As we enter the business end of the Premier League season, there’s only one race that fans are keeping a keen eye on.
With the relegation battle all-but over and Liverpool within touching distance of the league title – all attention has turned to the race for a Champions League spot.
Currenty, there are five teams – Chelsea, Man City, Newcastle, Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa – battling it out to secure a place in the the competition next season.
With Liverpool and Arsenal likely to qualify, there are only three places remaining for the aforementioned teams to compete for – with fifth place also earning a spot in the competition.
As it stands, Man City, Forest and Newcastle are all set to land a place in the Champions League – but will it remain that way?
Here, Mail Sport’s writers offer their predictions as to who will finish in the top five.
All eyes are on the race for a Champions League spot in the Premier League’s final matches
Chelsea are also pushing for a return to the Champions League under Enzo Maresca
Pep Guardiola will be hoping to salvage Man City’s season with a place in the competition
MIKE KEEGAN
3 – Manchester City
4 – Nottingham Forest
5 – Newcastle United
6 – Chelsea
7 – Aston Villa
When you look at the run-ins you could make a case for none of those involved losing a single game.
While City have played one more than the rest, a maximum haul from a list of Wolves, Southampton, Bournemouth and Fulham is not an unreasonable ask and last night’s late winner may propel them to the line.
For me it’s as they are, with City finishing on 71 ahead of Forest (69) and Newcastle (68). Chelsea and Villa both end on 65 with the west London side’s goal difference putting them in sixth.
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 Eddie Howe’s ongoing absence from the Newcastle dugout may prove a key factor in this race.
Manchester City have the easiest run-in and their win over Aston Villa on Tuesday felt decisive. Don’t rule out Villa, though: they have been in stunning form under Unai Emery and are capable of winning all their remaining games.
Just when Forest looked to be running out of gas, Nuno’s men delivered a crucial win at Tottenham and like City, they have a favourable run-in and the unity to get them over the line.
Many believe that Man City will find their form and clinch third place at the end of the season
Nottingham Forest have proved to be this season’s surprise package amid their stellar form
JACK GAUGHAN
3 – Man City
4 – Nottingham Forest
5 – Newcastle United
6 – Aston Villa
7 – Chelsea
Chelsea have got a nasty run-in, with Liverpool to play as well as away trips to Newcastle and Nottingham Forest.
Manchester City’s resurgence, with four wins from six, should see them over the line now given some comfortable fixtures and none of the top six to meet.
Forest should probably have enough to secure qualification, attacking fixtures with Brentford, West Ham and Leicester before Chelsea on the final day.
Before last weekend, you’d say Newcastle were certainties but it’ll be interesting to see how they respond to that setback at Villa, who 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 are on a roll at the end of a difficult season and could easily win all their remaining four games.
I’m backing Pep Guardiola’s side to hold onto third with the help of a better goal difference, despite having played one game more than most of their rivals.
Forest’s run-in should enable them to claim fourth ahead of Newcastle, who will bounce back from Saturday’s defeat to Aston Villa and beat Ipswich but have a tough set of fixtures.
Not as tough as Chelsea who are in danger of dropping into seventh, with Villa finishing sixth due to their inferior goal difference and only having four more games.
Cole Palmer and Chelsea have suffered a major dent in their form over recent weeks
Newcastle are currently fifth and are hoping to sneak in to a Champions League spot
JOE BERNSTEIN
3rd – Man City
4th – Chelsea
5th – Nottingham Forest
6th – Newcastle
7th – Aston Villa
City’s late winner against Villa changes everything. Their favourable run-in gets them over the line while Villa have an inferior goal difference in addition to a points deficit.
Chelsea have come through their wobble and I fancy them to get results at Newcastle and Forest in the remaining six-pointers.
I fear for Newcastle with Forest a point ahead of them. Nuno’s men can bank on their home derby against Leicester.
NATHAN SALT
3 – Nottingham Forest
4 – Manchester City
5 – Newcastle United
6 – Aston Villa
7 – Chelsea
I may be going against the grain here but I think that win away at Tottenham Hotspur has steadied Nottingham Forest for this run-in.
Nuno Espírito Santo’s side don’t play a top half team until facing Chelsea on the final day, while Manchester City have two freebies in their last four, at home against Wolves and away at Southampton.
Chelsea have to face a revived Everton, go to Anfield to play champions elect Liverpool, go up to Newcastle, and go away to Nottingham Forest on the final day. I don’t trust them when the pressure is dialled up.
Aston Villa are likely to narrowly miss out on a place in Europe’s elite competition next season
Forest picked up a huge win over Tottenham that has bolstered their chance of a top five finish
MATT BARLOW
3 – Man City
4 – Newcastle
5 – Forest
6 – Villa
7 – Chelsea
City seem to be over the worst of it. Only four to play but all winnable and even if Wolves are in terrific form 10 points should be enough to clinch third. I expect Newcastle to chase them in, with three home games out of five and no distractions.
I’m taking Forest to have just enough to keep Villa at bay even though their form is not what it was.
Chelsea’s run in looks the toughest and they continue to splutter and although they have five to play there will come a time when they turn focus on Europe…
KIERAN GILL
3 – Man City
4 – Nottingham Forest
5 – Chelsea
6 – Newcastle
7 – Aston Villa
This is dependent on Chelsea’s young side growing some cojones and extracting results from the big games they have remaining.
They still have to face Newcastle and Nottingham Forest, remember, so their Champions League fate is in their own hands, really, even if those fixtures are away from home.
I realise barely anybody is giving them a chance, but they’ve been in contention all season and can still secure their target.
Eddie Howe’s Newcastle have three home games out of five and no distractions
DAVID COVERDALE
3 – Manchester City
4 – Newcastle United
5 – Nottingham Forest
6 – Aston Villa
7 – Chelsea
The momentum seems to be back with Manchester City and, with favourable fixtures, they could win all their remaining matches.
Despite being thrashed at Aston Villa, I expect Newcastle to return to form in the run-in and they have three home games they should win.
Forest’s fixture list is also relatively kind, which should see them pick up enough points to edge into the top five.
I think Villa will run Forest close but just miss out, while Chelsea will come seventh given they have to host Liverpool and visit top-five rivals Newcastle and Forest.
