There used to be a time when first was everything and second was nowhere.
Those days are long gone especially in the Premiership, where due to an ever-widening gap, fourth place has become everything and the new first. If you don’t believe me ask Liverpool, Tottenham, Manchester City and Aston Villa.
This season the race for that all-important ticket to possible UEFA Champions League riches is almost as compelling as the dash for the title itself. Just three points separate the above four clubs who for different reasons covet that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
At the moment it seems that no one truly wants fourth, as all four clubs have at one time or another sat in the pound seat only to give it up at the first asking. With 15 matches left it is coming down to ‘who wants it the most.’
As a de facto member of the ‘Big Four’ Liverpool surely have the most to lose if they stumble. Despite assurances, Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard would be on the first ferry out of Merseyside along with under fire manager, Rafa Benitez.
I think the question for the Reds is that without significant investment, qualifying for the elite European competition may hurt them, as they’d have to spend what they haven’t got.
Unless those American snake-oil merchants come up with the readies through flogging shares in the club at a deep discount, it’ll be like treading water. Saying that, Liverpool are a ‘Big Four’ club and should finish in that coveted spot especially with Torres not far from recovery.
Liverpool's remaining fixtures against their top rivals looks like this: Arsenal (a), Man City (a), Man United (a), Chelsea (h).
Manchester City give off the whiff of a rich man’s Chelsea, except their parts don’t equal the sum. In theory, with the quality of the squad, fourth should be achievable in their sleep. However, we’ve seen that the club, team and management seriously lack bottle and character.
Those two qualities are going to ultimately trip them up because despite the occasional rip roaring performances they haven’t been there enough times. They don’t know how to win the matches that must be won. The obvious example is this weekend as they fell to Hull.
City may have a grand vision but as of now they are at best, a fifth place team.
Their remaining fixtures against the top seven look like this: Liverpool (h), Chelsea (a), Tottenham (h), Man United (h), Arsenal (a), Aston Villa (h).
If Tottenham were a tennis player they would be Andre Agassi, circa 1990, where image was everything. You look at the starting XI and it’s a smorgasbord of top internationals and yet they’re incapable of taking points off the opponents that matter. Eight points earned from a possible 24 against the top seven gives me the impression that like City, they lack the bottle when the intensity moves up a level.
With Harry Redknapp having some serious off-pitch issue, I can’t help but feel they’re already lining up their excuses as to why they failed.
Tottenham have been a sixth place team for so long now they just don’t have the faintest clue as to what it takes to move up the table.
Their remaining fixtures against the top seven look like this: Man City (a), Arsenal (h), Chelsea (h), Man United (a).
Arsene Wenger was highly critical of Aston Villa recently and I can’t say I blame him. They (Aston Villa) remind me of a poor man’s Chelsea. They want to grind out performances. While at times that has been successful it is not enough to break into the top four. To join the elite you need an ‘X’ factor.
Is Randy Lerner willing to bankroll that ‘X’ factor?
The answer at the moment is no and without the ‘X’ you’re going to have to rely on the brilliance of Brad Friedel to keep you in matches. I’m not sure how many times I’ve witnessed the American bail Villa out this season but the number is getting ridiculous.
Unfortunately for fans of the Midlands club, Villa is a top four wannabe. The Europa League will be as good as it gets so I would suggest to Martin O’Neill that he should start playing his strongest sides in this competition.
Villa's remaining fixtures against the top seven look like this: Man United (h), Chelsea (a), Man City (a).
Just like the relegation struggle, the fight for fourth revolves around beating those teams that surround you. You can see who has who.
City should be favorites because of their squad depth and quality. Tottenham would be the neutrals' favorite because when they’re on, they’re fun to watch. Villa could snatch it because they’re dogged but ultimately the ‘Big Four’ has been so named because no one else is allowed to join.
Liverpool will finish fourth and qualify for the UEFA Champions League next season.
Until then, I’ll see you at the far post.
