EPL Top Four Battle - Tottenham, Arsenal, Chelsea, Newcastle Or Liverpool

They say ai???cometh the hour, cometh the manai??i??. The club has been going through a purple patch since New Year and it looked for inspiration from somewhere, someone. When the barometer was about to explode after recent knee-jerk reactions in the press, the maverick came to Liverpoolai??i??s rescue against derby rivals Everton. Liverpool won the match comfortably by 3-0 and gave them an outside chance of finishing in top four, which they covet so badly.

Back to back Premier League defeats do not boost any oneai??i??s moral, especially when your fellow rivals are all racking up points. The victory at Anfield thereby not only gives a breathing space but can be an impetus for a serious challenge until the end of the season.

Arsenal had hit rock-bottom when the fight back began. Likewise there is a drastic change afoot at Chelsea. Spurs looked all destined to grab the third spot, but now have a task at hand to thwart the constant dangers of two London clubs. Meanwhile, it seems like Newcastleai??i??s fairy tale journey has taken a spin yet they are still in the mix. In such a climate, the race for top four has never been so intense. Let us have a look at all the candidates who are fighting for that prestigious spot.

Tottenham Hotspur

Scenario one: Harry Redknapp raised the stakes before Spursai??i?? trip to Etihad Stadium on February by saying that he might have won the league already had he been in charge of high spending Manchester City.

Scenario two: Spurs playing good brand of football but was outscored by Arsenal, Manchester United and Everton.

Will Harry's flirtation with England job cost Tottenham dear?

As a result the Londoners are now only one point ahead of Arsenal. Yes, that Arsenal, who were nowhere in vicinity of top ten after first few months. The gap seemed too far to cross even few weeks back. Now, the comfort zone is under huge threat.

Spurs have failed to tap the unknown depths of resolve. That was evident last season too. Hence, the skepticism despite Spursai??i?? exponential progress in the first half of the season. Many wondered why Spurs didnai??i??t go for any signing in January. They were in the title race and few new faces would have bolstered their chances. But, Spurs took a rational decision. First, the club was not too sure about their title challenge. Rather they were confident about holding on to the third spot which they are currently occupying, but only just. Secondly, they didnai??i??t want to give pot of money to a man who is the de-facto manager of England National team. It is better to give that money to a new manager once Redknapp leaves the post.

But the problem lies somewhere else. They are following the same pattern of last season. Is it that the players are lacking the confidence, belief and above all motivation? Is it that these players ai??i?? the core includes Parker, Modric, Bale, Van Der Vaart, Defoe, Lennon – have given their best in the early half and are now running out of steam?

Arsenal

There were genuine fears amongst Arsenal fans whether Arsene Wenger can really take this fragile squad to top four? The godly figure was booed at home and away. From ai???Arsene Knowsai??i?? it almost become ai???Arsene, you donai??i??t know anythingai??i??. The season was shot through with a seam of negativity.

Arsenal marched on, slowly and steadily. Since that shameful defeat at the hands of Manchester United at Old Trafford, they have found a way to move on.Ai??Wenger bought new faces, gave predominance to experience, found a solution to win against weaker opposition on a regular basis and stood firm on his ideals and principles. It is a tough and rocky journey so far, laden with situation where it seemed like Arsenal will crumble like a pack of cards but he stopped that down slide with his experience,Ai??calibreAi??and knowledge.

Van Persie dazzled at the right time for the club. Is there any team in the world right now whose fate is entirely dependent on one single player? If anyone can take Arsenal to top four, then he will. Knowing what Arsene Wenger can do and what he has done all these years and how valiantly he has turned the tide this season, one would expect Arsenal to bag the 4^th spot. How the script would read if Arsenal finishes above Spurs?

Chelsea

Andre Villas- Boas OUT, positive results came IN. Well, not really. But yes, to a certain extent. The passion and pride with which the old guards of Chelsea played against Napoli restored the faith that Chelsea will fight till the end. They have to. They have left no other options.

