Nottingham Forest, Man City & Aston Villa have Champions League advantage over Newcastle United & Chelsea
The race for Champions League qualification is set to go down to the wire with Newcastle United one of five teams competing for three places.
With Liverpool one win away from being crowned Premier League champions and Arsenal all-but confirmed as runners-up, Newcastle, Nottingham Forest, Manchester City, Chelsea and Aston Villa are pushing to join them in the top five.
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Hide AdNewcastle’s six-match winning run in all competitions came to a crashing end on Saturday after losing 4-1 against Villa. Eddie Howe’s side had stayed third in the Premier League table until Forest’s 2-1 win at Tottenham Hotspur on Monday night saw them drop to fourth.
Indeed, Newcastle were the only team inside the top seven not to win over the weekend after Man City defeated Everton at the Etihad Stadium and Chelsea won away at Fulham.
All eyes now turn to tonight’s Premier League meeting between Man City and Aston Villa, a fixture that has been brought forward due to both teams’ involvement in the FA Cup semi-finals this weekend. Pep Guardiola’s side will leapfrog the Magpies into fourth with a result, while Villa can do the same but only with three points.
With clubs desperately hoping their rivals slip up in their remaining five matches, NewcastleWorld takes a look at which teams have the easiest and toughest run-ins — based on average league position.
Nottingham Forest (3rd)
Thursday, May 1: Brentford (H), 7.30pm kick-off
Monday, May 5: Crystal Palace (A), 8pm kick-off
Sunday, May 11: Leicester City (H), 2.15pm kick-off
Sunday, May 18: West Ham United (A), 2.15pm kick-off
Sunday, May 25: Chelsea (H), 4pm kick-off
Average league position of remaining opponents: 13th
Manchester City (5th)
Tuesday, April 22: Aston Villa (H), 8pm kick-off
Friday, May 2: Wolverhampton Wanderers (H), 8pm kick-off
Saturday, May 10: Southampton (A), 4pm kick-off
Sunday, May 18: Bournemouth (H), 7pm kick-off
Sunday, May 25: Fulham (A), 4pm kick-off
Average league position of remaining opponents: 11.8 (12th)
Aston Villa (7th)
Tuesday, April 22: Manchester City, 8pm kick-off
Saturday, May 3: Fulham (H), 12.30pm kick-off
Saturday, May 10: Bournemouth (A), 5.30pm kick-off
Sunday, May 18: Tottenham Hotspur (H), 2.15pm kick-off
Sunday, May 25: Man United (A), 4pm kick-off
Average league position of remaining opponents: 10.4 (10th)
Newcastle United (4th)
Saturday, April 26: Ipswich Town (H), 3pm kick-off
Sunday, May 4: Brighton & Hove Albion (A), 2pm kick-off
Sunday. May 11: Chelsea (H), 12pm kick-off
Sunday, May 18: Arsenal (A), 4:30pm kick-off
Sunday, May 25: Everton (H), 4pm kick-off
Average league position of remaining opponents: 9.8 (10th)
Chelsea (6th)
Saturday, April 26: Everton (H), 12.30pm kick-off
Sunday, May 4: Liverpool (H), 4.30pm kick-off
Sunday, May 11: Newcastle United (A), 12pm kick-off
Friday, May 16: Manchester United (H), 8pm kick-off
Sunday, May 25: Nottingham Forest (A), 4pm kick-off
Average league position of remaining opponents: 7th
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