Premier League Returns: The race for European football with team by team analysis.
Written by Adam Holt.
The fight to avoid relegation from the Premier League is a hard fought race, which may go down to the last games of the season. This may also be true for the teams fighting for European football, whether that be for the Europa or Champions League, there are as many as five teams fighting amongst themselves for a spot amongst Europe's elite.
The race for the Europa League
9th - Arsenal (40 Points)
Arsenal have had a very below par season, currently occupying ninth place in the Premier League, but they are still well in the hunt for a place in the Europa League for next season - as they are currently only three points off the first Europa League spot, which is currently occupied by Wolverhampton Wanderers. The problem with Arsenal this season it seems is that they just can't score, but they can also concede on a regular basis as well. Amongst the four teams fighting for a Europa League spot, Arsenal have the second worst goalscoring record with 40 goals, with only Sheffield United's 30 goals scored being worse than Arsenal's record in front of goal. Arsenal also have the second worst defence in the teams fighting for the Europa League, with 36, with only Tottenham having a worse record with 40.
Aresenal's form (last 5 games): Draw (2-2 away at Chelsea), Win (2-1 away to Bournemouth), Draw (0-0 away against Burnley), Win (4-0 at home to Newcastle United) & Win (3-2 at home against Everton).
Top 5 goalscorers:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (17 Goals)
- Alexandre Lacazette (7 Goals)
- Nicolas Pepe (4 Goals)
- Gabriel Martinelli (3 Goals)
- David Luiz (2 Goals)
Top assists:
- Nicolas Pepe (6 Assists)
- Alexandre Lacazette & Bukayo Saka (3 assists)
- Dani Ceballos, Mesut Ozil & Ainsley Maitland-Niles (2 assists)
- Granit Xhaka, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Matteo Guendouzi & Lucas Torreira (1 assist).
Arsenal's remaining PL fixtures:
- Manchester City (A) - (17/6/20)
- Brighton & Hove Albion (A) - (20/6/20)
- Southampton (A) - (25/6/20)
- Norwich City (H) - (1/7/20)
- Wolverhampton Wanderers (A) - (4/7/20)
- Leicester City (H) - (8/7/20)
- Tottenham Hotspur (A) - (11/7/20)
- Liverpool (H) - (15/7/20)
- Aston Villa (A) - (18/7/20)
- Watford (H) - (26/7/20)
Aresenal's form (last 5 games): Draw (2-2 away at Chelsea), Win (2-1 away to Bournemouth), Draw (0-0 away against Burnley), Win (4-0 at home to Newcastle United) & Win (3-2 at home against Everton).
Top 5 goalscorers:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (17 Goals)
- Alexandre Lacazette (7 Goals)
- Nicolas Pepe (4 Goals)
- Gabriel Martinelli (3 Goals)
- David Luiz (2 Goals)
Top assists:
- Nicolas Pepe (6 Assists)
- Alexandre Lacazette & Bukayo Saka (3 assists)
- Dani Ceballos, Mesut Ozil & Ainsley Maitland-Niles (2 assists)
- Granit Xhaka, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Matteo Guendouzi & Lucas Torreira (1 assist).
Arsenal's remaining PL fixtures:
- Manchester City (A) - (17/6/20)
- Brighton & Hove Albion (A) - (20/6/20)
- Southampton (A) - (25/6/20)
- Norwich City (H) - (1/7/20)
- Wolverhampton Wanderers (A) - (4/7/20)
- Leicester City (H) - (8/7/20)
- Tottenham Hotspur (A) - (11/7/20)
- Liverpool (H) - (15/7/20)
- Aston Villa (A) - (18/7/20)
- Watford (H) - (26/7/20)
8th - Tottenham Hotspur (41 Points)
Tottenham have also had what can be classed as a below par season up to this point by their high standards, with many considering them amongst the prime candidates for a Champions League place (which seems fairly unlikely now), but they instead find themselves languishing just above mid-table in the Premier League, a surprise to many people, including me. Tottenham's problems this season lies in, surprisingly, their defence which is usually so solid. They have conceded the most goals out of all the teams vying for a Europa League spot, with 40 goals conceded so far this season - which is equal to the 40 goals that have been conceded by 15th placed Brighton & Hove Albion. Spurs however, have had no trouble scoring goals, with 47 goals scored so far this season, by far the most out of all of the teams fighting for a Europa League spot.
