Leicester City +162 Longshots to Finish Top 4 in EPL; Tottenham Favored for Top 6 Finish

• On a poor run of form in 2020, Leicester are up against it to finish in the top four
• The Foxes face Manchester United on the final day, while Chelsea and Wolves meet
• Get the odds and betting discussion ahead of the last round of Premier League fixtures

It’s been a difficult few months for Leicester City. Once Liverpool’s nearest challengers for the Premier League title, Brendan Rodgers’ team have plummeted in 2020, falling to fifth ahead of the final day of this disrupted 2019-20 season.

The title was wrapped up long ago, yet there’s plenty to play for as this campaign comes to an end. Only one of the three relegation places is decided ahead of the last round of matches on Sunday, and while the Premier League odds favor Chelsea and Manchester United to secure third and fourth, there could be movement in the European places.

The table below has the latest odds for the Premier League top six.

Premier League Top 4/6 Odds

Odds taken July 24

Foxes Face Tough Task

Leicester have five wins in the Premier League since New Year’s Day. Their seven defeats in 17 matches this year is the worst of any top half team – all of the teams that have lost more over that period are in the bottom seven. For all the praise Leicester earned in the first half of this season, the size of their collapse in the second half of the campaign cannot be overstated.

A win over Manchester United this weekend guarantees a top-four spot. A draw could be enough if Wolves get a win against Chelsea. Rodgers’ squad is depleted for the meeting with the Red Devils, however. Caglar Soyuncu, Ben Chilwell and Ricardo Pereira are all unavailable, as is James Maddison. Given their form, given the weakened defense that Rodgers will be forced to name, the Foxes deserve to be underdogs against Manchester United.

The threat of Jamie Vardy always gives Leicester a chance, but Maddison’s absence makes them a much less potent attacking force. This United team has had a blip of late, losing to Chelsea and drawing with West Ham, though they are still strong favorites to pick up three points on Sunday.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team are -500 to finish in the top four. It’s obviously not a great bet at that price, but it’s a fair reflection of their position ahead of the final day.

Unpredictable Chelsea

The heavy favorites to make the top four, Chelsea are in a good position with their two rivals playing each other. Frank Lampard’s team know a draw will secure them a Champions League berth for 2020-21.

Chelsea are not built to play for a draw. They have one of the worst defensive records in the Premier League era. Sloppy goals conceded, and poor goalkeeping, have held back this Chelsea side, and against a Wolves team that poses a significant threat on the counter-attack and is well-organized defensively, Chelsea’s top-four place is far from guaranteed.

Chelsea are said to be close to adding another attacking player, Kai Havertz, to their squad and once that deal is complete Lampard will turn his attentions to signing a new No.1. According to ESPN, Lampard has already lost patience with Kepa Arrizabalaga . pic.twitter.com/Uzz4eqgoed

— Frank Khalid OBE (@FrankKhalidUK) July 24, 2020

The -700 reflects more on Leicester than it does on Chelsea. Victory for Manchester United is enough for the Blues. For a team that has been unpredictable, that has fluctuated between the superb and the shambolic, anything is possible against such an impressive Wolves side.

The demise of Leicester has benefited Chelsea and United. It would be a huge surprise if either of the two rebuilding giants finishes outside the top four.

Strong Spurs

For all the criticism of Jose Mourinho’s Tottenham reign to date, the self-described Special One is getting results. Spurs are seventh, have won four of their last five, and are favored to finish sixth.

Tottenham face Crystal Palace to close out the season. Palace have lost seven on the bounce, falling to score in six of those defeats. They are perhaps the best non-Norwich opponent in the Premier League at the moment. A solitary point behind Wolves, a victory for Spurs will put them into sixth unless Nuno Espirito Santo’s side can beat Chelsea.

A sixth-placed finish would be a decent season for Spurs. Their -163 price to finish in the top six represents the best value of any of the bets on offer.