With only a few matches remaining of the Premier League season for either side, solely 4 factors separate third and seventh within the race for Champions League qualification.
Nottingham Forest, Newcastle United, Manchester City, Chelsea and Aston Villa will battle to safe the ultimate two spots in Europe’s premier cup competitors, with Arsenal and Liverpool having all however secured their locations.
And with Reds having sealed their twentieth top-flight title at a canter and all of the three relegation spots already confirmed, the race for the highest 5 is all that’s left to offer drama earlier than the ultimate weekend.
However with a number of of the perimeters in third to seventh nonetheless set to play one another in addition to the champions-elect and relegated sides, which groups are finest positioned to complete within the prime 5 come the tip of Might?
Manchester Metropolis
Factors: 64 (performed 35)
Pep Guardiola’s aspect discover themselves in unfamiliar territory with 4 video games left to go, however the Spaniard has already emphasised the potential importance of qualifying for Europe’s top-tier competitors.
Fortunately for the champions, they’ve arguably the kindest set of fixtures out of the 5 sides. Their large win over Aston Villa, which got here due to Matheus Nunes’ 94th minute winner, was adopted by a win over Wolves with struggling Southampton to come back subsequent.
After that, Metropolis must navigate matches in opposition to Bournemouth and Fulham, with the problem of these more likely to depend upon whether or not either side continues to be searching their very own place in European competitors.
Remaining fixtures
10 Might: Southampton (A)
18 Might: Bournemouth (H)
25 Might: Fulham (A)
Newcastle United
Factors: 63 (performed 35)
Eddie Howe’s aspect have been flying excessive after their Carabao Cup triumph and dominant wins over Manchester United and Palace, however they have been shortly introduced right down to Earth with that 4-1 drubbing in opposition to Aston Villa.
They responded by beating Ipswich, however the Magpies should navigate a reasonably tough set of fixtures if they’re to return to the Champions League for the second time in three seasons, as they face Arsenal and Chelsea on consecutive weekends earlier than ending the season at residence to Everton.
It stays to be seen if Alexander Isak’s late penalty within the 1-1 draw at Brighton was a degree gained or two dropped.
Remaining fixtures
11 Might: Chelsea (H)
18 Might: Arsenal (A)
25 Might: Everton (H)
Chelsea
Factors: 63 (performed 35)
Although Chelsea are nonetheless well-positioned to make the highest 5, a few of their followers will likely be questioning the way it’s this shut after being second in December. Nonetheless, they have been the massive winners of Forest’s residence defeat in opposition to Brentford on Thursday night time, as their hopes are of their fingers.
A poor run of type has led to some discontent on the Bridge, however the dramatic comeback win over Fulham and victories over Everton and newly topped champions Liverpool has restored some perception forward of arguably the hardest run of fixtures out of the these 5 golf equipment.
There’s actually no ‘straightforward’ recreation remaining for the Blues, with tough away journeys to fellow top-five chasers Newcastle and Forest in addition to a house fixture in opposition to Manchester United. It’s going to come back right down to these final three fixtures for Enzo Maresca and his younger aspect.
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Chelsea’s remaining fixtures are as follows:
11 Might: Newcastle (A)
16 Might: Manchester United (H)
25 Might: Nottingham Forest (A)
Nottingham Forest
Factors: 60 (performed 34)
Are the wheels coming off Forest’s unbelievable season after a fourth defeat in 5 video games? Brentford added to their latest stoop with a 2-0 win on the Metropolis Floor on Thursday night time, which got here after the dispiriting FA Cup semi-final defeat to Manchester Metropolis.
Nonetheless, their fixture listing is trying the kindest of the contenders, as they face two of essentially the most out-of-form sides within the league in Leicester and West Ham, in addition to a Palace aspect who could be waiting for an FA Cup remaining in opposition to Manchester Metropolis later this month.
“We’ve got to search out in ourselves. However I don’t see (strain), I see perception, need and dedication,” Nuno Espirito Santo mentioned. “However the actuality is we’re struggling in some elements of our recreation – focus and willpower to be sensible and remedy the conditions which can be easy to resolve.”
Forest’s remaining fixtures are as follows:
5 Might: Crystal Palace (A)
11 Might: Leicester (H)
18 Might: West Ham (A)
25 Might: Chelsea (H)
Aston Villa
Factors: 60 (performed 35)
Villa’s good latest type was hit by back-to-back defeats, to Manchester Metropolis late on on the Etihad and to Crystal Palace within the FA Cup semi-finals, however Unai Emery’s aspect bought again on monitor with a 1-0 win over Fulham.
Bournemouth, chasing a European place themselves, are up subsequent. Villa will likely be hopeful of victory of their final two matches in opposition to Spurs and United – who’ve all however written off their Premier League campaigns as they appear to organize for a Europa League remaining.
Villa’s remaining fixtures are as follows:
10 Might: Bournemouth (A)
18 Might: Tottenham (H)
25 Might: Manchester United (A)
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