The panicky scramble for fourth spot in the Premier League will step up a gear over the remaining games, and it's starting to look very tight indeed. An analysis of the three clubs fighting for fourth - Liverpool, Everton, and Aston Villa – shows that there are some glorious showdowns on the horizon!

Liverpool's home games (with predictions): v Reading (W), v Everton (D), v Blackburn (W), v Man City (W).

Liverpool's away games:v Man Utd (L), v Arsenal (L), v Fulham (W), v Birmingham (W), v Tottenham (W).

'Liverpool are the marginal favourites because of their better goal difference, and their bigger squad, but . . .'


Totalpoints - 19.

A quick scan tells us that Liverpool have four games left at Anfield, but five away games, including tough trips to Man Utd and Arsenal. They will also have to deal with a tough three game run, travelling to Old Trafford, facing Everton in the Merseyside derby at Anfield, and then going to the Emirates to play Arsenal.

In the same time period Everton face West Ham at home, the Merseyside derby clash, and then Derby County. Assuming that both teams stay level iwith each other in their previous game against Reading and Fulham, then these three fixtures could be hugely important. If Everton win against West Ham and Derby, both teams draw at Anfield, and if Liverpool lose in away dates at Old Trafford and the Emirates - then Everton could conceivably be six points clear of their Merseyside rivals.

Everton's home games: v West Ham (W), v Derby County (W), v Chelsea (L), v Aston Villa (W), v Newcastle (W).

Everton's away games: v Fulham (W), v Liverpool (D), v Birmingham (W), v Arsenal (L).

Total points - 19.

Although Everton's first four games are all definitely winnable (I include the Liverpool game in there because of its sheer unpredictability) there is a distinct sting in the tail for the Toffees with three hard games against Chelsea and Aston Villa at home followed by the penultimate game against Arsenal at the Emirates. 

Everton still have to play three of the four teams directly above them (Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal) as well as a definite six-pointer against Aston Villa. Everton also have a slight advantage over Liverpool in that they play five games at home and four away with Liverpool doing the exact opposite.

Aston Villa's home games: v Middlesbrough (W), v Sunderland (W), v Bolton (W), v Birmingham (W), v Wigan (W).

Aston Vill's away games: v Portsmouth (W), v Man Utd (L), v Derby County (W), v Everton (L), v West Ham (W).

Total Points - 24.

Villa, the overlooked challengers, not only have a game in hand on their Merseyside rivals but can also boast a comparatively easier run in. They are currently seven points off the pace but the only truly tough games they have are away to Manchester United and Everton - their game at Fratton Park shouldn't be as hard, with Portsmouth trailing off in the League, and having a relatively poor record at Fratton Park.

If my predicted results are true, the chase for fourth place will be won by Liverpool on goal difference, and as my predictions are as likely to succeed as Derby County in the Nou Camp, it is still anyone's game.

Liverpool are the marginal favourites because of their better goal difference, and their bigger squad (injuries are already starting to rear their ugly heads). You'll notice that I'm definitely not the bastard lovechild of Mystic Meg and Sherlock Holmes - and any number of slip-ups and different permutations could spin out of the remaining fixtures - and my projected results look very optimistic, not being able to foresee any number of surprise banana skins. Nevertheless, here is how I predict the chase for fourth will end up:

4. Liverpool - 75 points.

5. Everton - 75 points.

6. Aston Villa - 72 points.

This prediction also highlights how important not only the Merseyside derby will be but also how crucial Aston Villa's game at Goodison will be. If Villa win that game then they will leapfrog Everton. With only a handful of games to go any of these teams could grab fourth, which will make for a very exciting finish to the league season!