively, depending on their Europa League travails. They’ll meet in the penultimate round of Premier League fixtures in a match that could have a big bearing on those places.

But the headline from me is that Arsenal are about to get the wake-up call they so sorely need.

Dave Burin

  1. 1. Chelsea
  2. 2. Manchester United
  3. 3. Manchester City
  4. 4. Tottenham Hotspur
  5. 5. Liverpool
  6. 6. Arsenal

While Chelsea are unlikely to let their grip on top spot slip, it’s all to play for below top spot – and I’m backing the two Manchester clubs to take second and third respectively.

After a difficult start to the season, Man United are now unbeaten in 16 league games, and have been averaging well over two points per game since the start of November. Yes, they’re sixth right now, but they’re only four points off second.

I think they’ll just pip Man City, though Pep Guardiola’s side have looked imperious on the road in recent games. I think that gives them an edge over Tottenham, who have won just two of their last 13 on the road in all competitions.

However, they do have reliable difference-makers in the form of Dele Alli and Harry Kane.

Liverpool are magnificent at their best, but we’re just not seeing it often enough for a top-four finish. And as for Arsenal, I’m tipping them to finish down in sixth place. They look tactically naive and are under-equipped at the back.

Alex Apati

  1. 1. Chelsea
  2. 2. Manchester City
  3. 3. Arsenal
  4. 4. Tottenham Hotspur
  5. 5. Manchester United
  6. 6. Liverpool

Though I don’t think anyone can catch Chelsea, their closest challengers will be Man City.

As for third and fourth, there may be a hint of me thinking with my heart here, but a Champions League place is all Spurs will care about, while the Gunners will be desperate to end the season on some sort of high.

I don’t think Man United are quite there yet. Yes, they spent nearly £160m last summer but they’re still a couple of players short in my opinion – plus they draw too many games.

As for Liverpool, they’re just too inconsistent to force themselves into the mix. Sadio Mane’s return is huge for them – but he won’t get them a top four spot on his own.

What do you think? Whose prediction do you agree with? Let us know in the comments below on on Twitter @Ladbrokes!

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing

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