Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool, Southampton and Tottenham: Which teams will finish in the top four?

Five won't go into two so we take a look at the contenders' current form, remaining fixtures and assess their chances of qualifying for next season's Champions League

This week's Premier League games were supposed to see some teams assert their claim for a top four finish and others see their dreams of playing in the Champions League slip a little further away.

But that's not how it worked out.

Every contender for a place in the top four - from league leaders Chelsea to Tottenham in seventh - won their respective matches. Not a single slip in sight.

The results cemented the view that this is, and will be until the end of the season, one of the tightest battles for the Champions League places ever seen in the Premier League.

By most peoples reckoning, Chelsea and Manchester City (the sides in first and second on 63 and 58 points respectively) will finish in the top four. That leaves Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool, Southampton and Tottenham battling for the final two places. But five won't fit into two, so which pair look most likely to be sitting at Europe's top table next season?

ARSENAL - 54 points

Arsenal remain in the driving seat following the latest round of fixtures. Whilst their talisman for the first half of the season, Alexis Sanchez, appears to be tiring a little they've been boosted by the return of key players Mesut Ozil, Theo Walcott and Danny Welbeck. Jack Wilshere (if room can be found) is also knocking on the door. This is a team with form for clinching a place in the top four - another one this season would be their 17th in a row.

Current form: WLWWW LWWWW (24 points from 10 games)

Remaining fixtures (against top seven teams in bold): West Ham (H), Newcastle (A), Liverpool (H), Burnley (A), Sunderland (H), Chelsea (A), Hull (A), Swansea (H), Manchester United (A), West Brom (H)

Prediction: With tough away games to come against Manchester United and Chelsea, plus Liverpool at home, Arsene Wenger's side face a few hurdles. Plus they remain in the Champions League and the FA Cup which could have an impact on their league form. Despite that, Arsenal are a team in form and with big players back and some 'bankable' games at the Emirates they should finish in the top four. The penultimate match of the season at Old Trafford looks key though.

MANCHESTER UNITED - 53 points

Manchester United's season has made little sense. They played some decent football at times the start of the campaign but didn't get the results. Their style then worsened but the results improved. It's little wonder Louis van Gaal admits he's not sure what his best side is. There's the old cliché that good teams play poorly and still win. That doesn't sit quite right with this Manchester United side but with results being produced and much room for improvement the Red Devils could be in for a return to the Champions League.

Current form: DDLWW DWLWW

Remaining fixtures: Tottenham (H), Liverpool (A), Aston Villa (H), Manchester City (H), Chelsea (A), Everton (A), West Brom (H), Crystal Palace (A), Arsenal (H), Hull (A)

Prediction: The raw materials in terms of players are there to secure a top four place, and a manager of Louis van Gaal’s experience ought to be able to use them to achieve their goals. But performances continuously fail to convince a return to the Champions League is guaranteed and United have arguably the toughest run-in.

The former of Angel Di Maria is a concern (GETTY IMAGES)

LIVERPOOL - 51 points

The shock of losing Luis Suarez unsurprisingly took time for Liverpool to adjust to. But since being beaten 3-0 by Manchester United at Old Trafford, Liverpool have gone unbeaten in the league. It makes them the form team and they are now in touching distance of the top four.

Current form: WDWWW DWWWW

Remaining fixtures: Swansea (A), Manchester United (H), Arsenal (A), Newcastle (H), Hull (A), West Brom (A), QPR (H), Chelsea (A), Crystal Palace (H), Stoke (A)

Prediction: Liverpool have looked unstoppable since the turn of the year and it's difficult to see who will stop them. But the visit of Manchester United to Anfield could be key - a win for either side should put them in control and give them the confidence to remain so. Based on current form, it's difficult to bet against Brendan Rodgers securing Liverpool a place in the Champions League for a second year running.

SOUTHAMPTON - 49 points

Southampton are the wild card. They are the only team never to have played in the Champions League and last finished in the top four of the top flight in 1984. But despite all that Ronald Koeman has kept them in contention, even if they have fallen out of the top four positions which they occupied for so much of the season.

Current form: DWWWL WDLLW

Remaining fixtures: Chelsea (A), Burnley (H), Everton (A), Hull (H), Stoke (A), Tottenham (H), Sunderland (A), Leicester (A), Aston Villa (H), Manchester City (A)

Prediction: Southampton have struggled to keep up the pace in recent weeks and slipped down the table. But of the teams battling for the top four, they have arguably the simplest run in. Once Chelsea are out the way every game looks like a potential three points. And when it comes to playing Manchester City on the last day of the season, it's quite possible Manuel Pellegrini's side will have nothing left to play for. The Saints are outsiders but can't be ruled out.

Sadio Mane scores for Southampton against Crystal Palace in their most recent win (GETTY IMAGES)

TOTTENHAM - 47 points

The team in seventh have a game in hand up their sleeve, but it is the reason they have an extra three points to play for that could be their downfall. The Europa League and a run to the final of the Capital One Cup has seen Spurs look like a spent force recently. But if they can pick themselves up for one final push there is the quality at White Hart Lane to merit a place in next season's Champions League - something that would be an incredible achievement for Mauricio Pochettino in his first season as manager.

Current form: WDWLW WWLDW

Remaining fixtures: QPR (A), Manchester United (A), Leicester (H), Burnley (A), Aston Villa (H), Newcastle (A), Southampton (A), Manchester City (H), Stoke (A), Hull (H), Everton (A)

Prediction: They grasped a top four finish in 2010 and 2012 only to be denied Champions League football by Chelsea’s European Cup win – and just missed out on the final day in 2013. Yet again they are in the mix but it could be another near miss.