Premier League run-in fixtures, key clashes and predicted finishes as race for Champions League heats up

The Premier League title and relegation battles look all but over, but the Champions League race remains incredibly tight. With just under a quarter of the season to go, the chase to seal a place in UEFA‘s top competition is as intense as ever. The battle for the Champions League is likely to go down to the last day Look at how close the battle for those Champions League places is There are many teams involved, meaning that any dropped points between now and the end of the season could be crucial. Nottingham Forest are in third and have a hefty lead over those chasing them, so for this piece, they won’t be considered. Nuno Espirito Santo has done a remarkable job at The City Ground, and barring a horrible collapse, they will be in the Champions League next year. However, for those below, things aren’t quite so clear, but it should be noted that England are almost guaranteed another spot in the Champions League, so there is an extra place on the line. Here, talkSPORT.com looks at the race for the Champions League. Chelsea – 4th – 52 points It has been a strange first season for Enzo Maresca with Chelsea starting brilliantly under him and looking to be genuine title contenders. They then suffered an awful December, losing to Fulham and Ipswich before starting to pick things up again. Nicolas Jackson has also returned from injury, giving the Blues a much-needed boost in forward areas. However, in their last four games, they face Liverpool, Newcastle, Manchester United and Nottingham Forest. In the end, it is these matches that could cost Chelsea and lead to them missing out on Champions League football despite being in such a strong position earlier in the campaign. Predicted finish – 7th Chelsea haven’t been playing well for a while now Chelsea's remaining fixtures Brentford – A – April 6 Ipswich – H – April 13 Fulham – A – April 20 Everton – H – April 26 Liverpool – H – May 4 Newcastle – A – May 10 Manchester United – H – May 18 Nottingham Forest – A – May 25 Manchester City – 5th – 51 points Not since Pep Guardiola first joined Man City have they endured such a bad season. Of course, by most standards, being in contention for a Champions League spot with two months to go would be good. However, after winning the Premier League title four times in a row, to be so far off the leaders is a poor season for City. They are also set to be without Erling Haaland for the rest of the campaign. But despite this, they still have more than enough quality to get the points they need to seal a Champions League place. They do have to play Man United and Aston Villa still, but any fixture for City is winnable. Predicted finish – 4th City have struggled this year, but they should still get Champions League football Man City's remaining fixtures Manchester United – A – April 6 Crystal Palace – H – April 12 Everton – A – April 19 Aston Villa – H – April 22 Wolves – H – May 2 Southampton – A – May 10 Bournemouth – H – May 18 Fulham – A – May 25 Newcastle – 6th – 50 points No matter what happens in the rest of Newcastle’s season, the Magpies have finally ended their trophy drought by winning the Carabao Cup, the club’s first silverware since 1969. Eddie Howe and his players have made themselves Tyneside heroes, but the attention now switches to turning the campaign into an unforgettable one by making it into the Champions League. The Magpies have been inconsistent this season in terms of results and performances, but when they are on it, they can beat anyone. And in Alexander Isak, they have one of the best strikers in the world. If you look at their remaining fixtures, there are some huge games against Villa, Chelsea and Arsenal. But with the momentum of the cup win behind them, you can see Newcastle taking that final Champions League spot. Predicted finish – 5th Champions League football and the Carabao Cup would crown a remarkable season for the ToonAFP Newcastle's remaining fixtures Leicester – A – April 7 Manchester United – H – April 13 Crystal Palace – H – April 16 Aston Villa – A – April 19 Ipswich – H – April 26 Brighton – A – May 4 Chelsea – H – May 10 Arsenal – A – May 18 Everton – H – May 25 Aston Villa – 7th – 48 points Unai Emery‘s Villa are into the semi-finals of the FA Cup and are part of the last eight in the Champions League, so they could end up with two trophies. A place in the top five isn’t totally out of the question either, so it’s possible the Villans will enjoy their greatest season in a long time. They have been a bit inconsistent this year, but their January transfer window was excellent, and it has ensured they are in a great place to challenge come the end of the campaign. A 3-0 away win over Brighton was a top performance recently, and they are hitting form at the right tim

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Premier League run-in fixtures, key clashes and predicted finishes as race for Champions League heats up

The Premier League title and relegation battles look all but over, but the Champions League race remains incredibly tight.

With just under a quarter of the season to go, the chase to seal a place in UEFA‘s top competition is as intense as ever.

The battle for the Champions League is likely to go down to the last day

Look at how close the battle for those Champions League places is

There are many teams involved, meaning that any dropped points between now and the end of the season could be crucial.

Nottingham Forest are in third and have a hefty lead over those chasing them, so for this piece, they won’t be considered.

