While the Premier League title is the piece of hardware most coveted by those across the English football landscape, there's a very solid consolation prize for those who finish just shy of the top spot.
As Manchester City continue to command a vicegrip on the Premier League table, the rest of the big English clubs duke it out for the remaining three Champions League places that UEFA dishes out to the league. The top four finishers in the Premier League table all earn a berth in the group stage of next year's top European tournament.
Last season, Arsenal, Manchester United, and Newcastle joined Man City as the four Champions League qualifiers from the top of the Premier League table. Other big English clubs such as Liverpool, Chelsea, and Tottenham fell short of earning a place.
While City won the competition last year, an honor which also comes with an automatic spot in the following year's group stage, their qualification via winning the title did not award the Premier League an extra berth. In fact, that only is the case should the winner not otherwise qualify via table position.
The Sporting News brings you the most up-to-date look at the top four picture and how the betting market believes it will shake out.
MORE: Premier League best bets odds, picks, and more ahead of 2023/24 season
Current Premier League table, standings for 2023/24 season
After the opening fixture of the season saw defending treble winners Man City stamp their new year of intent with a 3-0 win over newly promoted Burnley, Pep Guardiola is off and running, now officially with the opportunity to secure a wire-to-wire victory.
Not that we don't expect plenty of drama of course, but as the initial leaders following the first fixture of the season, they could possibly remain there at the end of Matchday 1 and thus have a chance to go the distance.
MORE: Sporting News staff predicts how the Premier League table will look
| Pos | Team | Points | Matches Played | Goals Scored | Goal Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Man City | 3 | 1 | 3 | +3 |
| 2. | Arsenal | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3. | Aston Villa | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 4. | Bournemouth | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 5. | Brentford | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 6. | Brighton | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 7. | Chelsea | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Odds for Premier League top 4 finish in 2023/24 season
Obviously, as title favourites and winners of five of the last six Premier League championships, Manchester City are given every chance to further their status as European giants.
Behind them, Arsenal, Liverpool, and Manchester United are the three main favourites to a round out the Premier League top four. Chelsea are fifth-favourites despite finishing 12th last season, after a busy summer of transfer activity, while Newcastle are given a good chance to compete as well.
Tottenham, who missed out last year with a sixth-place finish, are expected to be in the hunt but further back. Brighton & Hove Albion and Aston Villa are thought to be within a shout of a surprise top four finish, before a gap opens up to the rest of the field.
Odds updated as of Thursday, August 10, 2023.
| Man City | Arsenal | Liverpool | Man United | Chelsea | Newcastle | Tottenham | Brighton | Aston Villa | Brentford | West Ham | Crystal Palace | Fulham | Everton | Wolves | Nott. Forest | Bournemouth | Burnley | Sheffield United | Luton Town | |
| FanDuel (USA) | -1500 | -240 | -180 | -135 | +125 | +145 | +320 | +470 | +500 | +4400 | +5000 | +6500 | +10,000 | +10,000 | +10,000 | +10,000 | +10,000 | +10,000 | +10,000 | +10,000 |
| Top Betting Sites (UK) | 1/25 | 2/5 | 8/15 | 8/11 | 6/4 | 13/8 | 10/3 | 6/1 | 7/1 | 25/1 | 40/1 | 50/1 | 66/1 | 66/1 | 66/1 | 80/1 | 125/1 | 125/1 | 250/1 | 500/1 |
Preseason odds for Premier League top 4 finish in 2023/24 season
Manchester City, as defending European champions, are thought highly likely to finish the year once again in a top European spot.
Behind the heavy favourites, Arsenal, Liverpool, and Manchester United were thought most likely to end the year in a Champions League place. The Gunners challenged Man City hard the previous season for the title, and Man United also ended last year in third. Liverpool are thought to be improved from last year, when they finished fifth on the backs of a strong second half.
Chelsea were considered fifth-favourites as the first team with plus odds, despite finishing 12th the previous season, while Spurs, Brighton, and Aston Villa were the longshots before a gap opened up to the rest of the field.
Odds as of Thursday, August 10, 2023 one day before the start of the Premier League season.
| Man City | Arsenal | Liverpool | Man United | Chelsea | Newcastle | Tottenham | Brighton | Aston Villa | Brentford | West Ham | Crystal Palace | Fulham | Everton | Wolves | Nott. Forest | Bournemouth | Burnley | Sheffield United | Luton Town | |
| FanDuel (USA) | -1500 | -240 | -180 | -135 | +125 | +145 | +320 | +470 | +500 | +4400 | +5000 | +6500 | +10,000 | +10,000 | +10,000 | +10,000 | +10,000 | +10,000 | +10,000 | +10,000 |
| Top Betting Sites (UK) | 1/25 | 2/5 | 8/15 | 8/11 | 6/4 | 13/8 | 10/3 | 6/1 | 7/1 | 25/1 | 40/1 | 50/1 | 66/1 | 66/1 | 66/1 | 80/1 | 125/1 | 125/1 | 250/1 | 500/1 |
Premier League 2023/24 TV channels, live streams
| Region | TV | Streaming |
| Australia | — | Optus Sport |
| Canada | — | |
| Hong Kong | — | Now TV |
| India | Star Sports | Disney+, Hotstar, JioTV |
| Malaysia | Astro SuperSport | Astro Go |
| New Zealand | Sky Sport | Sky Sport Now, Sky Go |
| Singapore | StarHub | StarHub TV+ |
| UK | Sky Sports, TNT Sports | NOW TV, Sky Go, Amazon Prime |
| USA | USA Network, Telemundo, Universo | Fubo, Peacock |
UK: Matches are carried across Sky Sports and TNT Sports streaming and TV platforms, with select matches on Amazon Prime.
USA: Select matches are televised on USA Network (English) and Telemundo or Universo (Spanish), and all three channels can be streamed on Fubo. The rest of the matches are streamed on NBC platform Peacock for subscribers.
Canada: Every Premier League game this season is live streamed exclusively via Fubo in Canada.
Australia: Fans in Australia can stream every match live and on demand on Optus Sport.
India: Star Sports network has the rights to show Premier League matches in India. As well as an English broadcast on Star Sports Select, select matches will be available via regional feeds on Star Sports 3 (in Bengali, English, Kannada, Malayalam), Star Sports 1 (Bangla) and Star Sports 1 (Tamil).
