BBC journalist Phil McNulty has shared his verdict on Aston Villa’s hopes of securing a top-four finish, naming the side he thinks are in ‘pole position’ to claim fourth place.
The race for the top four is truly on, with Unai Emery’s Aston Villa side refusing to back away without a fight.
The Villans will go into matchday 26 of the 2023/24 Premier League season in fourth place after leapfrogging Spurs to re-enter the Champions League spots last week.
Being in the top four currently is a huge achievement in itself for Emery, considering that at this point last campaign, the Midlands club were down in 11th with 31 points.
Following Villa’s victory over Fulham on Saturday, BBC journalist Phil McNulty has given his verdict on the top-four race and where he believes the Villans are poised.
Phil McNulty shares his opinion on Aston Villa top four chances
In a Q&A following the roundup of the weekend’s fixtures in the top flight, McNulty was quizzed about Villa and earning a Champions League spot.
“The injuries are a real blow to Villa but I do think Unai Emery has got something very good going at Villa Park and they have a massive opportunity to reach the top four.”
“In a previous question I tipped Manchester United to sneak into the top four but I genuinely have little conviction on who might get the fourth place out of Villa, United and Spurs. All three are in that fight.”
“What we do know is that Villa are fourth right now and in pole position, so it is in their hands.”
Aston Villa will face a battle to beat Man United and Spurs to top four
As McNulty mentioned, the injuries that Emery’s squad have been exposed to throughout the season have significantly impacted the club’s chances of securing 4th place – on paper anyway.
The Spaniard has continued to show the adaptability of his squad and his tactics to manoeuvre around the successive injury woes that the side has suffered this term.
Losing three key players to ACL injuries is unheard of, yet the Villa boss has accepted the cards he has been dealt and has managed to keep the Midlands club performing at peak level.
After suffering defeat to Manchester United on matchday 24, the gap between 5th and 6th was narrowed and Spurs leapfrogged Villa to enter the top four.
Bidding farewell to Boubacar Kamara for the season during the fixture made it look almost impossible that the Villans could again turn things around, but they did.
Keeping the ball rolling is integral with Spurs just two points behind and United now finding form and sitting five points behind, all Villa can do is clear the hurdles ahead of them.
The victory over Fulham shifted the light on the top four race once again, with Emery’s side in pole position in 4th with the chance to widen the gap.
Spurs aren’t in action this weekend, giving the Villans the opportunity to make some room between 4th and 5th as Nottingham Forest prepare to visit Villa Park.
After Forest, the Midlands side visit Luton Town and then welcome Ange Postecoglou’s side to Birmingham in what will be a thriller in the race for Champions League.
Villa have suffered with injuries this season but their resilience is the reason they remain in the top four, with the race truly on for Emery to exceed expectations once more.