Nuno Espirito Santo has done a remarkable job at The City Ground, and barring a horrible collapse, they will be in the Champions League next year.

However, for those below, things aren’t quite so clear, but it should be noted that England are almost guaranteed another spot in the Champions League, so there is an extra place on the line.

Here, talkSPORT.com looks at the race for the Champions League.

Chelsea – 4th – 52 points

It has been a strange first season for Enzo Maresca with Chelsea starting brilliantly under him and looking to be genuine title contenders.

They then suffered an awful December, losing to Fulham and Ipswich before starting to pick things up again.

Nicolas Jackson has also returned from injury, giving the Blues a much-needed boost in forward areas.

However, in their last four games, they face Liverpool, Newcastle, Manchester United and Nottingham Forest.

In the end, it is these matches that could cost Chelsea and lead to them missing out on Champions League football despite being in such a strong position earlier in the campaign.

Predicted finish – 7th

Chelsea haven’t been playing well for a while now

Chelsea's remaining fixtures

Brentford – A – April 6

Ipswich – H – April 13

Fulham – A – April 20

Everton – H – April 26

Liverpool – H – May 4

Newcastle – A – May 10

Manchester United – H – May 18

Nottingham Forest – A – May 25

Manchester City – 5th – 51 points

Not since Pep Guardiola first joined Man City have they endured such a bad season.

Of course, by most standards, being in contention for a Champions League spot with two months to go would be good.

However, after winning the Premier League title four times in a row, to be so far off the leaders is a poor season for City.

They are also set to be without Erling Haaland for the rest of the campaign.

But despite this, they still have more than enough quality to get the points they need to seal a Champions League place.

They do have to play Man United and Aston Villa still, but any fixture for City is winnable.

Predicted finish – 4th

City have struggled this year, but they should still get Champions League football

Man City's remaining fixtures

Manchester United – A – April 6

Crystal Palace – H – April 12

Everton – A – April 19

Aston Villa – H – April 22

Wolves – H – May 2

Southampton – A – May 10

Bournemouth – H – May 18

Fulham – A – May 25

Newcastle – 6th – 50 points

No matter what happens in the rest of Newcastle’s season, the Magpies have finally ended their trophy drought by winning the Carabao Cup, the club’s first silverware since 1969.

Eddie Howe and his players have made themselves Tyneside heroes, but the attention now switches to turning the campaign into an unforgettable one by making it into the Champions League.

The Magpies have been inconsistent this season in terms of results and performances, but when they are on it, they can beat anyone.

And in Alexander Isak, they have one of the best strikers in the world.

If you look at their remaining fixtures, there are some huge games against Villa, Chelsea and Arsenal.

But with the momentum of the cup win behind them, you can see Newcastle taking that final Champions League spot.

Predicted finish – 5th

Champions League football and the Carabao Cup would crown a remarkable season for the Toon

Newcastle's remaining fixtures

Leicester – A – April 7

Manchester United – H – April 13

Crystal Palace – H – April 16

Aston Villa – A – April 19

Ipswich – H – April 26

Brighton – A – May 4

Chelsea – H – May 10

Arsenal – A – May 18

Everton – H – May 25

Aston Villa – 7th – 48 points

Unai Emery‘s Villa are into the semi-finals of the FA Cup and are part of the last eight in the Champions League, so they could end up with two trophies.

A place in the top five isn’t totally out of the question either, so it’s possible the Villans will enjoy their greatest season in a long time.

They have been a bit inconsistent this year, but their January transfer window was excellent, and it has ensured they are in a great place to challenge come the end of the campaign.

A 3-0 away win over Brighton was a top performance recently, and they are hitting form at the right time.

They do have some very tricky fixtures coming up against Forest, Newcastle and City, and that could see them just miss out.

Predicted finish – 6th

Marcus Rashford is starting to rediscover his best at Villa

Aston Villa's remaining fixtures

Nottingham Forest – H – April 5

Southampton – A – April 12

Newcastle – H – April 19

Man City – A – April 22

Fulham – H – May 3

Bournemouth – A – May 10

Tottenham – H – May 18

Manchester United – A – May 25

Brighton – 8th – 47 points

For a first season in the Premier League, Fabian Hurzeler has done a remarkable job.

The young German’s Brighton side have been in the top ten for the majority of the campaign and stand a good chance of getting some form of European football.

They’ve only lost seven times in the league, but have drawn too many games to be higher up the table.

However, they are still in contention to get Champions League football.

Looking at their remaining fixtures, they still have to play bitter rivals Crystal Palace plus Newcastle and Liverpool.

In the end, that could cost them the chance to make up the points they need.

Predicted finish – 8th