Somehow, we’re already a third of the way through the Premier League season.
And by the time you’ve let your Christmas dinner settle, we’ll be approaching the halfway stage of the campaign. With Arsenal currently top of the pile and Burnley propping up the table, fans and pundits and beginning to alter their pre-season predictions on where each side will end up.
One of the biggest surprises so far this term has been just how disappointing Manchester United have been – and a supercomputer doesn’t fancy their chances of making the top five. We say five instead of the usual four because the revamped Champions League comes into play next season and will likely allow one more Premier League club a place in Europe’s elite competition.
United, however, aren’t expected to make it via their league position unless they win this season’s tournament or the Europa League, as the supercomputer is currently projecting that the Red Devils will finish a lowly eighth. That would represent United’s worst finish in Premier League history, having slumped to seventh under David Moyes in 2014.
There’s more bad news for the Old Trafford faithful, too, as bitter rivals Manchester City are tipped to win their fourth successive league title – a feat which the Red Devils never even managed to pull off during Sir Alex Ferguson’s heyday, twice only making it to three (2001 and 2009). Meanwhile, Arsenal are predicted to finish as runners-up for the second season running, with Liverpool securing a return to the Champions League by finishing third and Newcastle once again taking fourth.
Aston Villa would nab the fifth and final qualifying spot, leaving Tottenham to agonisingly finish sixth and Chelsea in seventh. Then comes United, followed by Brentford and Brighton to complete the top half. West Ham are tipped to be the best of the rest, edging out Wolves, Crystal Palace, Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth, who’d all be content with survival after tricky starts to the season.
Fulham and Everton – even after the latter’s 10-point penalty for breaching financial rules – are predicted to earn the final two safe spots, leaving Luton, Burnley and Sheffield United to be relegated, all of whom were promoted from the Championship last term.
Full predicted Premier League table:
- Manchester City
- Arsenal
- Liverpool
- Newcastle
- Aston Villa
- Tottenham
- Chelsea
- Manchester United
- Brighton
- Brentford
- West Ham
- Wolves
- Crystal Palace
- Nottingham Forest
- Bournemouth
- Fulham
- Everton
- Luton
- Burnley
- Sheffield United.