Danny Murphy expects Manchester United and Chelsea to secure top-four finishes in the Premier League this season but has questioned whether Liverpool will follow suit amid competition from Leicester City, West Ham, Everton, Arsenal and Tottenham.
Manchester City have won 20 consecutive matches to storm 12 points clear at the top of the table with 12 games remaining.
While the title is almost certainly heading to the Etihad, the top-four battle remains wide open, with 11 points separating eight clubs from second to ninth.
Man United are second following Sunday’s goalless draw with fifth-placed Chelsea, and Murphy believes that will be where the Red Devils remain.
The former England midfielder expects Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea to climb to third, however, with Liverpool and Leicester fighting it out for the final Champions League spot.
Everton, Tottenham and Arsenal all closed the gap on the top-four at the weekend with wins but Murphy believes they have left themselves too much to do ahead of the final stages of the 2020-21 campaign.
‘The run-in is going to be fascinating, and it’s wide open too,’ Murphy wrote in a column for BBC Sport.
Danny Murphy's top-four prediction
- Manchester City
- Manchester United
- Chelsea
- Liverpool or Leicester City
‘Manchester United got some criticism for not showing enough courage against Chelsea on Sunday, but the point Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side got at Stamford Bridge maintains their six-point cushion over fifth place and I see them as stand-out favourites to finish second.
‘I also think Chelsea will make it into the top four, because of their strength in depth and the fact they are now so hard to beat under Thomas Tuchel – they are just not losing any games.
‘After that, it is hard to say for sure. For different reasons, Leicester, Liverpool, West Ham and Everton will all fancy their chances, and Tottenham and Arsenal are in touch after good wins this weekend.’
Murphy added: ‘For me, consistency will be the deciding factor. On their day, Tottenham or Arsenal are exciting to watch but I don’t think they will manage to string together the results they need to mount a challenge.
‘Everton are capable of doing that, though, and West Ham have been doing it for a few weeks already. The Hammers are another side that are very difficult to break down, as City found out on their way to beating them.
‘Ultimately, though, I have a feeling David Moyes’ side might fall a bit short, especially if they have to cope without Tomas Soucek or Declan Rice for any length of time.
‘Leicester already seem to be picking up more injuries, which is a worry. Now it looks like they will be without Harvey Barnes for a while, and he will be a big miss. It is going to be tough for them.
‘Even so, I think it will either be the Foxes or Liverpool who make fourth place.
‘Both of them have got far more experience of these kind of situations, when the pressure is really on, than Everton or the Hammers do.’
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