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Sports Mole team's Premier League predictions

:Headline: Sports Mole team's Premier League predictions: ID:141797: from db_amp
As the 2013-14 Premier League season enters the business end, the Sports Mole team predicts who will be the winners and losers come the end of the campaign.

Most Premier League clubs have 11 matches left to play, while the FA Cup has reached the quarter-final stage.

So, the Sports Mole team looked into their crystal balls to predict which supporters will be celebrating and which ones will be bemoaning their luck come the end of the season.

Find out what they had to say below.

Who will win the Premier League?

Neil Wilkes, Editor: "Chelsea. Unbeaten in the league since early December, Jose Mourinho's army have the kindest run-in of the current top four. Their trickiest remaining fixtures are Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal at Stamford Bridge, with a trip to Liverpool following at the end of April. City, meanwhile, still have to travel to Arsenal, Man United, Everton and Liverpool. On the other hand, the key for Arsenal will be how they overcome a rough patch of league fixtures later this month - travelling to Spurs, then Chelsea, home to City, then away to Everton in quick succession."

Darren Plant, Reporter: "While I expect the title race to go down to the wire, Manchester City's superior strength in depth could by key, and they could wrap up their second Premier League title in the final two weeks. Chelsea's challenge could be hindered if they remain in the Champions League, while a defeat to Liverpool at Anfield at the end of April could give Manchester City the breathing space that they need to seal their success."

Matt Law, La Liga Correspondent: "While Chelsea have the know-how of Jose Mourinho and experience of winning titles, I think that their lack of a top striker will harm their chances this season. Cases can be made for both Arsenal and Liverpool, who are enjoying successful seasons, but Manchester City's firepower should be enough to carry them over the line despite their continued defensive issues."

Daniel Cross, Reporter: "Manchester City. I think most people agree that it will be between City and Chelsea, and although I wouldn't put it past City to get past Barcelona, I think Chelsea will go further in the Champions League, meaning City will be fresher for the most part of the run-in. Sergio Aguero coming back from injury won't hurt either."

Paul Gorst, Reporter: "As much as the heart would love to see an SAS-inspired Liverpool title win, I have to go with my head and say Manchester City. I tipped them at the start and while Chelsea will run them close, I think the return of Sergio Aguero will be pivotal. Chelsea don't have anyone near his (or Alvaro Negredo's) class, and I think that will be crucial despite Mourinho's importance in big-game situations."

Who else will finish in the top four?

Giuseppe Labellarte, Reporter: "In my opinion, Chelsea will finish just behind Manchester City, in a close and exhilarating finale. I then fancy Liverpool to finish third; largely thanks to the devastating strikeforce of SAS. Arsenal will come up just short at the final hurdle, despite being much improved over previous seasons, and between the four teams, I reckon that fewer than six points will separate them all come matchday 38."

Daniel Lewis, Reporter: "Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool. The race for a Champions league place has been just as exciting as the battle for top spot in recent seasons. Despite spending in excess of £100m, Tottenham Hotspur are likely to miss out, along with struggling Manchester United, with Liverpool taking fourth spot."

Danielle Joynson, Staff Reporter: "Chelsea will come the closest to challenging Man City for the title, but I think that they'll just fall short. In recent results, Arsenal have looked lethargic and with a large reliance on Olivier Giroud to score their goals, I can't see them pushing for the title, despite being up and around the top spot for the majority of the season. Having said that, for the majority of the time, they've been getting maximum points when needed, so I'm confident they'll secure a Champions League position. While many have tipped Liverpool for the title, for me, they don't have enough depth in the squad to go all the way. If Luis Suarez or Daniel Sturridge were to pick up an injury at this stage, you'd be concerned about Liverpool's position, but as of now, I expect them to finish fourth ahead of Tottenham."

Simon Sinclair, Reporter: "Man City will just miss out on the title; their defensive depth is a little bit worrying and they are prone to the odd slip up. It's the same story with Arsenal and Liverpool, they just can't be trusted to win all the games they should win to push Chelsea for the top-flight crown. It will be quite close between the teams for the order of the top four, nut I can't see Tottenham closing the gap to spoil anyone's party. So City will take second after narrowly missing the title, while Arsenal will hold off Liverpool for third."

Joe McPhee, Production Assistant: "With Chelsea runners-up, Liverpool will leapfrog Arsenal, who will wilt. However, with Spurs also dropping points, the Gunners will never look likely of dropping out of the top four - but both they and Brendan Rodgers's side will finish a few back from the two above."

If not in the top four, where will Manchester United finish?

Alex Meyers, Reporter: "The return of Robin van Persie from injury and the arrival of Juan Mata has seen Man United begin to find some form and despite their inconsistent season so far, they should be strong enough to pip Spurs and Everton to fifth spot."

Sian Cowper, Reporter: "The current champions have struggled for form in their first season under David Moyes, and I can see them slipping to seventh before the end of the season, with a Manchester derby and a visit from Liverpool still to come. Everton have been a constant threat this season, and without the distraction of the Champions League, I would not be surprised to see the Toffees move back above United in the final part of the campaign."

