There are still six teams that compete to become a member of the Premier League champions Liverpool in next season's Champions League via a top five finish, and only two more games to play
After a dramatic weekend of Premier League promotion, the battle for a top five finish in the Premier League remains very alive. Only six points separated second and seventh, and there are only six points to play for, because they offer six teams to become a member of Liverpool in the Champions League.
The magical song this season is five, not four, with the progress of English teams in the three European competitions that ensure that an extra team will qualify through their competition finish. There will be a sixth Premier League side at the top table in Europe, with one of Manchester United and Tottenham ready to get it, depending on the result in the Europa League final, but that does not take a place away from those top five finishers.
A victory from Arsenal Road in Liverpool could have guaranteed a Champions League referee for the Gunners. However, they could only leave with a point, so it is not completely ready.
There was also a meeting between two of their close contenders, with Newcastle Chelsea hosting. It was the side of Eddie Howe who came on top, with Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes scored more than 85 minutes apart to achieve a 2-0 win.
Manchester City and Nottingham Forest dropped both points against already related opponents to damage their own top five hope. That means that Aston Villa, winners in Bournemouth on Saturday, will very much remain in the photo.
But who is in pole position and who has to do with two games? Mirror Football has examined the teams in the mix.
Arsenal – 68 points
Arsenal's second half comeback against Liverpool will have offered encouragement after the Painful Champions League exit. Every suggestion that the Gunners would not be able to return to the competition was placed to bed by the way they responded to 2-0 in Anfield, although the one-game ban of Mikel Merino is a frustration.
Two more points in their last two games would make Champions League qualification mathematically sure, although they also want to achieve second place after they have had the pursuit package overtaken. They end their season against Newcastle (H) and Southampton (A), and would probably not have to worry too much about their former keeper Aaron Ramsdale who denies them a top five finish on the last day.
Newcastle United – 66 points
Three points against Chelsea is not enough to get Newcastle over the line, but it's close. The Eddie Howe team has taken their run brilliantly timed and took 22 points of a possible 27 because they have stuck the benefits of having no European distractions this period.
With Arsenal (A) in the penultimate game, the team of Howe may still have to finish the job on the last day. That is against an Everton (H) team with little to play for, although Fulham discovered on Saturday that the men of David Moyes cannot be underestimated.
Manchester City – 65 points
City's failure to break down Southampton was a surprise, but the return of Erling Haaland for the run-in should help. The Pep Guardiola team still has their fate very much in its own hands, which this term has not always been a guarantee.
With Bournemouth (H) and Fulham (A) on the Horizon, City will be in with at least one team that still haunts European qualification. However, if their rivals drop points, only one victory of those games could still be enough.
Chelsea – 63 points
The defeat of Chelsea in Newcastle was painful enough without the added setback of a red card for Nicolas Jackson. The striker will miss the last two games of the season by suspension, and the side of Enzo Maresca will have to find goals from elsewhere.
First a Manchester United (H) team with half a watch of the Europa League final, and at a gloomy point of two points from seven games. If Chelsea doesn't win, their hope can be over, but even a victory leaves them against Nottingham Forest (A) on the last day.
Aston Villa – 63 points
A 4-1 defeat in Crystal Palace in February Aston Villa left back in the 10th, but since then they have been able to conquer a Champions League spot thanks to a beautiful form of shape. The last eight games have achieved seven victories, although a last defeat in Manchester City could only be decisive.
The Unai Emery team closes the season against the two Europa League finalists, first Tottenham Hotspur (H) and then Manchester United (A). Both games are very winning and a return of 69 points can be good enough.
Nottingham Forest – 62 points
Forest can live very well to regret their fallen points at home in recent weeks. They have only picked up one point from their three city grounds against Everton, Brentford and Leicester to fall out of the top six for the first time since the year of the year.
That return means that no games are easy, but wins against West Ham (A) and Chelsea (H) would guarantee the qualification of the Europa League. If others drop points, it can still be enough to finish in the top five.