Can any team break into the Top 4?

It's a question that for the last four seasons has resulted in a definitive no, yet with the influx of foreign cash at Manchester City, a potential revival at Spurs under Harry Redknapp and the consistent building at Aston Villa, could this be the year the top four gets rocked to its core?

Not since Everton finished fourth in the 2004/05 Premier League season has a team managed to separate Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal's stranglehold on the champions league places. Tottenham finished fifth two seasons in a row under Martin Jol, which led to some believing this season Spurs could finally break through under Juande Ramos.

Spurs' disastrous start to the season seems to have ruined any chances of that happening, however with a quarter of the season gone the top four has indeed been broken up and by the least likeliest of teams.

Hull have rocked teams to their foundations this season, beating Arsenal, Tottenham and Newcastle away from home and currently lodging themselves at third in the table. Many believe their remarkable run cannot last, yet what if it does?

Suffice to say, while most neutrals would be generally impressed at their achievement the repercussions would send shockwaves throughout the Premiership. Can you imagine being the team from last year's top four that finishes fifth?

For Manchester United, the european and league champions, it's unthinkable. Avram Grant was sacked from Chelsea after finishing runners up in both the Premiership and Champions League. Rafa Benitez would undoubtedly feel the heat from Liverpool's American owners and Arsenal currently haven't won in a cup in four years.

While the pressure on teams like Man City, Tottenham and Villa is different to the likes of Stoke, West Brom and Bolton, the pressure on the elite of English football is worlds apart.

Take a look at the squads of the top four. Millions of pounds have gone into making four of the strongest squads in Europe. Manchester United spent more than £100m on Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo, Rio Ferdinand, Nani and Anderson. Chelsea have spent upwards of £400m on players in the last five years and Liverpool's current strike partnership of Fernando Torres and Robbie Keane cost £50m.

With this kind of money being invested by owners the demand for success is naturally higher.
Hence why it's been tougher for clubs to compete with these teams as the quality of players coming into the Premiership has dramatically improved.

However the rise of foreign ownership and investment in the Premiership means teams like Manchester City, Tottenham and Villa now face a similar pressure to the top four. Fans and boardroom staff alike want to see their clubs push for the highest prizes in football, in which case something has to give.

For one team to get bigger another team has to get smaller, and you can see millions of pounds more being pumped into the top four before one lets another team push them out.
So who is more likely to be the team to push a top four club out?

Manchester City spent a British record fee of £32.5m on Robinho, twice as much as Stoke City payed for the Britannia Stadium. With six goals in the Premiership to his name already, it looks like a sound investment.

Aston Villa have been steadily building under Martin O'Neill for the last three seasons and have one the youngest, fastest, most predominantly English teams in the league.
Everton, Portsmouth and Tottenham have impressive squads but look out of sight this season, seemingly leaving it a two horse race to the Champions League positions finish line.
Manchester City seem to lack consistency at the moment, banging 6 past Portsmouth and 3 past Stoke only to slip up at Wigan. Champions rarely drop important points so perhaps this season fifth will be their most likely of achievements (unless a epic run of victories leads me to eat these words)

Aston Villa currently lie fifth, just outside the top four. Perhaps a sign of things to come. Martin O'Neill's young side is getting better and better with every game and on their day pose a real threat to any side. Howver, the 2-0 defeat at Chelsea was a real wake up call the Midlands side just aren't there yet.

Can any team then break into the top four? This year looks doubtful. Although if City and Villa become out of reach, there's always Hull to cheer for.