Premier League predictions: Who'll contend for Europa League spots?

While the top four almost pick themselves at this point, the competition to see who will be the Premier League's "best of the rest" is intensifying thanks to the emergence of clubs like Swansea City and Southampton.

[FC Yahoo: Premier League predictions – Who'll finish in the bottom three?]

But while competing in Europe can bring prestige and potential reward to a club trying to claw its way up from midtable, it can also prove a burden for teams lacking the resources to maintain simultaneous campaigns on two fronts.

[Premier League: Scores and Schedule | Current Standings | Teams]

And so we bring you FC Yahoo’s predictions for the teams that will challenge for a place in the top half of the table, and potentially, a spot in the Europa League.

10. Crystal Palace

Last season, Crystal Palace punched above its weight to achieve a respectable 10th place. Having added a world-class playmaker in Yohan Cabaye to a talented squad that already boasts the likes of Wilfried Zaha and Jason Puncheon, the Eagles are well positioned to match, or perhaps even better, last season’s finish.

Cabaye has a good working relationship with Palace manager Alan Pardew from their time together at Newcastle. Pardew has been something of a revelation to the South London outfit since his arrival in the latter half of last season. The former Palace player oversaw an upturn in form that saw the Eagles soar up the table from the relegation zone to midtable. With last season’s squad largely intact and the touch of class Cabaye can bring to midfield, there’s much for Palace fans to be excited about as Pardew embarks on his first full season in charge.

9. Swansea City

Swansea finished eighth last season and will likely have one eye on a Europa League spot this time around. While the loss of Wilfried Bony seemed a devastating blow last January, the striker’s subsequent poor form at Man City has made it easier for the South Wales club and its fans to move on. Preseason results have been dismal, with just one win in five. However since joining from Marseille, new signing Andre Ayew has already found the net.

Ayew joins a host of other promising new additions, including French youth defender Franck Tabanou, and Portuguese striker Eder. The club has also retained the services of Garry Monk. The rookie manager exceeded expectations his first time out and, despite a few wobbles, kept Swans on course to finish in the top half of the table again.

It would appear that the young manager has the right cards to do it again. If he plays them right, Swansea could challenge the likes of Spurs and Southampton for a European spot.

8. Everton

Roberto Martinez is in his third season in charge at Goodison Park and the jury is still out on the manager who showed such promise in his first season and failed to follow up in his second. On paper, Everton has the squad to do better than its 11th-place finish last season and should at least challenge for a Europa League spot.

Everton’s fate is at least partially dependent upon whether it can hold on to defender John Stones and, if the club does let him go, how wisely it reinvests the money from his sale. There are also great expectations on the shoulders of striker Romelu Lukaku, who after making his move to Goodison permanent, failed to hit the same heights as his loan spell from Chelsea. Goalkeeper Tim Howard is also in need of a good season after falling below his usual standards.

If Martinez can get the likes of Lukaku, Howard, Ross Barkley and Gerard Deulofeu firing on all cylinders, Everton could feasibly survive the loss of Stones and still land a Europa League spot.

7. Southampton

Following last summer’s player exodus and the departure of manager Mauricio Pochettino to Spurs, Southampton was seen as a likely candidate for the drop 12 months ago. But Dutch manager Ronald Koeman brought a renewed attacking verve to the South coast club that saw it finish seventh and secure a spot in the Europa League. However, while European soccer carries prestige, it can also be a burden for a club of limited means like Southampton. And already there has been another exodus of talent, with Nathaniel Clyne, Toby Alderweireld and Morgan Schneiderlin all having departed.

The club has made promising signings with Netherlands international Jordy Clasie joining from Feyenoord and Cedric Soares from Sporting. Experienced Dutch goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg signed on for a season-long loan, and the Saints managed to retain the services of last season’s standout acquisition, Graziano Pelle. But ultimately, Southampton’s ability to replicate last season’s success may hinge upon not only who else the club brings in but also whether it can hold on to Koeman. The former Barcelona player is continually rumored to be the Catalan outfit’s plan B should the Luis Enrique project go awry.

6. Tottenham Hotspur

For Spurs and manager Mauricio Pochettino, the need to prevent Harry Kane from departing from White Hart Lane likely outweighs the necessity of bringing in any further signings. While the striker who was last season’s breakout star in the Premier League has been linked with a move to Manchester United, Pochettino is confident he can keep Kane at Spurs, at least for another season.

Pochettino has also bolstered his defense, bringing in the likes of Kevin Wimmer, Kieran Trippier and Toby Alderwerield. Following last season’s fifth-place finish, the Argentine manager seems intent on kicking on to challenge for the top four. The problem is that once you get past Kane, Tottenham’s options up front look pretty thin. Also concerning are the improvements made by the teams above them.

If Spurs have any hope of cracking the top four, it will depend on Kane producing another season like last, and the club perhaps signing a player or two to relieve the goal-scoring burden on him.

5. Liverpool

There was a brief spell in the second half of last season when Liverpool was the Premier League’s in-form side. Unlike the previous season, the Reds never looked like title contenders. But had they maintained their momentum, they might just have pipped Manchester United for fourth place and a Champions League spot.

Now, with the specter of an unemployed Jurgen Klopp lurking in the background, the pressure will be on manager Brendan Rodgers. The Northern Irishman has his work cut out for him heading into his third season at Anfield, having lost his marquee player for the second summer in a row. But unlike last summer, Rodgers seems to have reinvested the funds from the sale of Raheem Sterling more wisely. Christian Benteke is a proven Premier League striker and could be a suitable spearhead for the attacking system the Reds favor under Rodgers.

If Benteke can get the right kind of support from the Brazilian midfield duo of Philippe Coutinho and fellow new signing Roberto Firmino, Liverpool may be able to reignite its attack and challenge for fourth. Otherwise, it looks like another season in the Europa League.