The Premier League race for the Champions League

While Chelsea and Manchester City battle it out for the title, it is less clear as to which two other teams will join them in next season's Champions League.

As Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger recently commented: "It's the first time that there's many more teams involved in the top four."

Indeed, with 12 matches remaining, just four points separate the Gunners in third and rivals Tottenham Hotspur in seventh, with Manchester United, Southampton and Liverpool the filling in a North London sandwich.

Of course, five doesn't go into two, so which three sides will miss out on a place in Europe's premier competition? Here, Sports Mole assesses the chances of each of the contenders.

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Current position: Third, 48pts

Recent Premier League form: WWWLWW

Remaining fixtures: Everton (H), QPR (A), West Ham (H), Newcastle (A), Liverpool (H), Burnley (A), Sunderland (H), Chelsea (H), Hull (A), Swansea (H), Man United (A), West Brom (H)

Reason for optimism: Like their famous supporter Mo Farah, Arsenal have become experts in recent seasons at knowing when to make their move. While fans would much rather see their team challenging for the title on a more consistent basis, 16 consecutive years in the Champions League is a fine achievement. Even when the situation looks bleak, Wenger somehow manages to guide his team into the top four.

What's more, Wenger now has an almost fully fit squad to select from. Mesut Ozil has looked revitalised following his layoff, while England internationals Theo Walcott and Jack Wilshere are getting closer to match fitness. French striker Olivier Giroud is also producing his best form since arriving in England, having scored four goals in his last five outings.

As far as the 12 encounters to come are concerned, the Gunners perhaps have the least daunting set of fixtures compared to their fellow challengers. Home clashes against Liverpool and Chelsea are tough, as is the trip to Man United. That aside, the remaining matches look winnable.

Reason for doubt: For the first time in five seasons, Arsenal have a genuine chance of reaching the quarter-finals of the Champions League. In Monaco, they face a side that they will fancy their chances of overcoming. Then, if they were to draw the winner of the Porto vs. Basel tie, all of a sudden Wenger's men could be in the semi-finals of the competition.

It goes without saying that the aforementioned scenario would be ideal, but there is potential for eyes to be taken off the ball in the Premier League. Extra games also test squad depth, as well as increasing the chances of injuries. After all, Arsenal are a club that traditionally suffer a large number of fitness problems.

And, while improvements have been made of late, there still have to be questions marks over Arsenal defensively. Their 29 goals conceded this season is more than both Man United and Southampton have shipped, with Liverpool having also let in the same number.

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Current position: Fourth, 47pts

Recent Premier League form: LWWDWL

Remaining fixtures: Sunderland (H), Newcastle (A), Tottenham (H), Liverpool (A), Villa (H), Man City (H), Chelsea (A), Everton (A), West Brom (H), Palace (A), Arsenal (H), Hull (A)

Reason for optimism: United have looked disjointed for most of this season, yet they have been residents of the top four for some time now. The likes of Angel di Maria, Robin van Persie, Wayne Rooney and Radamel Falcao have all had their form heavily scrutinised, but that quartet, along with the likes of Juan Mata and youngster Adnan Januzaj, are all capable of winning matches on their own.

Further back, United's heavily criticised defence has let in just 26 goals. Only Chelsea, Man City and Southampton have better records. While the United rearguard is unquestionably suspect, what they do have is the best goalkeeper among the five teams in this race. David de Gea is well on course to scoop the club's Player of the Year award and he is likely to play a key role between now and the end of the season.

Unlike Arsenal, Liverpool and Spurs, the Red Devils have no European commitments to consider. Such circumstances worked in Liverpool's favour last year and Louis van Gaal will be hoping that the freshness of his players will be key.

Reason for doubt: Van Gaal may argue that United's 12 remaining fixtures means that their destiny is in their own hands. That may be true, but it's a tough run. The sequence of matches between Spurs in mid-March and Everton at the end of April are difficult and are potentially defining.

Ahead of those games, United will cling to form which has seen them lose just two of their last 16 Premier League outings. That initially appears to be encouraging, but there have only been three victories in eight previous matches, with unconvincing performances being produced in games against Burnley, West Ham United and Stoke City.

Half of United's matches left to play are away from home, with Van Gaal's men suffering greatly from travel sickness this term. To date, United have collected just 16 points from a possible 39 on the road. If that does not improve, it will be difficult for the 20-time champions of England to maintain their grip on a top-four place.

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Current position: Fifth, 46pts

Recent Premier League form: WWLWDL

Remaining fixtures: West Brom (A), Palace (H), Chelsea (A), Burnley (H), Everton (A), Hull (H), Stoke (A), Tottenham (H), Sunderland (A), Leicester (A), Villa (H), Man City (A)

Reason for optimism: Whether his side make the cut or not, there will not be many bosses ahead of Ronald Koeman in the running for the Manager of the Year award. The state of the squad that he inherited last summer has been well documented, but a combination of his work in the transfer market and tactical nous has kept the Saints in the running for the top four, even when things looked bleak during a poor run back in December.

