Chances of finishing in the top five of the Premier League graph: Liverpool - 100% Arsenal - 99.8% Chelsea - 91.7% Man City - 89.1% Newcastle - 44.6% Nottingham Forest 33.6% Aston Villa - 13.8% Bournemouth - 9.8% Fulham - 6.2% Tottenham - 5.4%

As we enter a new calendar year and the halfway point of the season, the Opta Supercomputer has been busy making its predictions.

But who has the best chance of securing Champions League football next season?

With England given a 97.8% chance of finishing in the top two of Uefa's coefficients rankings and receiving a bonus place in next season's competition, it is highly likely to be a race to finish in the top five of the Premier League this campaign.

One team essentially guaranteed a Champions League spot season, according to the Supercomputer's simulations, is high-flying league leaders Liverpool (100%).

Following closely on their heels are Arsenal and Chelsea, who occupy second and fourthgoing into this weekend's fixtures, with a 99.8% and 91.7% chance of finishing in the top five respectively.

Despite their unprecedented drop-off in form over the past two months, Manchester City fans will be pleased to hear Opta still gives them a 89.1% chance of clinching the potential final Champions League spot next season.

It then becomes a hotly fought battle between two of the most in-form teams in the league right now.

Despite third-placed Nottingham Forest's incredible campaign so far, Nuno Espirito Santo's side still fall below Newcastle United in the predictions for fifth place - with a 33.6% chance compared to the Magpies' 44.6%.

Four teams still have an outside chance of getting that coveted spot, with Aston Villa (13.8%), Bournemouth (9.8%), Fulham (6.2%) and Tottenham (5.4%) in the race.

  • Maresca on Fofana injury, recent form and impact of absent Lavia

    Nicola Pearson
    BBC Sport journalist

    Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game at Crystal Palace (kick-off 15:00 GMT).

    Here are the key lines from his news conference:

    • Maresca confirmed that Wesley Fofana's hamstring injury will keep him out "for a very long time", while Benoit Badiashile "will be out at least until February".

    • On defender Fofana, who "could be out for the season", he added: "We are together here since we start and every time you ask me about Wes I say many times - I am in love with Wes. That is because he is that kind of defender that gives you a chance to press and be aggressive in one on one on the pitch. Wes is a big loss."

    • Maresca also confirmed Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall "is still out", but midfielder Romeo Lavia "is very close" to a return and captain Reece James "can have minutes" against the Eagles on Saturday.

    • On the transfer window, Maresca said "there are players that are probably going to leave" and suggested Ben Chilwell "could" be one of those.

    • On being proved right about Chelsea not being in the title race: "I didn't need to wait to lose games to understand that. I always said why I would like to tell you we are there - because it is something nice, not something bad to be in the title race. But the reason why I said [we are not] was because I didn't think we were ready. I didn't need to wait to lose two games in a row to prove to me or you I was right."

    • The Blues boss also said that at the start of the season, no-one expected Chelsea to be where they are now but that "means the team is doing very well" and they do not need to "panic" about their position in the race for Champions League football.

    • He said the recent dip in form is "not going to affect our journey" and added: "This is a journey that started five or six months ago, not five or six years. Other teams started five or six years ago and now are fighting to win the Premier League. We just started five or six months ago."

    • On if it is about more than just Lavia's absence that has impacted the team: "Football is all about players. You can have the best idea but without the players, you will struggle. Romeo is a top player. With Romeo, we are a better team but when he is not there, we need to manage that kind of game."

    • He continued: "We have won games without Romeo, but for sure we are better with him. Not only him, but we are a much, much better team with Reece James. [It is] all about the players. I can give players the tools, but if they are not good enough we will not win games."

    Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

    Full commentary of Crystal Palace v Chelsea on BBC Radio 5 Live from 15:00 GMT on Saturday

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  • Wesley Fofana

  • Anselmino completes return to Chelsea

    Nizaar Kinsella
    BBC Sport football news reporter

    Aaron Anselmino celebrates scoring for Boca JuniorsGetty Images

    Teenage defender Aaron Anselmino has officially ended his loan at Boca Juniors and arrived at Chelsea.

    The 19-year-old moved to Stamford Bridge from Argentina in the summer for £15m but was immediately loaned back to his former club.

    It was always the intention for him to return to Chelsea in January but the Blues will ease the young centre-back into Premier League life.

    He will be given time to acclimatise to the level, demands and scrutiny within English football.

    That might mean first-team minutes are limited in his initial time in west London.

    Anselmino also had a hamstring injury at the end of his spell in Argentina that caused him to miss his final five games at Boca.