Prediction for the top 7 finishes this season in the Premier League

With the culmination of the January transfer window, there can not be any more additions to the teams in the Prermier League. Teams have now been sealed ahead of what can be termed as the business end of an unpredictable and enthralling season. But despite the unpredictability of the league this season, we attempt to predict the top end of the final Premier League table.So, let's take a look at the teams that we think will finish in the top 7 come May:

#7 Chelsea

Chelsea need to find a solution to Hazard’s form dip.

I had a long hard think about whether I felt Chelsea would start moving in the right direction for it won’t be easy for them to beat teams to this position. West Ham are a very stubborn side and Stoke City seem to be getting into their stride at the right time of the season. But the quality Chelsea posses should surely see them elevate themselves to 7th come the end of the season.

Diego Costa has now started to show the form from last season while Willian is still looking like the best player in the squad at the moment. If they can toughen up the defence, they can start to turn some of the draws into three points, as before the win against Arsenal they conceded 3 against Everton and 2 against West Brom.

With the loan signing of Pato, Chelsea look a lot stronger up front but regardless of that, they will still need to find a way to get Hazard back in form. He’s been the stand out star for Chelsea the past few seasons and it’s no surprise to see them struggle this year due to his dropped form.

#6 Liverpool

Liverpool have been all over the place this season, and injuries have added to their problems.

I think this season is pretty much a write-off for Liverpool’s hopes of Champions League qualification. Their squad is all over the place in terms of injuries and depth in the wrong areas and I think Klopp will already be looking towards next season with transfer movement in mind.

But there’s still half a season to go almost and he must finish strongly to appease what is an expectant, and rightly so, Liverpool support. It’s quite obvious their problems exist at both ends of the field, as the defence is diabolical and they lack a talismanic striker, something not normally associated with Liverpool squads.

Benteke may yet prove to be a good signing if he can find his scoring boots soon as he is off a relatively young age. But Klopp needs to work out quickly just what his favoured centre half pairing is as Toure and Sakho looked like they had never met each other against Norwich and unsurprisingly conceded 4 goals in the process. While another one of Moreno’s moments of madness gave away a penalty that could have on another day seen Norwich home and dry had it not been for Norwich’s collapse.

#5 Manchester United

United’s loss to Southampton has increased their woes this season.

I was hesitant to even put them here, but I just have to believe that a team such as Manchester United with some of the players they have at their disposal will limp over the line and finish 5th this season. Ultimately, the one thing they are criticised for might be the reason they do it, in my opinion.

Their defensive nature and boring style can be a total eye sore to watch, but ultimately if you don’t concede goals, you don’t lose games. They look nothing like the Manchester United of old in their attacking play but they do possess enough individually talented players to produce moments of game winning magnitude that may see them earn enough points to finish in 5th.

For me, though, it would be the final nail in the coffin for LVG, if he’s even still there by the end of the season, and I’m sure not many reading this will disagree with me for saying that.

#4 Leicester City

Leicester’s run has been akin to a fairytale this season.

Ranieri’s work at Leicester has been incredible; take nothing away from Nigel Pearson, who left great foundations for him to build on, however. He’s installed belief in the squad that they can go toe to toe with the bigger boys in the league. He’s created a tightly knit squad that all know each others strengths and weaknesses and I think this is such a big reason for their great campaign so far.

I can’t see them winning the title due to perhaps the lesser quality and depth in the squad as some of their rivals, but their confidence, togetherness, and most importantly the talent they have could be enough to see them finish in the top 4 for a Champions League spot.

I really do hope for Leicester’s, and the players own sake, that they finish the fairytale they themselves have helped create before possibly moving on in the summer for the big money move they will have most definitely earned.

#3 Tottenham

Tottenham have recovered from a shaky start and now look more organized.

I wasn’t impressed with Spurs, at first, this season. I thought they were negative and lacked a spark in some of their play. But what I see now is a team that is organised and has finally got into the swing of things in all areas of the park.

The early stages of the season were teething problems for what was most likely a new style and system, paired with perhaps some key players not in form such as Harry Kane and Christian Eriksen. The team now looks capable of both defending and attacking in equal measure, which is evident through their goal difference of +25, the best in the league.

The youngsters in the squad such as Delle Alli and Eric Dier have been revelations this season. Dier is having a much better second season since moving into the midfield role while Alli's has been one of the stories of the season. A settled centre half pairing of Alderweireld and Vertonghen has allowed them to tighten up the leaky defence from last season. If they can all keep up their key performances along with Harry Kane’s goal scoring, then we could quite easily see them join the title race, but I think they will just miss out and take third place.

#2 Manchester City

Man City have had so many problems to deal with this season.

Manchester City have shown themselves to be too vulnerable at the back without their captain, Vincent Kompany, to lead and organise them. Pellegrini still doesn’t appear to know what his best partnership is when he’s injured. Kompany’s constant injuries leave question marks over how much he will play over the remainder of the season and who can fill in.

The effect of his absence seems amplified as Otamendi hasn’t adapted as well as he had hoped to in the Premier League, but it’s been better than Mangala who will occasionally show glimpses of why Manchester City paid the outrageous fee they did pay for him. Then, they all of a sudden appear to have no understanding of defending. Demichelis also will look steady in the odd appearance before showing the signs that his body just isn’t up to the pace that certain clubs wish to play at.

This is a shame as the attacking talent that is on display at Manchester City is breathtaking. The recent dismantling of Crystal Palace was highly impressive. However, Aguero is also prone to spells out injured, and I’m not 100% certain that Wilfried Bony is an adequate replacement for a title challenging team.

#1 Arsenal

This might be Arsenal’s year, at last.

For the first time in a long time I sat up and said to myself “I think this may be Arsenal’s year at last.” They had their recent, and annual, injury scare but have managed to come through it and have been near the top of the league consistently. While I don’t believe for a second that Arsenal are the best team to maybe win the Premiership - I don’t even think it’s the best Arsenal team to have a shot at winning it - the lacklustre challengers to the title might help them this season in that regard.

But, that doesn’t mean we can’t heap the praise on Arsenal that they deserve for their transitions over the last 2-3 years. Slowly, Wenger has put the pieces together of a team that can perhaps get it over the line this year. Two FA cups have given back the “winning mentality” the clubs require to win a league title, while signings like Ozil, Sanchez, and Cech have all improved the squad dramatically and played vital roles.

Apart from the new additions, players already in the squad have put in some of their best performances in an Arsenal jersey - Koscielny has been one of the top performing centre halves of this season. Giroud has been grossly underrated by many football fans, even some Arsenal fans, while Ramsey, Bellerin, and Cazorla have all been consistent for much of this season.