Soccer: Battle for fourth critical for clubs' success

It's said the spoils go to the victor but while Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal tussle for the English Premier League title, the battle for fourth is also critical.

It seems wrong that teams should aspire to finish fourth but it shouldn't be underestimated.

A top-four finish means qualification for the Champions League and at least £15 million in prizemoney (rising to £20 million for making the last 16).

By comparison, the winners of the FA Cup pocket £3.8 million.

Not all teams are owned by a Roman Abramovich, who has reportedly injected £700 million of his estimated £10 billion fortune into Chelsea to buy success.

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez, for instance, has said the Reds could struggle to retain Fernando Torres, Steven Gerrard, Javier Mascherano and Pepe Reina if they miss out on fourth.

That's because they wouldn't be able to afford their wages. Other clubs will circle in the hope Liverpool, who have debts of £240 million, will be forced to hold a fire sale and the players will be eager to move on.

Tottenham went into this weekend's matches in fourth but they have the most difficult run-in of the four teams still in the hunt.

They face Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United in consecutive games and must also play Manchester City, relegation-threatened Burnley and an FA Cup semifinal against Portsmouth.

Liverpool have arguably the easiest draw - they play teams largely in the bottom half of the table except for Chelsea - but have played one game more than their rivals and have the added distraction of a two-legged Uefa Cup quarter-final against Benfica.

In their favour is the fact they have been in this position before.

They missed out on a top-four finish in 2005-06, when Everton finished fourth, but sneaked into the Champions League by virtue of winning the competition the previous season.

Otherwise you have to go back to 2002-03 for when one of the supposed Big Four (Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United) missed out on the Champions League when Newcastle muscled in to finish third.

Aston Villa are struggling to keep in touch but as manager Martin O'Neill said: "There will be a few twists, no mistake."

Going Fourth

* Tottenham (fourth, 31 games, 58 points)

Sunderland (A), Arsenal (H), Chelsea (H), Manchester United (A), Bolton (H), Manchester City (A), Burnley (A).

* Manchester City (fifth, 31 games, 56 points)

Burnley (A), Birmingham (H), Manchester United (H), Arsenal (A), Aston Villa (H), Tottenham (A), West Ham (A).

* Liverpool (sixth, 32 games, 54 points)

Birmingham (A), Fulham (H), West Ham (H), Burnley (A), Chelsea (H), Hull (A).

* Aston Villa (seventh, 31 games, 51 points)

Bolton (A), Everton (H), Portsmouth (A), Hull (A), Birmingham (H), Manchester City (A), Blackburn (H).