The battle for a coveted top-four finish in the Premier League once again promises to be one of the most intriguing subplots of the upcoming season.
Arsenal , Aston Villa and the two Manchester clubs were the fortunate four last term but a host of other clubs will also have realistic designs on those positions heading into the new campaign.
Here we take a look at the leading candidates in our Premier League top four tips .
Arsenal
Arsenal @ 1/8
Arsenal had to wait 22 years to finally be crowned English champions again last season but they have been a fixture around the top of the Premier League for a while now. The Gunners were runners-up for three successive campaigns under Mikel Arteta before getting their hands on the big prize, while they did not finish outside of the top four once between 1997 and 2016.
It therefore seems inconceivable Arsenal will go from topping the Premier League and reaching the Champions League final to then missing out on a top-four spot entirely. In fact, it would raise eyebrows if they did not finish in the top two for a fifth consecutive year, with odds of 2/7 for that to happen.
Manchester City
Manchester City @ 2/7
The last time City’s name was not in the top four come the end of a season was way back in 2009-10 when, after a turbulent campaign which saw Mark Hughes replaced by Roberto Mancini , they had to settle for fifth. Since then the Etihad outfit have been champions in eight of the 16 seasons, while finishing runners-up four times, third twice and fourth once.
It remains to be seen how seamless the transition from Pep Guardiola to Enzo Maresca will be but, like Arsenal , it would be a huge shock to see City finish any lower than fourth in the coming year.
Betting Odds
Premier League Top Four Betting Odds – 2026-27 season
Result | Odds | Chance |
|---|---|---|
Arsenal | 1/8 | 88.9% |
Manchester City | 2/7 | 77.8% |
Liverpool | 4/9 | 69.2% |
Manchester United | 8/13 | 61.9% |
Chelsea | 5/6 | 54.5% |
Tottenham | 3/1 | 25% |
Aston Villa | 4/1 | 20% |
BAR | 12/1 | 1.5% |
*Odds are correct at the time of writing, but subject to change.
Liverpool
Liverpool @ 4/9
Liverpool have long been one of English football’s top clubs and took their title count to a record-equalling 20 with triumphs in 2020 and 2025, but that does not mean they have always been a top-four certainty. The Reds finished fifth last term during a dismal title defence under Arne Slot , one which cost the Dutchman his job, but they were also fifth under the hugely successful Jurgen Klopp in 2023.
Liverpool were in an even worse state when the German first arrived during the 2015-16 season, with the club in the midst of a miserable run which saw them claim just one top-five finish in seven years, while sinking as low as eighth on two occasions.
Andoni Iraola is the new man in charge and having led unfancied Bournemouth to sixth last season - just three points behind Liverpool - he will be expected to get the Reds back into the top four.
Manchester United
Manchester United @ 8/13
United clinched third place last term in ultimately comfortable fashion under Michael Carrick, finishing six points above Aston Villa and 11 clear of Liverpool in fifth. However, that was the exception rather than the rule for the Red Devils in recent years as the club lurched from one problem to another.
Since winning their 13th Premier League title in 2013, United have finished in the top four just six times, while they were eighth in 2024 and 15th in 2025 - their lowest finish since being relegated in 1974. It seems unlikely United will plunge to such depths again anytime soon but whether they can claim another top-three finish next season remains to be seen as the likes of Liverpool , Chelsea and big-spending Spurs look to make gains.
Chelsea
Chelsea @ 5/6
Enzo Maresca and Liam Rosenior both went through the exit door during a 2025-26 campaign which ended with a disastrous run of seven defeats in nine Premier League matches.
Chelsea’s scattergun approach to the transfer market has again been in evidence, although adding wise old heads Jordan Henderson and Danny Welbeck to big-money buys Rogers , Maxence Lacroix and Marco Palestra may help Xabi Alonso adapt to his first managerial job in England .
Tottenham
Tottenham @ 3/1
New boss Roberto De Zerbi, who worked wonders at Brighton , made a good early impression to help save Spurs from the drop and he will have much more talent to play with this term, with Sandro Tonali , Mateus Fernandes , Jan Paul van Hecke and Andy Robertson all regarded as good recruits.
Aston Villa
Aston Villa @ 4/1
Villa were right up there for a long time last term before a sloppier second half to the season saw them ultimately finish fourth, although a Europa League triumph was ample compensation for that slide. Unai Emery will again provide rock-solid leadership, but Morgan Rogers and Youri Tielemans may be sorely missed.
Other top four odds : Brighton 12/1, Newcastle 14/1, Everton 22/1, Bournemouth 22/1
Betting Tips
Premier League Top Four Betting Tips
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