The race for the top four in the 2024/25 Premier League promises to be dramatic, with several sides set to be in contention. Manchester City look to be a safe bet, but nothing can be taken for granted in England’s top flight.
The four teams that accumulate the most points this season will qualify for the Champions League. England could get an additional spot in the competition, but that depends on how well their teams perform in Europe this term.
You can check out the Premier League top 4 finish odds in our comprehensive guide, where we also run through the leading contenders. Additionally, you can explore the odds for the Premier League winner to see who’s favoured to take the title this season.
Premier League favourites to make it in the top 4 in 2024/25
Several teams are aiming for a top-four finish in the Premier League this season. Here we profile the runners and riders, looking at their strengths and weaknesses as they bid for Champions League qualification.
⚽ Manchester City (1/10 at bet365)
Manchester City became the first team in English football history to win four titles in a row last season. They have dominated the division during Pep Guardiola’s time at the helm and have not finished outside the top four since 2009/10, very early on in the Abu Dhabi era. As the above odds indicate, it would be a huge shock if they missed out this term.
With Erling Haaland spearheading their attack, City will score plenty of goals. Their defence should be pretty solid too. Whether they have the requisite hunger to go the distance in yet another title race remains to be seen, but City will almost certainly be in the top four at the end of May.
🏆 Bet on Manchester City at 1/10 with bet365 🏆
⚽ Arsenal (1/7 at Betfred)
There was a time when Arsenal’s sole objective at the start of a season was to qualify for the Champions League. Arsene Wenger even went as far as to say a top-four finish was like winning a trophy for his team. No longer. Arsenal have their sights set on the title after two consecutive near-misses.
Mikel Arteta has shown himself to be an elite coach and it is difficult to envisage Arsenal suffering a decline this term. The team has been steadily improving for years and the Gunners will have little trouble qualifying for Europe’s principal competition.
🏆 Bet on Arsenal at 1/7 with Betfred 🏆
⚽ Liverpool (4/9 at talkSPORT Bet)
For the first time since 2015, Liverpool are about to kick off a Premier League campaign without Jurgen Klopp in the dugout. The German called it quits at the end of last season after suffering from fatigue and burnout, with former PSV manager Arne Slot chosen as his replacement.
Slot has his own style of play, but he will not attempt to overhaul everything at Anfield from day one of 2024/25. Liverpool will probably need a year or so to adjust to their new manager’s methods, so a title tilt will be difficult this season. Even so, Liverpool have enough quality to finish in the top four.
🏆 Bet on Liverpool at 4/9 with talkSPORT BET 🏆
⚽ Chelsea (11/8 at Betfred)
Chelsea have spent more than £1 billion on new players since Todd Boehly and his consortium bought the club in 2022. Yet the Blues have not qualified for the Champions League since Roman Abramovich’s chairmanship. After Mauricio Pochettino’s exit, Enzo Maresca is tasked with getting them back into the top four.
That will not be easy. Maresca plays a different brand of football to Pochettino, so a bedding-in period is required. Chelsea also need a prolific centre-forward after relying on Cole Palmer for goals last term.
🏆 Bet on Chelsea at 11/8 with Betfred 🏆
⚽ Newcastle United (2/1 at talkSPORT Bet)
Newcastle United were not really involved in the battle for the top four last time out. They struggled to balance their Champions League commitments with their domestic ones, resulting in a seventh-place finish. Since then the Magpies have been constrained in the transfer market by the Premier League’s financial rules.
Nevertheless, we expect Newcastle to be involved in the top-four mix in 2024/25. Eddie Howe is a bright coach and his team will be difficult to beat at St James’ Park. However, they will need to tighten up defensively and improve their away form, which was dreadful for much of last season.
🏆 Bet on Newcastle United at 2/1 with talkSPORT BET 🏆
⚽ Tottenham Hotspur (2/1 at Betfred)
Tottenham Hotspur fell two points short of the top four last season. For a while it looked like fifth place would be sufficient for a spot in the Champions League, but English sides’ sub-par showing in Europe put paid to that hope. Spurs will be looking to go one better this time around.
They have a good chance of doing so. Ange Postecoglou is starting to build a squad in his image and Tottenham showed plenty of promising signs in 2023/24. But the north London outfit need to become more solid without the ball.
🏆 Bet on Tottenham Hotspur at 2/1 with Betfred 🏆
⚽ Manchester United (2/1 at bet365)
Manchester United were second best in too many matches last season. It is not just that they finished eighth; it is that they were fortunate to finish that high. The club has overhauled Erik ten Hag’s coaching team, but the Dutchman himself was handed a new contract to the surprise of many.
There are several areas where United need to improve. The first is their defensive openness: the Red Devils were too easy to play through last term. They also need to show more in attack after being outscored by eight rivals last term.
🏆 Bet on Manchester United at 2/1 with bet365 🏆
⚽ Aston Villa (10/3 at talkSPORT Bet)
Aston Villa enjoyed a magnificent campaign in 2023/24. Their form dipped a little on occasion, but for the most part Unai Emery’s men were impressively consistent throughout. Villa do not intend for last term to be a flash in the pan. They are ready to challenge for the top four again.
It will be harder this year, though. Like Newcastle before them, Villa could struggle to balance the Champions League and the Premier League – and history shows that Emery tends to favour European competition. Villa have also lost Douglas Luiz, arguably their standout performer last time out.
