Chelsea made a significant leap towards securing a top-four finish in the Premier League with a 1-0 win over Champions League challengers West Ham on Saturday.
A rare strike from Timo Werner – just his sixth in the top-flight this season – handed the Blues victory at the London Stadium and moved them three points clear of the Hammers.
There is still plenty of time for things to change with Liverpool, Tottenham and Everton also still in the hunt, but bet365 make Chelsea 4/9 (1.44) to finish in the top-four.
The last three months since Thomas Tuchel replaced Frank Lampard have represented a remarkable turnaround, with the west London side racking up eight wins and five draws in their 14 games in that time.
Defensive fortitude has inarguably been the key of Chelsea’s strong form under the German, with their tallies of 10 clean sheets and only eight goals against marking the best stats in the league following his appointment in January.
Only five games remain in the season for most teams and that three-point advantage, coupled with a +20 goal difference which is superior to every side except the top three, certainly gives the Blues a strong chance of securing a top-four finish.
Premier League champions Liverpool have endured a fairly miserable season by their high standards but are available at 15/8 (2.87) in the same market.
GettyLengthy injuries to a host of key players along with a run of just six wins in their last league 19 games have left their Champions League hopes hanging by a thread, with the Reds surely needing 15 points from the last available 15 to have any chance of gracing Europe’s top competition next term.
West Ham have certainly been the surprise package this season after only narrowly avoiding relegation in 2019-20 but Saturday’s loss has seen bet365 push them out to 11/2 (6.50)to reach the top-four.
Carabao Cup finalists Tottenham have struggled for consistency in the entire campaign and are 7/1 (8.0) to make up the five points on Chelsea to book their place in the Champions League.
Everton have a game in hand on the other four teams in the hunt but remain 20/1 (21.0) to finish in the top-four.
Odds correct at the time of writing. Please gamble responsibly.
