While we are entering the business end of the Premier League season, there is only one race that keeps a close eye on fans.
With the relegation struggle completely, but Liverpool at the moving distance of the league title – all attention is focused on the race for a spot of Champions League.
Current, there are five teams – Chelsea, Man City, Newcastle, Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa – who fight it out to secure a place in the competition next season.
With Liverpool and Arsenal who are probably eligible, there are only three places left for the aforementioned teams to compete – with fifth place that also deserves a place in the competition.
As it looks now, man City, Forest and Newcastle are all ready to land a place in the Champions League – but it will stay that way?
Here the writers of Mail Sport offer their predictions about who ends in the top five.
Mike Keegan
3 – Manchester City
4 – Nottingham Forest
5 – Newcastle United
6 – Chelsea
7 – Aston Villa
If you look at the run-ins, you could argue for none of those involved in losing a single game.
Although City has played more than the rest, a maximum appetite from a list of wolves, Southampton, Bournemouth and Fulham is not an unreasonable question and the deceased winner of last night can propel the line.
For me it is the way they are, with City ending 71 for Forest (69) and Newcastle (68). Chelsea and Villa both end at 65 with the goal difference of the West -London side and set them in sixth place.
Tom Collomosse
3 – Manchester City
4 – Nottingham Forest
5 – Aston Villa
6 – Newcastle
7 – Chelsea
In such a tight race, the quality of the coaches can make the difference and the constant absence of Eddie Howe through the Dugout in Newcastle can be a key factor in this race.
Manchester City has the easiest run-in and their victory over Aston Villa on Tuesday he felt decisive. However, Villa does not exclude: they are in a stunning form under Unai Emery and are able to win all their remaining games.
Just when Forest seemed to have gasoline without having Nuno, won a crucial victory in Tottenham and just like City, they have a favorable walk -in and the unit to get them over the line.
Jack Gaughan
3 – Man City
4 – Nottingham Forest
5 – Newcastle United
6 – Aston Villa
7 – Chelsea
Chelsea has an annoying run-in, with Liverpool to play and travel to Newcastle and Nottingham Forest.
The revival of Manchester City, with four victories of six, should see over the line that now get some comfortable luminaires and none of the top six to meet.
Forest should probably have enough to guarantee qualification, whereby fixtures are attacked with Brentford, West Ham and Leicester for Chelsea on the last day.
Before last weekend you would say that Newcastle were certainties, but it will be interesting to see how they react to that setback at Villa, which in turn need results elsewhere to go their way now.
Chris Wheeler
3 – Man City
4 – Nottingham Forest
5 – Newcastle
6 – Aston Villa
7 – Chelsea
City is at the end of a difficult season and could easily win all their remaining four games.
I support Pep Guardiola's side to keep the third with the help of a better goal difference, even though I have played one match more than most of their rivals.
The Run-in from Forest should enable them to claim fourth for Newcastle, which will bounce back from Saturday's defeat against Aston Villa and Ipswich, but has a heavy set of luminaires.
Not as heavy as Chelsea who are in danger of falling in the seventh, in which Villa finished sixth because of their inferior goal balance and only four more games.
Joe Bernstein
3rd – Man City
4th – Chelsea
5th – Nottingham Forest
6th – Newcastle
7th – Aston Villa
The late winner of City against Villa is changing everything. Their favorable run-in gets them over the line, while Villa has an inferior target difference in addition to a point shortage.
Chelsea came through their wobbles and I like to get results in Newcastle and Forest in the remaining six-Pointers.
I fear Newcastle with Bos a point for them. The men of Nuno can bank Derby against Leicester on their home.
Nathan -Zout
3 – Nottingham Forest
4 – Manchester City
5 – Newcastle United
6 – Aston Villa
7 – Chelsea
I may go against the grain here, but I think that profit is gone at Tottenham Hotspur has steadily Nottingham Forest for this run-in.
The side of Nuno Espírito Santo does not play a top half team to Chelsea on the last day, while Manchester City has two Freebies in their last four, at home against Wolves and Weg in Southampton.
Chelsea must be confronted with a new living Everton, go to Anfield to play champions to choose Liverpool, go to Newcastle and go to Nottingham Forest on the last day. I do not trust them when the pressure is considered.
Matt Barlow
3 – Man City
4 – Newcastle
5 – Bos
6 – Villa
7 – Chelsea
City seems to be the worst of it. Only four to play, but all profitable and even if wolves in great form have 10 points sufficient to achieve third. I expect Newcastle to follow them, with three home games of the five and no distraction.
I take the forest to have just enough to keep villa at a distance, although their shape is not what it was.
Chelsea's Run looks the most difficult and they keep sputtering and although they have five to play, there will be a time when they change the focus on Europe …
Kieran Gill
3 – Man City
4 – Nottingham Forest
5 – Chelsea
6 – Newcastle
7 – Aston Villa
This depends on the young side of Chelsea that grows a number of cojones and the results from the large games they have transferred.
They still have to be confronted with Newcastle and Nottingham Forest, so remember, so their Champions League -Lot is really in their own hands, even if those fixtures are away from home.
I realize that hardly anyone gives them a chance, but they have been in conflict the entire season and can still secure their goal.
David Coverdale
3 – Manchester City
4 – Newcastle United
5 – Nottingham Forest
6 – Aston Villa
7 – Chelsea
The momentum seems to be back at Manchester City and with favorable competitions they could win all their remaining competitions.
Although I was beaten to Aston Villa, I expect Newcastle to return to form in the run-in and they have three home games they have to win.
The luminaire list of Forest is also relatively friendly, so they have to pick up enough points to get to the top five.
I think Villa Bos will go nearby, but just wrong, while Chelsea will come seventh, since they have to organize Liverpool and visit top five Rivals Newcastle and Forest.