Tottenham Hotspur's form (last five games): Win (2-0 at home to Manchester City), Win (2-3 away against Aston Villa), Loss (2-1 away against Chelsea), Loss (2-3 at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers) and Draw (1-1 away to Burnley).
Top Goal scorers:
- Harry Kane (11 Goals)
- Son Heung-Min (9 Goals)
- Dele Alli (8 Goals)
- Lucas Moura (4 Goals)
- Tanguy Ndombele, Moussa Sissoko, Erik Lamela & Steven Bergwijn (2 Goals)
Top Assists:
- Son Heung-Min (7 Assists)
- Dele Alli (4 Assists)
- Eric Dier, Lucas Moura, Tanguy Ndombele & Harry Kane (2 Assists)
Tottenham Hotspur's remaining PL fixtures:
- Manchester United (H) - (19/6/20)
- West Ham United (H) - (23/6/20)
- Sheffield United (A) - (2/7/20)
- Everton (H) - (4/7/20)
- Bournemouth (A) - (8/7/20)
- Arsenal (H) - (11/7/20)
- Newcastle United (A) - (15/7/20)
- Leicester City (H) - (18/7/20)
- Crystal Palace (A) - (26/7/20)
Tottenham Hotspur's form (last five games): Win (2-0 at home to Manchester City), Win (2-3 away against Aston Villa), Loss (2-1 away against Chelsea), Loss (2-3 at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers) and Draw (1-1 away to Burnley).
Top Goal scorers:
- Harry Kane (11 Goals)
- Son Heung-Min (9 Goals)
- Dele Alli (8 Goals)
- Lucas Moura (4 Goals)
- Tanguy Ndombele, Moussa Sissoko, Erik Lamela & Steven Bergwijn (2 Goals)
Top Assists:
- Son Heung-Min (7 Assists)
- Dele Alli (4 Assists)
- Eric Dier, Lucas Moura, Tanguy Ndombele & Harry Kane (2 Assists)
Tottenham Hotspur's remaining PL fixtures:
- Manchester United (H) - (19/6/20)
- West Ham United (H) - (23/6/20)
- Sheffield United (A) - (2/7/20)
- Everton (H) - (4/7/20)
- Bournemouth (A) - (8/7/20)
- Arsenal (H) - (11/7/20)
- Newcastle United (A) - (15/7/20)
- Leicester City (H) - (18/7/20)
- Crystal Palace (A) - (26/7/20)
7th - Sheffield United (43 Points)
Sheffield United are by far and away the surprise package in the Premier League this season, with the Blades occupying seventh in the Premier League. They sit seventh despite having only scored 30 goals all season, only one more than 18th placed Bournemouth and four less than 19th placed Aston Villa. What, in my view is the biggest reason for Sheffield United's stellar position this season? Their defence. The Blades have only conceded 25 goals, the second best defensive record in the league, with only champions elect Liverpool conceding less with 21. Sheffield United can win more games by scoring less goals as a result of thier more than solid defence, meaning that they can keep most teams from scoring, so they do not need to score as many goals as most other teams to secure a win.
Sheffield United's form (last five games): Loss (0-1 at home to Manchester City), Loss (1-0 away to Crystal Palace), Win (2-1 at home to AFC Bournemouth), Draw (1-1 at home to Brighton & Hove Albion) & Win (1-0 at home against Norwich City).
Top 5 goalscorers:
- Lys Mousset & John Fleck (5 Goals)
- Oliver McBurnie & John Lundstram (4 Goals)
- Billy Sharp (3 Goals)
- George Baldock & Enda Stevens (2 Goals)
- Oliver Norwood (1 Goal).
Top Assists:
- Lys Mousset (4 Assists)
- John Lundstram (3 Assists)
- John Fleck & David McGoldrick (2 Assists).
