Peter Crouch and Joe Cole have issued their judgments about the top-five race of the Premier League, with most of the games that play another seven games this season.
Chelsea is in fourth place at 53 points and there is only a six -point gap between the blues and Brighton in the ninth.
This season, the Premier League is one of the two competitions in Europe with an extra place in the Champions League 2025-26-the news that was confirmed after Arsenal defeated Real Madrid 3-0 in the middle of the week.
For example, the usual top-four race has become a top five race this season. The most important teams fighting for Champions League football are: Nottingham Forest, Chelsea, Man City, Newcastle, Aston Villa, Fulham and Brighton.
In the meantime, Crystal Palace, Bournemouth and Brentford Slanke have mathematical opportunities to earn a place, but are nobody's favorites.
In anticipation of the collision of the city with Palace on Saturday, Crouch and Cole weighed what the top five could look like in May.
Crouch said: 'I think Bos will be third. I think Newcastle is celebrating in my opinion and I think City may just press in it.
Cole agreed that Newcastle is probably eligible for the Champions League, with the argument that they are the strongest of one of the current contenders, after their EFL cup success about Liverpool last month.
The ex-chelsea midfielder said: 'I think Newcastle does that [get in]I think they look the strongest, to be honest. '
Cole, however, revealed that he is worried about his former club, despite the side of Enzo Maresca in fourth place.
He added: 'Newcastle has a good run. I am worried about my team, Chelsea, I really am.
'Points have fallen at home and I really want the club to be in the Champions League, but they still have to play Newcastle, Manchester United, these large, historic matches in the Premier League. It's really difficult.