Tottenham’s Chances Of A Top Four Finish

We’re midway through the 2021/22 Premier League season and with all 20 clubs having started their winter breaks, now is a good time to step back, look at the table and the upcoming fixtures ahead and determine the likelihood of clubs achieving their targets for the season.

Tottenham would have liked to head into the two-week break on the back of a win but it was not to be as they suffered their fourth defeat of the season at the hands of Chelsea on Sunday afternoon. Should they have won that game, it would have seen them move up three places in the table and replace Manchester United, breaking into the top four for just the second time this term. However, despite their recent loss, Spurs are still the bookies favourites to finish the season in the top four outside of the teams that currently occupy those positions.

If you’re betting with UK bookies such as SportNation or SBK, you’ll be able to get odds of around 21/10 on Tottenham to finish in the top four. 

Top Four Finish Betting Odds

• Man City: 1/1000
• Liverpool: 1/100
• Chelsea: 1/16
• Man Utd: 7/4
• Tottenham: 21/10
• Arsenal: 11/4
• West Ham: 12/1
• Wolves: 40/1

At this stage of the season, Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea are looking set to claim three of the four top spots. That leaves the likes of Manchester United, Tottenham, Arsenal West Ham and possibly Wolves, who are all within four points of one another, to battle it out for the final place.

Games In Hand

One advantage Tottenham have over the other contenders is that they have played the least number of games prior to the winter break. Currently, Spurs have played 20 games this season compared to Arsenal and Wolves who have played 21, Man Utd having played 22 and West Ham who have played 23. 

Fixtures

Once the Premier League resumes, Tottenham will have two consecutive games at home against Southampton and Wolves. They’ll see both of those fixtures as winnable and should they be able to pick up maximum points in them, it would give them a huge boost going forward.

Although Spurs have already played Chelsea both home and away this season, they still have to face Manchester City, Manchester United and Liverpool on their travels. Picking up points in those fixtures could be key to achieving a top-four finish along with taking points away from their home matches against Arsenal, Wolves and West Ham.

Three Horse Race?

With West Ham having played three games more than Tottenham but picking up just one more point, it’s hard to see Spurs not taking advantage of those games in hand and finishing above their London rivals. 

Wolves have played just one game more and are two points adrift and although they’re having a solid season with the second-best defensive record in the league, they’ve averaged less than one goal per game and may struggle to keep their consistency throughout the second half of the season.

That leaves Arsenal and Manchester United. Although United have been picking up points, their performances have been less than convincing. It remains to be seen whether or not Ralf Rangnick will find a winning formula before the season’s end but if he can’t it is possible they could finish well outside of the top four.

A battle between Tottenham and Arsenal for the fourth spot is one of the more likely scenario’s but we’ll have to wait to see how it pans out.