Neil Wilkes, Editor: "A write-off season, Europa League football now seems to be the current aim for United. At the time of writing, they are just five points adrift of this feat, but it still feels unlikely. Despite Spurs' schizophrenic season and Everton's stumble in form of late, I still feel that both have the quality to stay ahead of United in the run-in."

Matt Law, La Liga Correspondent: "As a United fan, it is hard to admit that a top-four finish is beyond us this season, but that will ultimately be the case. Fellow outside challengers Everton have started to show signs of fatigue and while Tottenham Hotspur have had a good run, they are still susceptible to the odd wobble. If United boss David Moyes settles on an attacking four of Adnan Januzaj, Wayne Rooney, Mata and Van Persie, then fifth is certainly achievable for the champions."

Danielle Joynson, Staff Reporter: "Fifth. It's all a bit doom and gloom for United this season, and while there's been rumours about David Moyes's future, I expect the Scotsman to remain manager at least until the end of the season. Their form has been poor and I'm sure nobody expected them to be in this predicament at the start of the season! If they get dumped out of the Champions League in a few weeks' time, then they will only have the league to focus on - I think they're capable of finishing fifth, but a top four place is already gone."

Which teams will be relegated?

Paul Gorst, Reporter: "Cardiff City, Fulham and West Brom. None have done anything to suggest otherwise all season. Sunderland will eventually pull away from the scrap, I feel. Pepe Mel and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's respective appointments simply haven't worked so far."

Daniel Cross, Reporter: "Picking the relegated sides is a tough one at the moment. I think Fulham have left themselves too much to do with 11 games left, and their constant management upheaval won't be helping. Cardiff probably don't have enough firepower to stay up right now and Aston Villa are hitting some poor form at the worst possible time."

Simon Sinclair, Reporter: "Cardiff look certs for the drop at the moment, I can't see them dragging themselves out of the mire under Solskjaer, the heavy defeat to Hull City looks to be a real hammer blow. Fulham have played some close games against some of the top sides in the league of late, but haven't really been able to pick up the points they've needed from the teams around them. I think that will cost them in their run-in, changing managers this late in the year maybe too little too late for them. The Baggies look in turmoil, which is never good when you're the team on the fringes."

Darren Plant, Reporter: "Fulham, Cardiff City and West Bromwich Albion. All three teams have squads that should keep them away from the relegation zone, but the respective disarray that has surrounded their efforts throughout the season will be their downfall. Fulham need Kostas Mitroglou in attack if they are to avoid the drop, while Solskjaer is in a no-win situation at Cardiff under the unpredictable Vincent Tan. West Bromwich Albion stand the best chance of the three at avoiding Championship football next year, but Mel needs to register his first win at The Hawthorns sooner rather than later."

Callum Mulvihill, Reporter: "Cardiff seem to be hitting the worst form at a terrible period for the club who earned promotion last season. Norwich may have turned a corner with a big win over Spurs on Sunday but their difficult run-in means they might need to be safe by mid-April. Fulham are on their third manager of the season and that type of uncertainty rarely helps a team's morale. Felix Magath's methods may bring success in the future but I'm not sure if he'll be able to save them this season."

Who will win the FA Cup?

Sian Cowper, Reporter: "Although I think the Gunners will come up short in their quest to win the Premier League title, I do believe that this will be the year that Arsenal end their wait for silverware. They face a tricky quarter-final against Everton, but will have home advantage. The only other team in the top half of the Premier League table to still be involved is Manchester City, but their fixture list may soon start to catch up with them, giving Arsenal the edge."

Daniel Lewis, Reporter: "Surely this is finally the season for the Gunners to end their nine-year run without a trophy? Manchester City and Everton will have something to say about that, of course, but if Arsenal can steer past the Toffees then they will be a step closer to (relative) success."

Daniel Cross, Reporter: "I think the winner will come from the Arsenal/Everton sixth-round tie next week. Tough one to call but Arsenal will have one eye on Bayern Munich a few days later and that might just play into Roberto Martinez's hands."

Callum Mulvihill, Reporter: "Manchester City. Manuel Pellegrini's target would have been Champions League glory but I think the club might have to settle for success in the cup competitions. After knocking out Chelsea in the previous round, City's big match players will guide them to a win at Wembley."

Giuseppe Labellarte, Reporter: "I have a sneaking feeling that Arsenal will lose to Everton in the quarter-finals, and with the Gunners being the only side that could realistically challenge a Manchester City squad eager to kill two birds with one stone in this year's competition, by winning the trophy denied to them by Wigan Athletic last year and by also making an example of the Latics at the Etihad next week, I can't see past Manuel Pellegrini's side."

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Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool1210112481631
2Manchester CityMan City127232217523
3Chelsea126422314922
4Arsenal126422112922
5Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton126422116522
6Tottenham HotspurSpurs1261527131419
7Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest125431513219
8Aston Villa125431919019
9Fulham125341717018
10Newcastle UnitedNewcastle125341313018
11Brentford125252222017
12Manchester UnitedMan Utd124441313016
13Bournemouth124351617-115
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham124351519-415
15Everton122551017-711
16Leicester CityLeicester122461523-810
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves122372028-89
18Ipswich TownIpswich121651323-109
19Crystal Palace121561017-78
20Southampton121110924-154
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