Premier League 2021/22 predictions: Who will win in the fight for top four?

It has been a thrilling first half to the 2021/22 Premier League campaign, with Manchester City already ten points ahead at the top of the table.

Meanwhile, Arsenal, West Ham, Tottenham and Manchester United all face a battle to earn a Champions League spot - with the Gunners currently occupying fourth place.

There is a scramble at the bottom of the table as a number of teams look increasingly likely to be facing relegation.

Here are my predictions for how the season will end...

Champions

With Man City currently so far ahead of second place Chelsea, it is hard to see how Pep Guardiola’s side won’t lift the trophy for a fourth time in five years.

Chelsea and Liverpool have dropped vital points in recent weeks and it looks like their main focus will be securing second place.

Top four

Liverpool are probably the most likely to catch City up at this point - but with that seeming too ambitious, I expect them to take second.

Injuries to Ben Chilwell and Reece James will impact Chelsea for the remainder of the season and they will have to take third.

Fourth place is particularly up in the air but I expect Arsenal to claim it.

The Gunners’ form has massively improved since the start of the season and their young stars will be pivotal over the next few months.

Top six

West Ham have had a superb season so far but I think reaching a Champions League spot will be too much for them.

Tottenham Hotspur’s results have improved under Antonio Conte and it is hard to see the Italian not have any success on his return to England.

Meanwhile, it wouldn’t be at all surprising if Manchester United miss out on the top six all together.

Despite only losing one match since Ralf Rangnick’s arrival last month, the Red Devils’ performances haven’t drastically improved and the attitudes of some of their players may make it difficult for them.

Relegation

I expect Norwich City and Burnley to most definitely drop down to the Championship.

Neither side look capable of turning their season around - the former in particular - and would need a very impressive January transfer window to have much of a chance.

The final relegation spot is a tricky one but it is likely to be between Newcastle and Watford.

This entirely depends on how the Magpies’ transfer window pans out - if they are able to bring in a number of players prepared for the relegation battle then they might have a chance.

Bringing in big names that have never experienced the struggle - and are most likely just in it for the money - could have the opposite affect.