How many points Newcastle United need for Champions League spot amid Man United & Liverpool pressure

Newcastle United are closing in on a return to European competition.
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Newcastle United took a big step closer to returning to the Champions League after coming from behind to claim all three points against Southampton on Sunday afternoon.

The relegation-threatened Saints frustrated Eddie Howe’s men for large parts of the first-half and took a narrow lead into half-time after Carlos Alcaraz fired them in front just three minutes before the interval. The half-time introduction of top goalscorer Callum Wilson provoked a response from the Magpies as the England striker scored either side of a Theo Walcott own-goal and ensured United claimed a third win inside a week.

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However, two other fixtures taking place on Sunday afternoon had a significant impact on the Magpies bid to end their 20-year absence from the Champions League as top four rivals Manchester United, Aston Villa, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur were all in Premier League action.

Newcastle United striker Callum Wilson celebrates scoring the third goal against Southampton.Newcastle United striker Callum Wilson celebrates scoring the third goal against Southampton.
Newcastle United striker Callum Wilson celebrates scoring the third goal against Southampton.

A top seven place guaranteed

Bruno Fernandes got the only goal of the game as Manchester United saw off Aston Villa at Old Trafford. That win left Newcastle with an 11-point advantage over Unai Emery’s side, who have been one of the form sides in the Premier League in recent weeks. There was a dramatic ending to the game at Anfield as Diogo Jota’s last-gasp goal gave Liverpool the edge in a seven-goal thriller against Spurs.

Curtis Jones, Luis Diaz and Mo Salah put the Reds in control as they took a three-goal lead inside the opening quarter of an hour - but Spurs hit back as Harry Kane and Heung-Min Son scored in each half before Richarlison’s first Spurs goal looked to have snatched a point for his side.

But Jota ensured the Reds leapfrogged their visitors and ended the weekend in fifth place in the table after the Portuguese forward punished an error from Lucas Moura, much to the delight of the vast majority of those inside Anfield.

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The results on Sunday afternoon mean the five clubs immediately below Newcastle are all able to catch the Magpies - but the fact Villa and Spurs meet at Villa Park in two weeks time means one or both of those clubs will drop points in the fixture, leaving them short of United’s current total of 65 points.

Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe.Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe.
Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe.

That means Newcastle are guaranteed to end the season in the top seven of the Premier League table and secure a return to European competition for the first time in a decade. With Manchester City and Manchester United both looking on course to secure a top four place and compete in the FA Cup Final, seventh place in the Premier League is set to be rewarded with a place in next season’s Europa Conference League.

Some have speculated West Ham could prevent the seventh placed side in the Premier League from claiming a Europa Conference League spot by winning the same competition this season - but that would have no impact on the Premier League’s European entrants for the new season.

When can a Champions League place be secured?

A win against Arsenal at St James Park next Sunday would secure Europa League football as it would take United beyond Spurs and Villa’s maximum points total of 66. That would mean Howe’s side would need just four points from their remaining four games to secure Newcastle a top four place - and that is based on the assumption clubs below them will take maximum points from their remaining fixtures.