Liverpool, having already secured the league title, and Arsenal, who are set to finish as runners-up, have confirmed their spots in Europe’s top club competition.
Tottenham has also earned qualification, not due to their league position but because of their victory over Manchester United in the Europa League final.
Three more Champions League places remain open, with the teams finishing third, fourth, and fifth set to join Liverpool, Arsenal, and Spurs in the competition.
Typically, only the top four Premier League teams qualify, but this season, UEFA has granted English clubs an additional spot due to their strong performances in European tournaments. ..Continue Reading
Chelsea, Newcastle, City, Aston Villa, and Nottingham Forest are all in contention for the final three places as the league heads into its last round of fixtures.
With only one match remaining for each team, clubs ranked below seventh are officially out of the race for Champions League qualification, leaving the focus on the top seven teams.
Premier League table before final day fixtures
Liverpool (83 points) – Champions League spot secured
Arsenal (71 points) – Champions League spot secured
Manchester City (68 points)
Newcastle United (66 points)
Chelsea (66 points) – behind Newcastle on goal difference
Aston Villa (66 points) – behind Chelsea on goal difference
Nottingham Forest (65 points)
Newcastle currently holds the best goal difference among the three teams tied on points, followed by Chelsea, while Aston Villa trails significantly in this regard.
What Manchester City Needs for Champions League Qualification
Pep Guardiola’s squad only requires a draw against Fulham to secure a top-five finish, while a win would guarantee third place.
Although there is still a slim chance for City to finish as runners-up, it would require Arsenal to lose to Southampton, City to win, and a substantial goal difference swing.
The only scenario where a draw wouldn’t be enough is if Villa manages an extraordinary victory over Manchester United by a massive margin, which is highly unlikely.
The worst-case scenario for City would be finishing sixth, which would place them in the Europa League instead.
What Newcastle Needs for Champions League Qualification
Newcastle will host Everton, and a win would confirm their place in the Champions League unless Villa pulls off an improbable goal difference turnaround.
If Newcastle draws, they would need Villa to fail to win against United or Chelsea to draw with Nottingham Forest to maintain their top-five position.
A loss would mean Newcastle must rely on Villa losing, as they would then drop behind either Chelsea or Forest.
What Chelsea Needs for Champions League Qualification
Chelsea faces a crucial match against Nottingham Forest, with Champions League qualification at stake.
A victory would almost certainly secure a top-five finish, barring an unlikely scenario involving Villa’s goal difference.
If Chelsea draws, they would need either Villa to fail to win or Newcastle to lose. A defeat would eliminate their chances unless Newcastle loses by a greater margin.
What Aston Villa Needs for Champions League Qualification
Villa must avoid defeat at Old Trafford to keep their Champions League hopes alive.
A draw would require Newcastle to lose against Everton for Villa to break into the top five. A win would be enough if either Newcastle or Chelsea drop points.
What Nottingham Forest Needs for Champions League Qualification
Forest must defeat Chelsea to have any realistic shot at Champions League qualification.
Even with a win, they would still need either Newcastle or Villa to fail to secure victories.
Europa League and Conference League Scenarios
The sixth-placed Premier League team and FA Cup winners—Crystal Palace this season—will qualify for the Europa League.
Newcastle currently holds the Conference League spot due to their Carabao Cup triumph.
However, this could shift to the eighth-placed team, which will be either Brentford or Brighton, depending on Chelsea’s performance.
For this to happen, Chelsea would need to win the Conference League final against Real Betis and finish seventh in the league.
Alternatively, if Chelsea finishes sixth and Newcastle ends up seventh while Chelsea secures the Conference League trophy, the eighth-placed team would inherit the spot.
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