CIES Football Observatory predict the final standings in Europe's top five leagues

Premier League

Antonio Conte has given Chelsea a new lease of life in the Premier League

The Premier League looks destined to see a new champion as defending champions Leicester City have fallen by the wayside. The Foxes, who defied 5000/1 odds last season to claim their first title are now in 15th place with only 21 points from 20 games.

CIES believe Chelsea will be crowned the champions in May. The Blues are currently top of the table with 49 points after 20 games and are expected to finish with 88 points to give Antonio Conte a title in his debut season. Their run of 13 consecutive wins saw them leapfrog most of the current top six and now have a lead of five points over second-placed Liverpool.

The Anfield side are expected to finish second just two points behind – matching their best ever finish in the Premier League. Although Liverpool are one of the most successful sides in English history, they have never won a Premier League title since the top division was revamped in 1992.

Pep Guardiola, also in his debut season in England with Manchester City, is expected to finish in third place after topping the table earlier this season. Arsenal are expected to finish fourth yet again – two years after shaking off the tag as perennial fourth-place finishers since finishing third and second in the previous two seasons.

Manchester United could finish outside the top four yet again while Tottenham Hotspur, who finished third last season, could also miss out on Champions League football next season according to the prediction.

CIES also expect Swansea City, Sunderland and Hull City to be relegated. Both Swansea and Hull have new foreign managers brought in to save their season while Sunderland have a knack for playing well in the second half of the season to just about stave off relegation.

With approximately £100m guaranteed to every team who plays in the Premier League, all three teams will go all out to secure their place in the top flight.

Final Pos	Team	Points	Current Pos
1	Chelsea	88	1
2	Liverpool	86	2
3	Manchester City	78	4
4	Arsenal	78	5
5	Tottenham Hotspur	73	2
6	Manchester United	73	6
18	Swansea City	33	19
19	Sunderland	31	18
20	Hull City	29	20