With 15 games left to play, we are fast approaching the business end of the season and the race to finish in the top four is getting interesting by the week.
A total of five points is all that separates Manchester United in third and Liverpool at seventh place. With important games against their direct rivals coming up in the next few weeks, things can change very quickly in the league table.
Midway through the season, it was a forgone conclusion that Southampton and Liverpool don't have what it takes to finish in the top four this season. Credit where it's due to both Brendan Rodgers and Ronald Koeman as both of them have managed to turn their teams around to make the top-four race even more exciting.
Manchester United currently sit at third spot and have been widely tipped to make the top four this season. Without any Europa League commitments, United only have to play one game every week and that may be decisive as their squad can stay focused on finishing as high as possible in the league table.
Although United have enjoyed an excellent run, there seems to be an element of luck involved in their results. Their frontline doesn't always look convincing and they seem to have grinded out results rather than comprehensively beating their opponents.
Still, Louis Van Gaal's side is a major contender to finish in the top four and away games against Chelsea and Liverpool could prove pivotal as to where they end up in the table.
Southampton are the surprise package of this year's Premier League. After selling most of their best players in the summer, many expected the Saints to fade away in the current campaign.
After a very strong start, Southampton had a stern test of resilience when they lost five games on the bounce in December. But they seemed to have recovered in spectacular fashion, having taken seven points off Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United in January.
If their excellent display at Old Trafford is anything to go by, Southampton are a team that cannot be written off in this race for the top four.
Arsenal are another team that are widely backed to finish in the top bracket as they have consistently done in the past years.
Arsene Wenger's men are on a fantastic run at the moment winning the last five matches and scoring goals for fun. Their injury woes have also relatively eased with important players returning to provide excellent squad depth. The turning point in Arsenal's season may well have been at the Etihad when they comprehensively outplayed City and now look like a team reborn with confidence. Alexis Sanchez's consistent form holds the key as to whether or not the Gunners can bag a Champions Trophy berth.
Next in the list are Arsenal's arch rivals Tottenham Hotspur. It has been a case of so close yet so far for Spurs in the past few years. Their demolition of Chelsea at White Hart Lane shows just how dangerous and capable this current Spurs side is.
With Harry Kane in the form of his life with 20 goals in all competitions, Spurs are a bit over-reliant on him and Christian Eriksen to provide the firepower required to win matches.
With a mouthwatering tie against Arsenal this weekend, the result could become massively influential in the context of final league positions of both the teams.
Liverpool round off the list and being the most in-form team in the league over the past six games are improving their level of performances each week. The return of Daniel Sturridge would be great news to Liverpool fans and if he can replicate his performances of last season, the Reds will only get better.
With the defence also sorted out, the new system Liverpool have employed seems to be getting the best out of Coutinho and Raheem Sterling. They have to come out victorious in the Merseyside derby this week so as to close the gap on their rivals in the top half.
In the end, it may come down to the European commitments of Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham as to who finally gets their hands on to third and fourth places in the Premier League.
The title race may not have been as exciting it was the last year, but the race for the top four is just getting started. If things continue the way they are, it's going to be one heck of a battle.
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