Each season, Premier League top-four finish odds find a place in the spotlight, with one unlikely team pounding the perceived ‘glass ceiling' that has seen the likes of Manchester City dine at Europe's top table year after year.
Last season, Newcastle United managed to finish inside the top four for the first time in over 20 years while regulars Liverpool and Chelsea missed out. Just six months on, Liverpool look like title contenders again, while Chelsea's fortunes are still yet to completely turn, with the Blues on course to fall short again.
This coming weekend promises to be a huge one in terms of title and top-four ambitions, with four of the big five playing one another. Amongst the focal matches is a clash between a Spurs team that set the early pace before a horrific week of successive defeats and a Villa side unrecognisable from the shambles of last autumn.
With Spurs on a sudden slide, can Villa make a huge statement of intent with a third straight win over the Londoners to follow last season's double?
Premier League top-four finish odds update – Latest news
Aston Villa close in on Tottenham
After losing their opening match of the season against Newcastle 5-1, Unai Emery's side have picked up as many points as Manchester City which has put them in a strong position in the table.
In the latest round of league games, Villa beat Fulham 3-1 which moved them to within two points of Tottenham in fourth place. Given how tight things are at the top of the table, Unai Emery's side are just three points adrift of Manchester City at the top of the table.
So as things stand, they are well in contention for a place in next season's Champions League
Man Utd have become the Premier League's form team
Much has been made of Manchester United's poor start to the season in all competitions. They have scored just 13 goals in the Premier League, are bottom of their Champions League group and have been knocked out of the Carabao Cup. However, the Reds have somehow become the most in-form team in the Premier League in terms of points gained over the last five matches.
Their 1-0 victory over Luton on Saturday wasn't exactly emphatic, and they have needed last-minute goals to overcome both Brentford and Fulham in recent weeks, too. But despite that, the Red Devils sit sixth with 12 points from their last five and are just five points behind Spurs in the race for the top four.
Premier League top-four finish odds update – Current outrights
Newcastle – 7/4
Despite losing against Bournemouth at the weekend, Newcastle remain the favourites to finish inside fourth out of the teams currently outside of the positions. They have had an inconsistent campaign thus far, and injuries aren't helping matters, with Eddie Howe currently operating without a recognised centre forward. They are currently six points adrift of Tottenham but they do have time on their side.
Aston Villa – 11/4
Aston Villa have been one of the most impressive teams this season, with the club going from strength to strength under Unai Emery. Their form at Villa Park has been imperious with six wins from six games at Villa Park, and if they can keep that up then they have every chance of finishing inside the top four. They are currently a point away from Spurs and play them on 26 November.
Manchester United – 9/2
Man Utd's performances this season haven't been good enough, and if they don't continue to improve, they won't be in the conversation for the top four in May. However, they are managing to grind out wins in unlikely circumstances, and their form is likely to improve when key players return from injury in the coming weeks.
Brighton – 9/1
Brighton's early-season form made them huge contenders for the top four, with the Seagulls taking down Manchester United at Old Trafford via an emphatic 3-1 victory in September. Their form has dipped in recent weeks, though, which has seen them slide down to eighth place. And the toll of European football is a factor to consider.
See also: Which club is likeliest to snare ex-Brighton boss Graham Potter?
