Premier League Top Five Race: Forest let Chelsea off the hook | OneFootball

The top five race is the last remaining contest with real stakes in the Premier League this season as six teams vye for a place in next season’s Champions League.

There are, of course, still a number of teams chasing eighth position and a possible chance to qualify for the Europa Conference League, but that will only happen if Crystal Palace don’t beat Manchester City in the FA Cup final.

Regardless, with no title race or relegation battle this year, all of the focus will be on the hunt for Europe. Liverpool, as champions, have already booked their Champions League spot and Arsenal are just about there.

Newcastle United and City could even overtake the Gunners in the Premier League table, while there is a three-way fight between Chelsea, Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest for fifth, with just one point separating them.

Premier League Top Five Race assessed with two games left

2nd: Arsenal

Points: 68

Sunday’s draw with Liverpool mean Arsenal really need just one more point to seal qualification. That will take their tally up to 69, which Chelsea and Villa can still match with two wins, but the north London outfit have a far superior goal difference than those two.

Remarkably, second place is not yet sewn up. Arsenal could find themselves in third next weekend if they lose to Newcastle. The Magpies will be highly motivated to win and secure their return to Europe’s premier club competition. They could even finish as low as fourth if they fail to beat Southampton on the final day and other results go against them.

It would be pretty funny if they managed to finish third in a two-horse race, a la Spurs in 2015/16.

Remaining games: Newcastle (H), Southampton (A)

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3rd: Newcastle Utd

Points: 66

There is only a three point gap between Newcastle and sixth-placed Villa, but Eddie Howe’s side are in a very good position to finish inside the top five. They have timed their run to near perfection, winning seven of their last nine Premier League games to shoot them up to third. The sole defeat in that run came against rivals Villa, but it may not even matter in the end.

One win from their final two games should be enough to seal the deal.

Remaining games: Arsenal (A), Everton (H)

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4th: Man City

Points: 65

It seemed very possible for a while there that Manchester City could miss out on Champions League football for the first time in 15 years, but they have recovered from a rotten run of mid-season form to put their destiny in their own hands.

Since losing to Forest in March, they have gone unbeaten in eight, although dropping two points to Southampton at the weekend was not in the script. Still, they have two winnable games to run out the campaign and potentially finish as high as second.

Remaining games: Bournemouth (H), Fulham (A)

Read – Southampton troll Man City, Sevilla invaded, and El Crapico

5th: Chelsea

Points: 63

The boost Chelsea received from beating Liverpool was completely nullified this past weekend as they lost 2-0 at Newcastle United. It may prove even more costly after Nicolas Jackson received a red card and a three-match suspension, ruling him out for the rest of the season.

Losing a six-pointer like that is massive, but it was not decisive; if they win their final two games, they will finish in the top five. Next up is a visit from Manchester United, who have fully given up on the Premier League in their pursuit of Europa League glory.

The final day is when Chelsea’s fate will be decided as they travel to the City Ground for a crucial meeting with Nottingham Forest.

Remaining games: Man Utd (H), Nott’m Forest (A)

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6th: Aston Villa

Points: 63

Reaching the Champions League for a second successive year would be a huge accomplishment for Unai Emery and his players, but even if they win both of their final games they will be depending on favours from elsewhere.

They are level on points with Chelsea, who occupy fifth spot thanks to a superior goal difference. That narrow defeat to Man City last month is looking very costly right now.

Villa should at least come away with two wins from their final two matches against both Europa League finalists, who have two league wins between them since the beginning of April.

Remaining games: Spurs (H), Man Utd (A)

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7th: Nottingham Forest

Points: 62

Nottingham Forest missed a golden opportunity to put themselves in the driver’s seat for Champions League qualification on Sunday as they were held to a draw by already relegated Leicester City.

After occupying a spot in the top four for much of the season, it was one of their Midlands rivals who put a massive dent in their ambitions and could ultimately cost them dearly. It was bad enough to prompt Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis to enter the pitch at full-time and confront manager Nuno Espirito Santo.

The two dropped points leave them seventh in the standings, a point behind Villa and Chelsea, who were probably counting their blessings after losing earlier in the day. What’s more, even if they beat the Blues in that all-important curtain closer, it may not be enough, as Villa, City and Newcastle could all still finish above them.

Remaining games: West Ham (A), Chelsea (H)

Read – Nuno explains on-pitch confrontation with Forest owner Marinakis

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