Spurs? West Ham? Man Utd? Anybody out there want to finish fourth in the Premier League? Nope? – The Warm-Up

MONDAY’S BIG STORIES The stumble for fourth Ad/> This feels very familiar. Last season it was a limp to the line for fourth in the Premier League, and it appears we’re following a similar pattern this time around too.

Premier LeagueConte: Spurs defeat to Wolves 'one of the best games we played'16 HOURS AGO Let’s go back and see what it takes to finish fourth… In 2016-17 Liverpool needed 76 points to finish fourth by one point ahead of Arsenal In 2017-18 it was Liverpool again who came fourth with 75 points, five more than Chelsea in fifth In 2018-19 it was Tottenham’s turn to finish fourth with 71 points – one more than Arsenal In 2019-20 the bar was lowered somewhat, with Chelsea’s haul of 66 points enough for fourth, four more than Leicester In 2020-21 it was a similar outcome, with Chelsea pipping Leicester to fourth with 67 points to the Foxes’ 66 – West Ham were just behind on 65 and Liverpool a smidgen ahead with 69 in third And so… to the current season. Going by current points per game, starting from fourth down to eighth as it stands, West Ham are on course for 62 points, Manchester United 63, Arsenal 67, Wolves 61 and Spurs 62.

So hang on… does that make Arsenal in pole position to reach the top four? With games in hand Arsenal have fourth in their own hands too – and despite not playing due to Chelsea’s involvement in the Club World Cup (the Blues won, we think, going by their Twitter), the Gunners had a very good weekend indeed. A draw for West Ham, a draw for Manchester United, and a sorry defeat for north London rivals Spurs, who succumbed 2-0 to a Wolves side who are slowly creeping up into contention.