*With 2 Games Left, Cut-throat Battle For Remaining Spots Hots Up
As hostilities resume tonight in the English Premier League (EPL), the battle for Champions League football among teams below Liverpool, this year’s EPL winners, is a cliffhanger.
Liverpool have mathematically qualified for the 2025/26 Champions League and Arsenal, following their 2-2 draw at Anfield, only need a point from their remaining two games, but which other Premier League sides will join them?
The race for Champions League qualification is more competitive than ever with five teams guaranteed qualification.
The top five is tight, as only six points separate second-placed Arsenal down to Nottingham Forest in seventh.
Chelsea and Aston Villa are level on 63 points with Forest on 62.
Newcastle and Man City, despite their draw at Southampton, are also expected to qualify.
Newcastle’s prospects of qualifying for the Champions League are now rated at 95 per cent by Opta’s supercomputer with Man City’s at 93 per cent.
But after their draw with Leicester, Forest’s prospects have been reduced to 18 per cent, while Chelsea’s stand at 56 per cent and Villa’s have been raised to 40 per cent.
With their last two fixtures of the season coming against opponents (Tottenham and Manchester United) devoting their coming days to the UEFA Europa League final, Aston Villa could have a fantastic opportunity to push for a second consecutive UEFA Champions League appearance.
Villa can claim to be the form club of the competition as the only team to have won eight matches from the last 10 Premier League rounds.
Arsenal’s Remaining Fixtures:
May 18: Arsenal vs Newcastle.
May 25: Southampton vs Arsenal.
Manchester City’s Remaining Fixtures:
May 20: Man City vs Bournemouth.
May 25: Fulham vs Man City.
Nottingham Forest’s Remaining Fixtures:
May 18: West Ham vs Nottingham Forest.
May 25: Nottingham Forest vs Chelsea.
Newcastle’s Remaining Fixtures:
May 18: Arsenal vs Newcastle.
May 25: Newcastle vs Everton.
Chelsea’s Remaining Fixtures:
May 16: Chelsea vs Man Utd.
May 25: Nottingham Forest vs Chelsea.
Aston Villa’s Remaining Fixtures:
May 16: Aston Villa vs Spurs.
May 25: Man United vs Aston Villa.
