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Premier League run-in fixtures, permutations 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 a few games 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 As it stands, just four points are separating seventh and third, so it’s going right down to the wire. The Premier League are guaranteed another spot in the Champions League, so there is an extra place on the line for teams finishing fifth. That is, regardless of whether Manchester United or Tottenham claim Europa League glory, for a backdoor entrance into UEFA’s elite. Liverpool are the only side guaranteed to play in the Champions League next season as they can’t finish any lower than third. Newcastle’s triumph over Arne Slot’s Reds means the club have secured a spot in the Conference League at least for 2025/26. Here, talkSPORT.com looks at the race for the Champions League. Manchester City – 3rd – 61 points It’s a mark of Pep Guardiola‘s success since arriving in England that a top-finish and a potential FA Cup remains possible in his worst season. Man City took a giant step towards cementing automatic Champions League qualification with their 2-1 win over Aston Villa on Tuesday. The four-peat Premier League title winners are still without Erling Haaland, but have a very favourable rest of the campaign. City need maximum points from their remaining 12 available to guarantee a top-five finish, assuming Nottingham Forest, Newcastle, and most importantly, Chelsea, win all their final five fixtures. Predicted finish – 3rd Nunes’ stoppage-time goal against Villa could prove vitalGetty Man City's remaining fixtures Wolves – H – May 2 Southampton – A – May 10 Bournemouth – H – May 18 Fulham – A – May 25 Nottingham Forest – 4th – 60 points For the majority of the season, it had looked as if the Tricky Trees would finish third, especially after beating Man City 1-0 in March. Nuno Espirito Santo’s men were miles ahead of the chasing pack, but back-to-back defeats this month dragged them right back into it. However, a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Tottenham propelled them back into third, and a place in the Champions League is now entirely in their hands. They face Chelsea on the last day at home, which has the potential to be the club’s biggest league game in their modern history. Forest could be just three points ahead of the Blues on the final day, assuming both win their next four games. Victory for Enzo Maresca’s men could potentially see things come down to goal difference. Predicted finish – 6th Forest have enjoyed an incredible season, and they are looking to finish it offGetty Nottingham Forest's remaining fixtures Brentford – H – May 1 Crystal Palace – A – May 5 Leicester – H – May 11 West Ham – A – May 18 Chelsea – H – May 25 Newcastle – 4th – 59 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 Chelsea and Arsenal. But with the momentum of the cup win behind them, you can see Newcastle getting back into the Champions League – especially following the recovery of manager Howe from pneumonia. Predicted finish – 4th Champions League football and the Carabao Cup would crown a remarkable season for the ToonAFP Newcastle's remaining fixtures Ipswich – H – April 26 Brighton – A – May 4 Chelsea – H – May 10 Arsenal – A – May 18 Everton – H – May 25 Chelsea – 6th – 57 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 ha
The Premier League title and relegation battles look all but over, but the Champions League race remains incredibly tight.
With just a few games to go, the chase to seal a place in UEFA‘s top competition is as intense as ever.
As it stands, just four points are separating seventh and third, so it’s going right down to the wire.
The Premier League are guaranteed another spot in the Champions League, so there is an extra place on the line for teams finishing fifth.
That is, regardless of whether Manchester United or Tottenham claim Europa League glory, for a backdoor entrance into UEFA’s elite.
Liverpool are the only side guaranteed to play in the Champions League next season as they can’t finish any lower than third.
Newcastle’s triumph over Arne Slot’s Reds means the club have secured a spot in the Conference League at least for 2025/26.
Here, talkSPORT.com looks at the race for the Champions League.
Manchester City – 3rd – 61 points
It’s a mark of Pep Guardiola‘s success since arriving in England that a top-finish and a potential FA Cup remains possible in his worst season.
Man City took a giant step towards cementing automatic Champions League qualification with their 2-1 win over Aston Villa on Tuesday.
The four-peat Premier League title winners are still without Erling Haaland, but have a very favourable rest of the campaign.
City need maximum points from their remaining 12 available to guarantee a top-five finish, assuming Nottingham Forest, Newcastle, and most importantly, Chelsea, win all their final five fixtures.
Predicted finish – 3rd
Man City's remaining fixtures
Wolves – H – May 2
Southampton – A – May 10
Bournemouth – H – May 18
Fulham – A – May 25
Nottingham Forest – 4th – 60 points
For the majority of the season, it had looked as if the Tricky Trees would finish third, especially after beating Man City 1-0 in March.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s men were miles ahead of the chasing pack, but back-to-back defeats this month dragged them right back into it.
However, a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Tottenham propelled them back into third, and a place in the Champions League is now entirely in their hands.
They face Chelsea on the last day at home, which has the potential to be the club’s biggest league game in their modern history.
Forest could be just three points ahead of the Blues on the final day, assuming both win their next four games.
Victory for Enzo Maresca’s men could potentially see things come down to goal difference.
Predicted finish – 6th
Nottingham Forest's remaining fixtures
Brentford – H – May 1
Crystal Palace – A – May 5
Leicester – H – May 11
West Ham – A – May 18
Chelsea – H – May 25
Newcastle – 4th – 59 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 Chelsea and Arsenal.
But with the momentum of the cup win behind them, you can see Newcastle getting back into the Champions League – especially following the recovery of manager Howe from pneumonia.
Predicted finish – 4th
Newcastle's remaining fixtures
Ipswich – H – April 26
Brighton – A – May 4
Chelsea – H – May 10
Arsenal – A – May 18
Everton – H – May 25
Chelsea – 6th – 57 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's remaining fixtures
Everton – H – April 26
Liverpool – H – May 4
Newcastle – A – May 10
Manchester United – H – May 18
Nottingham Forest – A – May 25
Aston Villa – 7th – 57 points
Unai Emery‘s Villa are into the semi-finals of the FA Cup and made it to the last eight of the Champions League, where they narrowly lost to Paris Saint-Germain.
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.
Unfortunately, their last-gasp defeat at the Etihad has left them with it all to do, as the three teams above them have games-in-hand.
Villa have struggled for consistency this year, but that defeat aside, are the in-form team at the moment.
A 3-0 away win over Brighton was a top performance and was followed by a 2-1 win over Forest before they smashed Newcastle 4-1.
With favourable games against Man United and Tottenham in their final two, both of whom may be distracted by Europa League commitments, it is hard to see them missing out.
Predicted finish – 5th
Aston Villa's remaining fixtures
Man City – A – April 22
Fulham – H – May 3
Bournemouth – A – May 10
Tottenham – H – May 18
Manchester United – A – May 25
