2024-25 Premier League top-four predictions: Back Spurs to build on promising campaign

Tottenham burst out of the blocks at the start of Ange Postecoglou's reign, taking 26 points from their first ten Premier League matches in 2023-24.

At that stage a top-four finish looked to be the least of their ambitions but a run of five defeats in their final seven games meant Spurs were pipped by Aston Villa for the fourth Champions League spot.

Fifth place still represented a decent effort for Tottenham given that influential players such as James Maddison, Micky van de Ven, Richarlison, Rodrigo Bentancur and Destiny Udogie were injured for chunks of the campaign.

Spurs won 13 of their 19 home matches, averaging two goals per game, and produced some stirring performances on the road, drawing 2-2 at Arsenal and 3-3 at Manchester City and thrashing Villa 4-0.

Given the dramatic change in style from the Antonio Conte era, plus the departure of record goalscorer Harry Kane, it was a solid season for Spurs and they are a tempting price to make the top four in 2024-25.

Spurs can make amends for last season's near miss

Champions Manchester City, runners-up Arsenal and Liverpool, whose new boss Arne Slot has taken over a strong squad, are expected to fill the top three places but the race for fourth looks wide open.

There are certainly doubts over Tottenham's main rivals for that spot. 

Chelsea appeared to be progressing under Mauricio Pochettino towards the end of last season but his surprise exit means the Blues must find their feet under yet another new manager, Enzo Maresca.

Manchester United's FA Cup triumph over City earned Erik ten Hag a reprieve despite a mediocre league campaign in which the Red Devils finished eighth with a goal difference of minus one.

They were level on points with Newcastle, who also had an injury-hit season and an unsettled summer of speculation over the futures of manager Eddie Howe and star players Bruno Guimaraes and Alexander Isak.

Villa should continue to push for European football

Villa's success under Unai Emery last term came at a cost as Brazil midfielder Douglas Luiz was snapped up by Juventus and striker Ollie Watkins is also on the radar of several top clubs.

Watkins scored a late winner for England against the Netherlands in the Euro 2024 semi-final and his fine strike came as no surprise to Villa fans.

He contributed 19 goals and 13 during their surge into the top four last season and Emery's men look overpriced to make the top six in 2024-25.

The Champions League is bound to be a distraction but it should also attract better players to the club and Emery managed his resources well despite a gruelling run to last term's Europa Conference League semi-finals.

While the top three look a cut above the rest, Villa should be confident of finishing above at least two of Chelsea, Manchester United, Newcastle and Tottenham.

They did the double over Arsenal in 2023-24, also beating champions City 1-0 and drawing 3-3 with Liverpool at Villa Park. 

Argentina goalkeeper Emi Martinez and defenders Pau Torres, Ezri Konsa and Diego Carlos provide a top-class foundation to the side and there should be more to come from young forward Morgan Rogers.