After what has felt like a complete rebuild in recent times, Chelsea came into the 2025-26 season hopeful of a title challenge. A summer that saw them claim the Club World Cup in show-stopping fashion against a dominant Paris Saint-Germain team, as well as cantering to the UEFA Europa Conference League title last season, had fans excited. So far, though, things have been less than inspiring. Coach Enzo Maresca has already fired a few broadsides at the ownership, causing drama.
Yet, Chelsea still remains one of the leading contenders to make the top four and thus claim a UEFA Champions League spot. On current form, English clubs look pretty likely to grab the coveted fifth extra spot at Europe’s top table on account of leaguewide performance in Europe. Still, a fifth-place finish would be seen as a poor return after last year’s fourth-place finish. So, what do the bookies say? Who in the likely 7-horse race has the best chance of a top-four finish?
Can Chelsea Make The Top Four Again?
On talent alone, the Blues should absolutely be a contender for the top four. At the time of writing, they sit in fourth spot, albeit having only won two of their last five league games. The odds, though, are very much in their favour, with Irish bookmakers on Betfree.ie like BoyleSports and Bet365 have the Blues at 5/6 to finish in the top four, while Ladbrokes rate them at 10/11. Most bookmakers seem to have them as one of the clear favourites to finish the season back in the UCL next year. A large part of their struggles this year comes down to injuries, though, with injuries restricting a fair few of their most exciting talent – including Cole Palmer and Liam Delap – to less than 300 minutes so far this season. That explains why they have just 27 goals so far.
However, expensive summer arrivals like Jorrel Hato and Jamie Gittens have barely featured, while young prospects like Marc Guiu and Tyrique George are also on the periphery. Despite talking repeatedly about the need to rotate, some at the top of the club – and some Chelsea fans – could see Maresca as failing to give his squad the minutes they need to keep everyone fit and firing.
Who Else Is Competing For The Top Four?
Given their lead at the top of the table, it would be a surprise to see Arsenal (1/66 at Bet365, 1/100 at BoyleSports and LadBrokes) fail to make the UCL next season by way of a top four finish. The rest of the league feels relatively tight, though, so what are the odds for Chelsea’s main rivals?
Manchester City
City’s odds might not be as ridiculous as Arsenal’s, but they are still 1/20 with Bet365 and BoyleSports, while Ladbrokes price them at an even more impressive 1/33. Four wins on the trot have left City on a winning march, and they are beginning to look more like their previous imperious selves. It would be a shock if Pep Guardiola did not lead them back into the Champions League for yet another season.
Liverpool FC
The reigning champions have been a bit of a disappointment so far, to say the least. A squad hit by the tragic death of Diogo Jota in the summer has struggled to rebound, while a pretty comprehensive – some might say ill-advised – squad rebuild has left them struggling down in seventh spot, with just two wins from their last five and a mere goal difference of +2. Bookies’ odds of 8/15 at Ladbrokes, Bet365 and BoyleSports, though, reflect the likelihood that they’ll still finish in the top four.
Aston Villa
The surprise package and a team that many are touting for a title charge, Villa have pretty decent odds of going back into the Champions League. Odds of 6/5 at Bet365 & BoyleSports match well with 11/8 at Ladbrokes. They might not be the all-out favourites to go all the way, but Villa are in a good run of form and have won a club-record number of games in a row recently; a miserly defence conceding just 17 goals is bettered only by Arsenal, City, Chelsea and, surprisingly, Crystal Palace.
Manchester United
Forever the drama club in England, Ruben Amorim’s stop-start revolution continues to chunder along just enough to keep him in a job. Two wins from their previous five – but only one defeat – is a decent return, but 30 goals scored, and 26 conceded, leave enough room for doubt. Odds of 11/4 at all three of Bet365, BoyleSports and Ladbrokes are an indicator that United are a potential top-four finisher, but still an outsider.
Crystal Palace
Having built on their two trophies won in 2025, Palace are a team that could shake up the natural order of things in English football. They sit with odds of 7s (Bet365 and BoyleSports) and 9s at Ladbrokes, which is a clear indicator of their outsider status. Three wins in their last five is a good return, but a fixture pile-up and a relatively shallow squad could bite them as the season progresses.
The Real Outsiders
Beyond this, we’ve got teams like Everton, Sunderland, and Brighton & Hove Albion all between 5 and 2 points back from Chelsea. With a five-point gap from Chelsea to third-placed Villa, it already feels like it’s fourth or nothing for the Blues – can any of these real outsiders catch them?
It’s unlikely, but if Maresca continues to go to war with his superiors, it’s hard to say anything about Chelsea with confidence!