Villas-Boas with a cinched raincoat, look of gaunt, bleary-eyed fear ideally should have stayed. His demeanor was less fitting ai??i?? perpetual nervous bouncing and roaring ai??i?? jumping in air first with delight, then sitting in uncomfortable postures in frustration.

He wanted to bring newer ideas but at the cost of ruction within a squad. Di Matteo, his temporary successor was left with two choices ai??i?? either to pander with heavy weights at the club or to dispense with them entirely at the earliest.

Will he be able to put Chelsea back on track again?

He chose the former. Rather, that was the logical thing to do. Being a legend of Chelsea, he knows the pulse of the club. So, all he needed to do was to ignite a baptism of fire amongst the old horses. Positive results will give more confidence and that confidence will breed to success. The only problem that can hamper this mini progress is their run-ins. They are still to face Man City, Spurs, Arsenal and Liverpool. Sitting in 5^th, with three points behind Arsenal, each and every point is vital from now on. Surely, the Blues cannot afford further slip ups.

Newcastle United

Ask the bookies, hey what Newcastle needs to do more before you consider them as serious top four contenders?

For once, stop doubting them. At the beginning of the season, there were doubts whether they would at all survive! Newcastle had a dream start to the season. That doubts withered and another doubts followedAi??- they have played weaker teams so far and not yet tested against strong opponents. Newcastle did fair enough to silence the critics.

Then followed another section of skeptics ai??i?? what the club will do when Demba Ba will be absent? Newcastle marched on without him. Now that, he is back, The Magpies has only one way to go – up, up and up.

They have quashed all the doubts so far and should now look for higher ambitions. Alan Pardew must think big as Newcastle have nothing to lose from here. They have gained a lot, and with bit of luck they can gain a lot more. They have played with a simple old school formation, with a buccaneering spirit and their position in league table is not lying either. Abhisar Gupta of 90minutes wrote ai???In the age of unfettered, wanton spending from most of the big clubs, Newcastle have come as a breath of fresh air.ai???

Liverpool

Well, letai??i??s start with their problems. Under Kenny Dalglish they have played an exciting and entertaining brand of football but didnai??i??t get the results that often. They have created enormous chances, hit the crossbars more than any other teams yet they couldnai??i??t find the net on a regular basis.

Liverpool are heavily dependent on Luis Suarez like Arsenal who look up to Van Persie to do the job for them. The problem is, Van Persie finds the net week in week out while Suarez fails to do so.

Liverpool fans have to be realistic here. The club has progressed under Kenny Dalglish. It is a slow progress, but a progress never the less. People who are jumping on to the conclusion that it will be a failure if Liverpool canai??i??t finish in top four, are forgetting that the club was about to face the prospect of administration one year back.

Talking about progress on-pitch, the club landed their first silverware in six years and could well visit Wembley to play the FA Cup final too. Secondly, the style of football has been entertaining and eye-catching. All Liverpool need to find is a way of getting goals.

These knee jerk reactions are simply over hyped. The club is still under re-construction and it will take time to progress. Man City spent in their first season more than what Liverpool gave spend this season and they finished 10^th. It is not that simple. Any progress and rebuilding process needs time. Winning silverware has already marked a successful season. Going to Wembley again will be another feather in the cap. Ideally the club would like to finish within top four. The return to form of Suarez-Gerrard-Carroll trio is a huge boost. The club must ensure this is not just another false dawn.

TheHardTackle Prediction

3rd – Arsenal

4th – Chelsea

5th – Tottenham Hotspur

6th – Liverpool

7th – Newcastle United

So, who will get the elusive 4^th spot? Will it be any of the three clubs from London? Can Pardew wave the wand of miracle? Or Can Stevie Gerrard inspire Liverpool for a dramatic finale? Getting spicy,Ai??isn’tAi??it?

EPL Top Four Battle – Tottenham, Arsenal, Chelsea, Newcastle Or Liverpool – Who Will Make The Final Cut?

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