The Premier League season reaches its climax this Sunday with an intense battle for Champions League qualification as five clubs compete for the final three spots in Europe's elite competition.
Manchester City, Newcastle United, Chelsea, Aston Villa, and Nottingham Forest are all in contention for Champions League places on the final day of fixtures, with matches kicking off simultaneously at 4 p.m. Nigerian time.
Liverpool and Arsenal have already secured their Champions League berths by finishing first and second respectively. Tottenham Hotspur have also qualified thanks to their Europa League triumph over Manchester United.
Current Standings and What's at Stake
With just one match remaining, Manchester City occupy third position with 68 points, followed by Newcastle United, Chelsea, and Aston Villa all tied on 66 points. Nottingham Forest sit in seventh with 65 points.
This season, the Premier League has been granted an additional Champions League spot by UEFA due to English clubs' strong performances in European competitions. This means teams finishing third, fourth, and fifth will all qualify for the 2025-26 Champions League.
What Each Team Needs to Qualify
Manchester City: Pep Guardiola's side need just a draw against Fulham to secure a top-five finish, while a win would guarantee third place. Mathematically, City could still finish as runners-up if Arsenal lose at Southampton and they beat Fulham by at least eight goals.
Newcastle United: Eddie Howe's team will confirm their Champions League spot with a victory over Everton. If they draw, they would need either Aston Villa to not win against Manchester United or Chelsea to draw with Nottingham Forest. A defeat would leave them relying on Villa losing, as they would fall behind either Chelsea or Forest.
Chelsea: Enzo Maresca's Blues face a crucial clash against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground. A win would almost certainly guarantee a top-five finish. A draw would require either Aston Villa to not win or Newcastle to lose. A defeat would likely end their Champions League hopes unless Newcastle lose by three more goals than Chelsea.
Aston Villa: Unai Emery's side must avoid defeat at Old Trafford to remain in contention. A draw would require Newcastle to lose against Everton to finish in the top five. A win would secure Champions League football if either Newcastle or Chelsea drop points.
Nottingham Forest: The outsiders in this race must defeat Chelsea and hope that at least one of Newcastle or Aston Villa fails to win their respective matches.
With so many permutations possible, Sunday promises to be a dramatic conclusion to the Premier League season as these five clubs fight for the prestige and financial rewards that come with Champions League qualification.
