The race to get into the Champions League is one of the most hotly-contested parts of the Premier League season.
Getting into the top four guarantees extra revenue but crucially ensures the highest standard of European football for the following season and allows clubs to attract the highest calibre of player possible.
With the title race often left to one or two teams to battle out, the race for the top four is usually far more open, and here 101 Great Goals looks at the latest odds for 2022/23 from the Premier League, and which teams are favourites to get those top four spots.
Premier League Top Four Odds
Man City, Liverpool, Spurs and Chelsea are the favourites for Champions League places, with Arsenal outsiders at 11/10
A £10 bet on Arsenal would return £21
Premier League
Liverpool and Manchester City shoo-ins?
Last season’s top two are almost certain to finish in the top four this campaign, with bet365 offering odds of 1/66 for Pep Guardiola’s side to finish in the Champions League spots, and 1/9 for Jurgen Klopp’s men to do so.
This leaves, realistically, another two spots that are up for grabs, and there are plenty to consider.
Chelsea looking to kick on
Thomas Tuchel’s side are looking to bounce back this season after a campaign that saw them finish a distant third place behind Liverpool and Manchester City last season.
A mixture of bad luck, injuries and Roman Abramovich’s release of the club following UK Government sanctions left their season to fizzle out. But the return of Ben Chilwell as well as a number of quality signings - including Raheem Sterling, Marc Cucurella and Kalidou Koulibably - should be a boost to their hopes of finishing in the top 4 in 2022/23.
Whether their target will be top four or a title challenge remains to be seen.
Tottenham on course for top four repeat
In part thanks to an astonishing collapse on the part of north London rivals Arsenal, Tottenham found themselves in the top four come the end of last season. They have since added 6 new faces and began this season in style by smashing Southampont 4-1.
Arsenal and Manchester United with outside chances
Both Arsenal and Manchester United ended last season in the Europa League places, and according to the bookies are likely to do so once more.
Of the two, it is Mikel Arteta’s side that are favoured slightly, though that may if Manchester United are able to bring in a few more new faces this month.
Arsenal are priced at 11/10 after an opening day win over bogey team, Crystal Palace, whilst Manchester United’s odds have dropped to 10/3 following their loss to Brighton.
‘The outsiders’- West Ham, Newcastle, Aston Villa and Leicester
Every season there is hope from the ‘other 14′ that a new side can break into the top six, and this season there appear to be more contenders than ever to do so.
Newly minted Newcastle United are the bookie’s favourites to join the mega-wealthy top six this season, with Bet365 offering odds as short as 7/1 for Eddie Howe’s side to finish in the top four.
West Ham sit further back at 14/1, no doubt partly due to their European endeavours this season, whilst both Brighton have seen their odds shortened a great deal to 20/1 after they picked up their first ever win at Old Trafford.