Such positive results owe a lot to a stingy defence. Koeman, a former centre-back, has put together a well organised defence which has let in just 19 goals in 26 games. That's three fewer than leaders Chelsea and five better off than champions Man City.

With what is to come, apart from trips to both of the title chasers, Southampton's fixtures look favourable, particularly at home. In the next few weeks, Crystal Palace, Burnley, Hull City and Aston Villa will all visit the St Mary's Stadium.

Reason for doubt: Before Christmas, summer signing Graziano Pelle scored a highly commendable 11 goals. Since then, the Italian has found the net just once, while the once creative Dusan Tadic has also found positive form hard to come by of late.

Those struggles were evident during the weekend's 2-0 home defeat at the hands of Liverpool, just as they were when Man United visited the South Coast in December. In terms of style of play and chances created, Koeman's charges were the dominant force, but they did not make the most of those and were beaten on both occasions.

If Southampton are to realistically wrestle themselves a space in the top four, Pelle, along with the likes of Shane Long and January addition Filip Djuricic, must contribute more goals.

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Current position: Sixth, 45pts

Recent Premier League form: WWWDWW

Remaining fixtures: Man City (H), Burnley (H), Swansea (A), Man United (H), Arsenal (A), Newcastle (H), Hull (A), West Brom (A), QPR (H), Chelsea (A), Palace (H), Stoke (A)

Reason for optimism: Exiting the Champions League at the group stages will have been the cause of much frustration for Brendan Rodgers and his players, but it seems to have galvanized them. Unbeaten in their last nine, Liverpool have collected 23 points from a possible 27, making them the Premier League's form side. There is a growing belief that the Merseysiders have come good at the right time.

The timing of Daniel Sturridge's return from calf and thigh injuries could not have been better timed, either. The England international had been out of action since the end of August, but now seemingly close to full fitness, he offers the pace, mobility and movement that had been badly lacking when either Mario Balotelli or Rickie Lambert spearheaded the attack.

While goals are seemingly easier to come by now, it's defensively where Liverpool have impressed recently, which simply wasn't the case earlier in the campaign. The team now look comfortable playing with a three-man unit, which has resulted in five clean sheets on the bounce away from home for the first time since 1985. As it stands, the momentum is with the Reds.

Reason for doubt: The reappearance of Sturridge is without a doubt a massive plus point, but he will need to be managed very carefully. The 25-year-old has struggled for fitness throughout his career and were he to play too much between now and the end of the season, there is every chance that he could break down.

It's not just Sturridge that Rodgers will have to keep fresh as his players battle it out on three fronts, with his side still in the Europa League and FA Cup. They passed their first Thursday-Sunday test at Southampton last weekend, but that was after a home European encounter. This week they are in Istanbul before playing host to Man City - that will be a real test of their ability to juggle.

Rodgers's man-management skills will also be required. Can he make his players forget about last season? They were on the verge of a league title and choked just over 12 months ago. The prize may not be as big this time around, but a couple of negative results and the doubts may start to creep in again.

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Current position: Seventh, 44pts

Recent Premier League form: LWWWLD

Remaining fixtures: Swansea (H), QPR (A), Man United (A), Leicester (H), Burnley (A), Villa (H), Newcastle (A), Southampton (A), Man City (H), Stoke (A), Hull (H), Everton (A)

Reason for optimism: One man - Harry Kane! The 21-year-old has appeared to carry Spurs on his own at times in recent weeks. In 2015 alone, the youngster has weighed in with nine goals - a haul that includes braces against London rivals Arsenal and Chelsea. What could prove to be even more vital is that he has shown when the chips are down, he can pop up with a goal, just as he did against West Ham at the weekend.

Kane has also been praised for his workrate and a lot of the credit for that must go to his manager Mauricio Pochettino. The Argentine has whipped the Spurs squad into shape - a viewpoint highlighted by how many points Spurs have claimed in the closing stages of matches this term. Thanks to goals in the 85th minute of matches or later, the North Londoners have collected 13 points - a Premier League high.

There is also not too much to fear in terms of opposition between now and May. The two Manchester clubs are bound to provide stern challenges, but Spurs will fancy their chances of collecting points from each match.

Reason for doubt: The games to come may well look appealing on paper, but with the greatest of respect, this is Spurs! This is a side that are capable of blowing away Chelsea and beating Arsenal one week, only to then slip up at Palace and go ever so close to losing at home to West Ham. As far as unpredictably goes, Spurs know how to put their supporters through the wringer.

Then, like Liverpool, Pochettino and his team have to contend with the exertions of the Europa League, assuming that they are able to negotiate their way beyond Serie A outfit Fiorentina.

And what about the League Cup? Spurs play Chelsea in the final this Sunday and while a trophy is always welcome and would be fantastic for all concerned with the club, previous winners have suffered with a hangover as far as their Premier League form is concerned. Likewise, it's important that a defeat does not linger for too long. Either way, Pochettino is going to have keep his players concentrated on the task in hand.

Written by
Liam Apicella