Sports

Premier League Top-five Hopefuls Battle For Champions League Riches

Published

12 months ago

May 15, 2025

The Premier League race is over and relegation is decided — but the battle for Champions League qualification remains wide open with just two rounds to go.

Only champions Liverpool are so far guaranteed one of the five places up for grabs in Europe’s top club competition next season and second-placed Arsenal look almost certain to join them.

But just four points separate third-placed Newcastle from Nottingham Forest in seventh spot.

AFP Sport picks out the main talking points ahead of the weekend’s action in the English top flight.

Newcastle aim to leapfrog Arsenal

Arsenal have been Liverpool’s closest challengers for most of the campaign and a few weeks ago appeared to have second spot locked down.

But a win for Eddie Howe’s Newcastle at the Emirates on Sunday would take the Magpies a point above the Gunners, who have won just one of their past six league games.

Newcastle, by contrast, have been buoyant since winning the League Cup final against Liverpool in mid-March, losing just once in eight league games since.

Sunday’s 2-0 win against top-five rivals Chelsea was a huge stride towards Champions League qualification for the second time in three seasons.

“We still have two games to go and lots of twists and turns that could be around the corner,” said Howe. “We have to drive forward.”

Newcastle’s last game, on May 25, is a home match against Everton, while Arsenal travel to bottom club Southampton.

Europa final focus a bonus for Villa, Chelsea

Aston Villa and Chelsea have a chance to steal a march on their top-five rivals, with both in action on Friday, against Europa League finalists Tottenham and Manchester United.

Villa, who have maintained fine form in the league despite Champions League and FA Cup exits in recent weeks, could finish the day in fourth place with a win at home to Spurs.

But Chelsea, who also have 63 points, would move just behind third-placed Newcastle if they win, thanks to a better goal difference.

United and Spurs sit just outside the relegation zone after terrible league campaigns and their attention will be fixed on next week’s Europa League final in Bilbao, with their managers likely to keep some players wrapped in cotton wool.

Villa’s gritty 1-0 win at Bournemouth at the weekend secured a place in European competition but Emery’s appetite for the Champions League has been whetted by a run to the quarter-finals this season.

UEFA Conference League finalists Chelsea could end Enzo Maresca’s first season on a high with European silverware and a return to the Champions League after two seasons away.

Last chance for Forest
Two-time European champions Nottingham Forest have been in the top four for most of the season but have stumbled at the worst possible moment and are now outsiders to secure Champions League football.

Sunday’s damaging 2-2 draw with relegated Leicester was another huge blow to their hopes of returning to the competition for the first time in more than four decades.

Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo is not giving up hope as he takes his team to lowly West Ham on Sunday, with Chelsea to follow in the final game of the season.

“Let’s see how it goes,” said the Portuguese manager, whose team have secured European football for next season. “We have to focus on West Ham…. I promise you we are going to give it a go and we will never give up.”

Man City eye end-of-season flourish

Manchester City, currently fourth in the Premier League, have had to reset their expectations after a poor campaign by their sky-high standards.

Despite their surprise 0-0 draw at Southampton last time out, they remain likely to finish in the top five, with matches to come against Bournemouth and Fulham.

Pep Guardiola’s men do not play in the Premier League until Tuesday, three days after they face Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final at Wembley.

“I didn’t expect differently from a month ago, that it’s a fight until the end,” said Guardiola, whose team failed to make it five Premier League titles in a row.

Fixtures

Friday

Aston Villa v Tottenham (1830 GMT), Chelsea v Manchester United (1915)

Sunday (1400 unless stated)

Everton v Southampton (1100), West Ham v Nottingham Forest (1315), Brentford v Fulham, Leicester v Ipswich, Arsenal v Newcastle (1530)

Monday

Brighton v Liverpool (1900)

Tuesday

Crystal Palace v Wolves, Manchester City v Bournemouth (both 1900)

Related Topics:Champions Champions League

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Sports

UCL, EPL: Petr Cech Advises Chelsea On How To Win Trophies

Published

1 day ago

May 4, 2026

Editor

Chelsea legend, Petr Cech, has advised his old club on how to win the UEFA Champions League or the English Premier League.

Chelsea are already out of the Premier League title race this season, and they are at risk of missing out on UEFA Champions League qualification for next season because they are currently not in the ninth position on the Premier League table.

Speaking to The Athletic about Chelsea, Cech said that the Blues need to change their philosophy of signing only young players if they want to win the Premier League or Champions League.

According to the former goalkeeper, the Premier League west London club needs to add experienced players to mentor the young players in the squad.

“You have to look at what you want to achieve. You can have young, talented players, and you can win, but it’s very rare that you manage to do that,” he said.

“If you want to win every season and compete every season, that does not go together.

“You have to change your philosophy. Certain things don’t go together because, in order to win a Champions League or a Premier League… these are really tough competitions, and you have to be consistent.

“You need to have a strong core of the team. And then you can bring young, talented players who will grow faster and then will be held by the experienced players to help navigate them through difficult times when they come.”

Currently, Chelsea have just one player, Tosin Adarabioyo, who is over 28 this season, and the defender has not been playing regularly.

Sports

Enabulele Lauds Okpebholo’s Bold Reforms As Edo Sports Witnesses Revival

Published

5 days ago

April 30, 2026

Editor

The Executive Chairman of the Edo State Sports Commission, Hon. Amadin Desmond Enabulele, has commended Governor Monday Okpebholo for what he described as a bold and transformative approach to sports development.

Speaking on efforts to reposition sports in the state, Enabulele noted that with Okpebholo’s visionary leadership, the sector has witnessed renewed growth.

In a statement issued by his Media Officer, Edoko Wilson Edoko, the Edo Sports Commission boss attributed the progress to the governor’s strategic policies and sustained commitment to youth development, which he said have laid the foundation for a more structured and results-driven system.

“His Excellency has demonstrated clear vision and genuine commitment to sports development. The level of support we are receiving has significantly repositioned Edo as a competitive force in national sporting events,” he said.

He explained that targeted investments in grassroots development are already producing results, with a growing number of young talents being identified and nurtured across multiple disciplines.

“We are deliberately building from the grassroots. A large percentage of our athletes today are homegrown, which speaks to the sustainability of our development model,” Enabulele added.

The Commission, he noted, is also shifting away from an over-reliance on football to a broader multi-sport focus.

Edo State, he said, is now recording improved performances in athletics, combat sports, and other emerging areas.

“Our goal is to strengthen all sports. The results are beginning to show across different disciplines, and this is only the start,” he said.

Enabulele further pointed to ongoing improvements in sports infrastructure and athlete welfare as critical factors in sustaining performance and encouraging wider participation among young people.

“We are building a system that will endure. With the continued support of the governor, Edo is on course to becoming a dominant force in sports at both national and international levels,” he stated.

He expressed confidence that the current momentum would translate into greater achievements for Edo athletes, reaffirming the Commission’s commitment to excellence, discipline, and long-term development.