Supercomputer predicts final Premier League top four after Man City win in style | OneFootball

A seven-point lead for Liverpool at the summit suggests a thrilling title race is unlikely, but there's bound to be plenty of drama as several teams hunt for Champions League football.

Manchester United and Tottenham's dismal seasons means it's not the usual suspects aiming to compete in Europe's premier club competition next term. A couple of newbies have been thrust into the mix.

Instead of vying to claim a fifth-straight league title, Manchester City are one of the multiple sides in the Champions League hunt. An Omar Marmoush-inspired 4-0 beatdown of Newcastle at the weekend has boosted the likelihood that their collapse won't result in Europa League football while Pep Guardiola aims to rebuild.

Opta's supercomputer has certainly taken kindly to their recent triumph, with their projection suggesting City will claim a top-four spot at a canter. Here's what their current projected Premier League table looks like.

Predicted 2024/25 Premier League table - top half

Liverpool and Arsenal have broken away from the rest of the pack, with Opta already banking on the pair qualifying for next season's Champions League. The computer's also projecting the Reds to maintain their current seven-point lead at the top in a comfortable title triumph.

There's a chance a top-five finish will be enough to earn a Champions League spot, with the Premier League's co-efficient bound to improve. That's great news for Nottingham Forest, who were beaten by Fulham on Saturday and are now just three points ahead of City in third. Opta's backing the perennial champions to usurp Forest in the table, and their chances of competing in next season's Champions League are as high as 75.34%.

Forest, projected to finish fourth, now have a 43.04% chance after their recent defeat.

Nuno Espirito Santo's side will have to fight off multiple teams if they're to secure a top four spot, with Newcastle projected to finish a mere three points adrift in seventh. The Magpies saw their stock take a considerable hit after their defeat at the Etihad, with Eddie Howe's side also losing twice at home in January.

A slumping Chelsea are backed to finish fifth, which may be enough for a Champions League spot, while Bournemouth remain on course to enjoy their first taste of European football next season.

Fulham, Brighton, and Aston Villa can't be ruled out of the race just yet, although their chances of making a serious push are slim. Villa, of course, have a remote chance of winning the Champions League after qualifying automatically for the round of 16 upon their return to the competition.