EPL final day: What Chelsea, Newcastle, three others need to qualify for Champions League

Chelsea, Newcastle United, Manchester City, Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest are the five teams fighting for Champions League qualification on the final day of the Premier League season on Sunday.

Premier League champions Liverpool and second-placed Arsenal have already booked their spots in next season’s Champions League.

Also, Tottenham Hotspur have booked their place, thanks to their recent Europa League triumph over Manchester United.

Currently, Man City are in third position on the Premier League table with 68 points from 37 games, followed by Newcastle United (fourth position) with 66 points, Chelsea (fifth position) have 66 points, Aston Villa (sixth position) have 66 points, while Nottingham Forest (seventh position) have 65 points from the same number of matches.

However, there are still three more spots up for grabs for the English teams.

The teams that will finish third, fourth and fifth this season in the Premier League will join the likes of Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham in the 2025-26 Champions League, thanks to UEFA handing English teams a one-off extra spot due to their strong performances in European competitions in recent years.

But Chelsea, Newcastle, Man City, Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest are the five clubs fighting it out for the last three Champions League spots ahead of the final day of the 2024/25 Premier League fixtures on Sunday.

However, what each of the five clubs need to qualify for the Champions League on the final day of the Premier League fixtures.

Manchester City:

Pep Guardiola’s side realistically only need a draw from against Fulham to secure a top-five spot, while victory would confirm a third-placed finish for them this season.

But it’s still mathematically possible for Man City to finish as Premier League runners-up behind Liverpool if Arsenal lose at Southampton and the Citizens beat Fulham with a significant eight-goal on Sunday.

Newcastle:

A win for Eddie Howe’s side against Everton on Sunday would confirm their Champions League spot, but unless Aston Villa pull off an unprecedented huge number of goals against Manchester United.

But if Newcastle draw against the Toffees, they would require Aston Villa not to win against Man United or Chelsea to draw with Nottingham Forest to secure their top-five finish this season.

A defeat for Howe’s men would see them need Unai Emery’s side to lose, as they would drop behind either Chelsea or Nottingham Forest.

Chelsea:

The Blues will face Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on Sunday .

A win for Enzo Maresca’s side would almost certainly guarantee a top-five finish if we ignore Aston Villa’s unprecedented goals.

But if Chelsea draw with Forest, they would either need Aston Villa to not win or Newcastle to lose their match.

However, should the Premier League west London club suffer defeat, it would ultimately deny them Champions League qualification unless Newcastle lose by three more goals than the Blues.

Aston Villa:

A defeat for Unai Emery’s side against Man United at Old Trafford, will see them not qualify for the Champions League.

But should Aston Villa draw against the Red Devils, they would require Newcastle to lose against Everton at home to finish inside the top five.

However, a win for Villa against United, will be enough for them to secure a Champions League qualification if either Newcastle or Chelsea drop points.

Nottingham Forest:

Nottingham Forest have to beat Chelsea to have any real chance of Champions League qualification for next season.

They would also still require at least one of Newcastle or Aston Villa to not win their matches.

DAILY POST reports that kick-off time for all the final day Premier League matches is 4 p.m, Nigerian time.