Fight FOUR It: What it would mean to the Top Four Clubs to win the Premier League

By Adam Barker.

Being in the top four has it’s obvious benefits. From money to prestige, to bragging rights and future investment. This week, Adam Barker takes a look at how the top four would benefit from winning the title and equally what would happen if they failed.

Liverpool

Winning the title would mean the world to Liverpool and their loyal fans. Not since the 80’s have they had this kind of confidence and excitement pumping through Anfield. After the recent years of dropping in and out of the top four altogether and even dropping out of Europe, which they were prominent figures of, this season has catapulted this team back up where they belong.

With a manager who seems to know his players and tactics equally well, all the way to the fans who are heard on the terraces and streets praising and backing their players; Liverpool are a team that need this title win to boost their confidence in the club’s ability and become one of England’s top clubs again.

What if they don’t win the title? 

If Liverpool fail to lift the trophy but still finish in a respectable top four position, then it won’t be a travesty. This team are a a shock contender for the title and this year’s campaign will only drive them on, win or lose, to continue to pick up the pace going into next season.

 

Chelsea

Jose’s comeback saved Chelsea from suddenly becoming a club with no guidance. Going through managers like Kelly Brook goes through boyfriends was beginning to affect the club and the players. With Roman Abramovich and his backing comes a similar pressure to City. The club have investment at their disposal but need to perform and bring back silverware. With a three-year absence of the Premier League trophy, and the Champions League and Europa League being their only being a major highs in recent years; it has almost become normal for Chelsea to be in the mix for the title but not actually win it. By bringing back Jose it shows that they are willing to swallow pride and focus on that goal.

If Chelsea win the title it’ll boost the team’s morale and possibly remind the rest of Europe of their stance as a top European side. The fans want more silverware and winning the league would be a great way to reignite what Jose started in his first stint

What if they don’t win the title?

If Chelsea fail to win the league, although a major disappointment, it won’t be the major travesty some think it will be. Chelsea have learnt from hasty decisions over the past few years. I think they will be more patient in this second era of Mourinho – they’ll simply knuckle down and come back next season with more bite and venom.

 

Man City

The moneybags of the league need to win titles and cups year in, year out. The money being pumped into the club needs to reward the people in charge with silverware. The pressure of winning things has not always sat well with the managers at City: winning managers from previous seasons have been sacked if a poor spell of results cause them to slip up on their title bid. To sum it up, Man City have a huge eye watching their every move and if things look out of place or start to look like they may not work, they will be changed or replaced. They are a club driven by money and that needs to be rewarded with success.

City wouldn’t benefit financially if they won the league. It’d be a good pay day for them but winning the league would be more of a pay off for their investment. The fans expect it nowadays and as a club with unlimited funds it’ll be in their best interests to consistently bring home silverware.

What if they don’t win the title?

If Man City go two seasons without a Premier League win, it will hit the morale of the club hard. Man City are like a really overbearing parent on the touch line of an Under 8’s football game. They will constantly pile on pressure – some unnecessary – until you either perform or break. Changes can and will be made if City fail to win the title again this year.

 

Arsenal

You have to admire Arsenal – and as a Spurs fan that is hard – because they like to be loyal to their manager regardless of whether he is getting the best out of the team. Arsene Wenger has been with the club since 1996 and even though he has given the club many titles and cup finals in his time, it has been nine years without a trophy. They seem to be riding on the back of the fact they have always finished in the top four since Wenger has been in charge. Settling for a place in the Champions League seems to be the main objective for Arsenal most seasons, particularly when their title bid predictably collapses towards the end of the season. Mid-season they looked a real threat to challenge for the title, but once again it seems their bid is going to fail. They’ll have to settle for a top four finish.. if they’re lucky.

If Arsenal won the title it’d mean the world to the fans. This is a club that has under-performed to their potential recently. Winning the league would give the fans hope and repay the faith they have shown in their club. Also by winning the league it could open up more doors for bigger signings to join and make the big stars already at the club eager to stay.

What if they don’t win the title?

Even though fans thought this year would remind everyone that Arsenal can once again rise to the top, it’s likely they won’t. But, they have the chance of an FA Cup final and could still settle for fourth. The club will be happy with that, but the fans are growing restless. I can see a major rift if changes aren’t made. If Arsenal mess up completely and finish out of the top four, Wenger’s position could well be re-assessed this summer.

Who will win this season’s Premier League title? Would league success mean the most to Liverpool and their fans? How far away are Arsenal from securing the silverware their fans crave?

Read the rest of the “Fight FOUR It!” section here!

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