English Premier League heading for final day drama as five teams chase three Champions League spots

While champions Liverpool and Arsenal have cemented their place, the fiercely contested battle for Champions League football next season goes down to the wire for five teams on Sunday’s last day of the 2024/25 English Premier League season.

Manchester City, Newcastle United, Chelsea, Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa will be vying for the other three spots available to the top five finishers in the Premier league.

Tottenham Hotspur have also qualified as Europa League winners.

We look at Sunday’s permutations for all five teams still chasing a seat at Europe’s top table next season...

Manchester City (65 points)
Opponents: Fulham (A)

Pep Guardiola’s City team are the best placed of the teams chasing Champions League qualification.

Their 3-1 victory at home to Bournemouth on Tuesday took them up to third behind Arsenal, with a two-point cushion and significant goal difference advantage over sixth-placed Aston Villa.

City realistically only need a point from their trip to Fulham to confirm a spot in the top five. A win would confirm third place.

Newcastle United (66)
Opponents: Everton (H)

The Magpies won their first major trophy in 70 years with their League Cup success in March, and Newcastle fans will be hungry for more success.

Eddie Howe’s men welcome Everton to St James’ Park knowing a win will confirm their top-five spot. In the event of a stalemate, they will need Manchester United to avoid defeat against Villa, or Chelsea to draw with Nottingham Forest.

A win for either side in that game would see them leapfrog Newcastle. Should they lose to David Moyes’ side, Newcastle would need Villa to lose at Old Trafford.

Chelsea (66) 

Opponents: Forest (A)

Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea have a difficult task on Sunday, travelling to one of their top-five rivals, Nottingham Forest.

Should Chelsea secure victory on the last day, they’ll likely seal a top-five place. If they draw, the Conference League finalists will have to rely on results elsewhere to get them over the line.

They would need Villa to lose or draw, or Newcastle to lose. Defeat for Chelsea would almost certainly deny them Champions League qualification, unless Newcastle lose by three more goals.

Aston Villa (66)
Opponents: Manchester United (A)

Villa’s chance of an immediate return to Europe’s elite competition could hinge on United’s reaction to their Europa League final heartbreak that cost them a Champions League place.

Yet Unai Emery’s men will fancy their chances of getting maximum points against a Red Devils side that picked up just two points from their last eight league games.

Villa are level on points with Newcastle and Chelsea but have a significantly inferior goal difference. A win will be enough if Newcastle or Chelsea drop points, or if Manchester City lose. If they draw the match, Villa would need Newcastle to lose to Everton.

Nottingham Forest (65)
Opponents: Manchester United (A)

If Forest fall at the final hurdle, it would be a devastating blow after spending so long in the top five this season.

They at least get to play the season-defining clash at home, and the City Ground should be rocking. Their recent home form will be cause for anxiety among Forest fans, however. They drew one match and lost two of their last three home games.

The equation is simple for Forest, as they just have to win, though even that might not be enough. They would also need Newcastle or Villa to lose or draw.