Meanwhile, Chelsea, who have picked up just three points from the last 12, can beat rock-bottom Southampton at Stamford Bridge by more than two goals – even though they have scored three times just once in their last 11 league matches – at 6/5 with William Hill, Paddy Power, bet365 and others.
Liverpool and Arsenal are odds-on favourites to finish first and second and usual suspects Manchester City and Chelsea are also among the pack chasing Champions League football next season.
Nottingham Forest are best suited to do so as they are currently third, while Bournemouth, Brighton, Fulham and Brentford – down in 11th but just seven points behind City in fourth – are also in with a realistic shot with a dozen matches and 36 points up for grabs.
It’s not mathematically impossible for other clubs to scrap their way into the frame, especially if the Premier League wins a fifth Champions League place as seems increasingly likely, but let’s not get sidetracked.
Another round of league matches kick-off this week with ninth-placed Brighton entertaining Bournemouth at the Amex Stadium and the Seagulls can feast on the Cherries, taking maximum points at 23/20 with Betway.