Sheffield United's remaining PL fixtures:
- Aston Villa (A) - (17/6/20)
- Newcastle United (A) - (21/6/20)
- Manchester United (A) - (24/6/20)
- Tottenham Hotspur (H) - (2/7/20)
- Burnley (A) - (4/7/20)
- Wolverhampton Wanderers (H) - (8/7/20)
- Chelsea (H) - (11/7/20)
- Leicester City (A) - (15/7/20)
- Everton (H) - (18/7/20)
- Southampton (A) - (26/7/20)
Sheffield United's form (last five games): Loss (0-1 at home to Manchester City), Loss (1-0 away to Crystal Palace), Win (2-1 at home to AFC Bournemouth), Draw (1-1 at home to Brighton & Hove Albion) & Win (1-0 at home against Norwich City).
Top 5 goalscorers:
- Lys Mousset & John Fleck (5 Goals)
- Oliver McBurnie & John Lundstram (4 Goals)
- Billy Sharp (3 Goals)
- George Baldock & Enda Stevens (2 Goals)
- Oliver Norwood (1 Goal).
Top Assists:
- Lys Mousset (4 Assists)
- John Lundstram (3 Assists)
- John Fleck & David McGoldrick (2 Assists).
Sheffield United's remaining PL fixtures:
- Aston Villa (A) - (17/6/20)
- Newcastle United (A) - (21/6/20)
- Manchester United (A) - (24/6/20)
- Tottenham Hotspur (H) - (2/7/20)
- Burnley (A) - (4/7/20)
- Wolverhampton Wanderers (H) - (8/7/20)
- Chelsea (H) - (11/7/20)
- Leicester City (A) - (15/7/20)
- Everton (H) - (18/7/20)
- Southampton (A) - (26/7/20)
6th - Wolverhampton Wanderers (43 Points)
Ever since Wolves returned to the Premier League back in 2018, Nuno Espirito Santo's side have taken the top flight by storm in the first season back, where they finished seventh, and at his point in the season Wolves find themselves in sixth, well in the race for a Europa League place - but they are also in with a chance of - astonishingly - finishing in a Champions League place, which would be a special achievement for Nuno's Wolves. Wolves have scored a total of 41 goals as a team this term - the second worst out of all the teams in the race for the Europa League, with 34. Only Sheffield United and Manchester United can claim a better defence this season than Wolverhampton Wanderers. Wolves have been lethal infront of goal this season, and combined with a solid defence, they have built themselves a great platform for once again qualifying for the Europa League, or even going one better and securing a place in the top 4, and a place in the Champions League.
Wolverhampton Wanderers's form (last five games): Draw (0-0 away at Manchester United), Draw (0-0 at home against Leicester City), Win (3-0 at home against Norwich City), Win (2-3 away to Tottenham Hotspur) & Draw (0-0 at home to Brighton & Hove Albion).
Top 5 goal scorers:
- Raul Jimenez (13 Goals)
- Diogo Jota (6 Goals)
- Adam Traore and Matt Doherty (4 Goals)
- Pedro Neto, Romain Saiss, Leander Dendoncker & Ruben Neves (2 Goals)
- Jonny & Joao Moutinho (1 Goal).
Top assists:
- Adama Traore (7 Assists)
- Raul Jimenez, Joao Moutinho (6 Assists)
- Pedro Neto (2 Assists)
- Diogo Jota, Ruben Neves & Romain Saiss (1 Assist).
Wolverhampton Wanderers's final fixtures:
- West Ham United (A) - (20/6/20)
- AFC Bournemouth (H) - (24/6/20)
- Aston Villa (A) - (27/6/20)
- Arsenal (H) - (4/7/20)
- Sheffield United (A) - (8/7/20)
- Everton (H) - (11/7/20)
- Burnley (A) - (15/7/20)
- Crystal Palace (H) - (18/7/20)
- Chelsea (A) - (26/7/20).
Wolverhampton Wanderers's form (last five games): Draw (0-0 away at Manchester United), Draw (0-0 at home against Leicester City), Win (3-0 at home against Norwich City), Win (2-3 away to Tottenham Hotspur) & Draw (0-0 at home to Brighton & Hove Albion).