🏆 Bet on Aston Villa at 10/3 with talkSPORT BET 🏆
⚽ Brighton & Hove Albion (14/1 at bet365)
Brighton & Hove Albion’s performances dropped off in the second half of last season and it was no surprise when Roberto De Zerbi and the club parted ways. In his place comes the 31-year-old Fabian Hurzeler, the youngest permanent manager in Premier League history.
Brighton did not even finish in the top half in 2023/24, so it is a big ask for them to qualify for the Champions League. Hurzeler will need a while to get his ideas across and the objective from the boardroom is likely to be consolidation rather than a groundbreaking achievement like a top-four finish.
🏆 Bet on Brighton & Hove Albion at 14/1 with bet365 🏆
⚽ West Ham United (20/1 at talkSPORT Bet)
West Ham United’s results were mixed at best last season and it will be a huge challenge for them to even be involved in the top-four conversation this term. Julen Lopetegui has replaced David Moyes and West Ham have made some promising signings, but the top seven rather than the top four is set to be their aim.
Despite the stereotypes about Moyes, West Ham were poor defensively in 2023/24. That is an issue Lopetegui will have to rectify. Meanwhile Lucas Paqueta, arguably their best player, is facing the prospect of a lengthy ban for betting offences.
🏆 Bet on West Ham United at 20/1 with talkSPORT BET 🏆
Premier League table
Here are the current Premier League table and standings, including the teams occupying the top four.
My Premier League top 4 betting tips
Here are my betting tips for the Premier League top-four race in the 2024/25 season.
Top 4 acca – Manchester City (1/10), Arsenal (1/7), Liverpool (4/9), and Tottenham Hotspur (2/1)
Manchester City have never finished outside the top four under Pep Guardiola and it is hard to see that happening this season. Arsenal also look like a sure-fire pick given how strong they have been over the last couple of campaigns.
Liverpool are entering a new era under Arne Slot and they may take a slight backwards step, but a top-four finish will still be within reach. Finally, I think Tottenham Hotspur will get over the line in their second year being led by Ange Postecoglou.
My top 4 acca (11/2)
A £10 wager on my top 4 acca would earn you £54.48. Use our calculator below to work out the odds for your own acca.
🏆 Bet on my top 4 acca with bet365 🏆
Top 2 double – Arsenal (4/9), Manchester City (1/3)
Arsenal have improved season upon season in recent times and we expect more of the same in 2024/25. Even if they miss out on the title this time around, Manchester City are too strong to drop out of the top two.
My top 2 double (2/1)
A £10 bet on my top 2 double offers a potential return of £19.26. Our calculator will help you work out the odds for your own double.
🏆 Bet on my top 2 double with talkSPORT BET 🏆
Arsenal to win the title 2024/25 Premier League title (15/8)
Arsenal came mightily close to winning the Premier League title last time out, finishing just one point behind Manchester City. With Pep Guardiola’s side likely to target another Champions League trophy this season, the time may have come for Arsenal’s first title since 2004.
🏆 Bet on Arsenal to win the title at 15/8 with BetMGM 🏆
Top 4 Teams in the 2023/24 season
The following four teams qualified for the Champions League by finishing in the top four of the Premier League last season.
- Man City: 91 points
- Arsenal: 89 points
- Liverpool: 82 points
- Aston Villa: 68 points
Teams that finished in the top 4 the most
The top four was not always a target for Premier League clubs, but it has been since the division was given four Champions League qualification berths in 2001/02. Here is a list of the teams that have finished in the top four most often.
- Manchester United – 26
- Arsenal – 23
- Liverpool – 20
- Chelsea – 19
- Manchester City – 14
- Tottenham Hotspur – 7
- Newcastle United – 6
- Blackburn Rovers – 3
- Leeds United – 3
- Aston Villa – 3
- Leicester City – 1
- Nottingham Forest – 1
- Norwich City – 1
- Everton – 1
FAQ about the 2024/25 Premier League season
Here are four key questions – and four important answers – about the 2024/25 Premier League season.
1. Which manager is likely to get the sack if they don’t finish top 4?
Erik ten Hag was handed a new contract at Manchester United despite an eighth-place finish in the Premier League in 2023/24. An FA Cup triumph saved the Dutchman, but he is now in last-chance saloon. If United are out of the top-four race midway through the campaign, he is likely to be sacked.
2. Does the top 4 guarantee the Champions League?
A top-four finish guarantees Champions League football. Fifth place may also be enough this season, but that will depend on how well English clubs do in continental competition.
3. Which player is likeliest to get their team to the top 4?
Son Heung-min is a Tottenham Hotspur legend already, but firing the club into the top four this season would only enhance his status further. The South Korea international is the man who can lead Spurs back into the Champions League.
4. Which teams are likely to finish at the bottom 3 spots?
Leicester City topped the Championship table last season, but they face a potential points deduction and will struggle to stay up. Southampton, play-off winners in 2023/24, could be too easy to play against and are also vulnerable. Finally, we think Nottingham Forest’s chaotic environment will cost them this time around.
About the author
Greg Lea
Greg Lea is a freelance football writer from London. He predominantly covers the Premier League and has had work published by the Guardian, FourFourTwo, ESPN and others.
Follow Greg on X: @GregLeaFootball
Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to talkSPORT. 18+. T&Cs apply. GambleAware.org
Remember to gamble responsibly
A responsible gambler is someone who:
- Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
- Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
- Never chase their losses
- Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed
- Gamcare – www.gamcare.org.uk
- GambleAware – www.gambleaware.org
Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.
For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to www.gamstop.co.uk to be excluded from all UK-regulated gambling websites.
News Summary:
- 2024/25 Premier League top 4 finish odds and betting tips
- Check all news and articles from the latest Football updates.