The Premier League's unlikely pretenders to Champions League riches

Liverpool are storming clear with a 12-point lead at the top, while at the bottom Ipswich, Leicester and Southampton are set for an immediate return to the Championship. A strong season by English sides in European competitions means it is almost certain that a top-five finish will secure a place in next season's Champions League. And the race to be in Europe's elite competition has never been more open as the Premier League's middle class has taken advantage of a woeful season for Manchester United and Tottenham.