Top 5 goal scorers:
- Raul Jimenez (13 Goals)
- Diogo Jota (6 Goals)
- Adam Traore and Matt Doherty (4 Goals)
- Pedro Neto, Romain Saiss, Leander Dendoncker & Ruben Neves (2 Goals)
- Jonny & Joao Moutinho (1 Goal).
Top assists:
- Adama Traore (7 Assists)
- Raul Jimenez, Joao Moutinho (6 Assists)
- Pedro Neto (2 Assists)
- Diogo Jota, Ruben Neves & Romain Saiss (1 Assist).
Wolverhampton Wanderers's final fixtures:
- West Ham United (A) - (20/6/20)
- AFC Bournemouth (H) - (24/6/20)
- Aston Villa (A) - (27/6/20)
- Arsenal (H) - (4/7/20)
- Sheffield United (A) - (8/7/20)
- Everton (H) - (11/7/20)
- Burnley (A) - (15/7/20)
- Crystal Palace (H) - (18/7/20)
- Chelsea (A) - (26/7/20).
5th - Manchester United (45 Points)
Who would have thought ten years ago that in 2020, Manchester United would not be in the title race and fighting for a Europa League place? Probably no-one. But this is where they are - they have the pedigree of players to succeed in securing a European spot, but it remains to be seen as to whether this is a Europa League or Champions League place. Manchester United have certainly not had too much trouble in putting the ball in the back of the net, scoring on no less than 44 occasions this term, only bettered in the teams fighting for Europe by Tottenham, who having previously mentioned, have scored 47 times this season. They have had a solid defence for most of the season, having conceded the second least goals out the times really fighting for Europe with 30, only Sheffield United (25) can claim to have a better defence so far this campaign.
Manchester United's form (last five games): Draw (0-0 at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers), Win (0-2 away against Chelsea), Win (3-0 at home to Watford), Draw (1-1 away against Everton) & Win (2-0 at home to Manchester City).
Top 5 goal scorers:
- Marcus Rashford (14 Goals)
- Anthony Martial (11 Goals)
- Mason Greenwood (5 Goals)
- Scott McTominay (4 Goals)
- Daniel James (3 Goals).
Top Assists:
- Daniel James (6 Assists)
- Marcus Rashford (4 Assists)
- Anthony Martial, Bruno Fernandes & Andreas Pereira (3 Assists)
Manchester United's remaining fixtures:
- Tottenham Hotspur (A) - (19/6/20)
- Sheffield United (H) - (24/6/20)
- Brighton & Hove Albion (A) - (30/6/20)
- AFC Bournemouth (H) - (4/7/20)
- Aston Villa (A) - (8/7/20)
- Southampton (H) - (11/7/20)
- Crystal Palace (A) - (15/7/20)
- West Ham United (H) - (18/7/20)
- Leicester City (A) - (26/7/20)
Manchester United's form (last five games): Draw (0-0 at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers), Win (0-2 away against Chelsea), Win (3-0 at home to Watford), Draw (1-1 away against Everton) & Win (2-0 at home to Manchester City).
Top 5 goal scorers:
- Marcus Rashford (14 Goals)
- Anthony Martial (11 Goals)
- Mason Greenwood (5 Goals)
- Scott McTominay (4 Goals)
- Daniel James (3 Goals).
Top Assists:
- Daniel James (6 Assists)
- Marcus Rashford (4 Assists)
- Anthony Martial, Bruno Fernandes & Andreas Pereira (3 Assists)
Manchester United's remaining fixtures:
- Tottenham Hotspur (A) - (19/6/20)
- Sheffield United (H) - (24/6/20)
- Brighton & Hove Albion (A) - (30/6/20)
- AFC Bournemouth (H) - (4/7/20)
- Aston Villa (A) - (8/7/20)
- Southampton (H) - (11/7/20)
- Crystal Palace (A) - (15/7/20)
- West Ham United (H) - (18/7/20)
- Leicester City (A) - (26/7/20)
So, thats it! Chelsea are also well in the race, however they are, like Leicester City, looking very likely to get a place in Europe for next season, so I did not feel they needed further analysis like the rest of the teams in this article.