As my SBOTOP colleague James, a top journalist and huge football fan, recently said, how strange it is that we are past talking of the Premier League title race and of the relegation struggle…with six rounds of matches still to play?
That’s where we are mate – the business at either end of the table is pretty much done.
But, with Liverpool’s march to the title showing no signs of weakness and the bottom three already packing their bags for a swift return to the Championship, all eyes are on the race for European places. The Premier League 2025 betting odds say the available Champions League places will be a race between five teams.
Arsenal’s 3-0 win over Real Madrid means the Gunners are in good shape to make it to the semi-final this year, but they followed that up with a draw against Brentford, which means that, unless there is a huge collapse at either Anfield or the Emirates, Mikel Arteta’s side will finish second, for the third season in succession.
And the big Premier League 2025 news, as a consequence of Arsenal’s win over Los Blancos, is that the English top flight has been awarded five places in next season’s flagship competition. It is even possible, with the 2025 Champions League winners and Europa League winners also getting a place, that as many as seven English clubs could make the cut.
But for now, we know the top five will win a place; and I’d say it’s three from five to join Liverpool and the Gunners. Nottingham Forest, Newcastle United, Manchester City, Chelsea and Aston Villa are all grouped within three points of each other, with six games to play. It’s going to be one heck of a climax so let’s take a look at the five runners.
Nottingham Forest 3rd
With 57 points from 32 games Nuno Espirito Santo’s Nottingham Forest has been the big surprise of this campaign and they have been in the top three for the vast majority. But the pack is closing in and, with four clubs, which have already been there and done that, breathing down their necks it is time for the Tricky Trees to hold their nerves.
Back to back losses made it two wins and two losses from the last four league games, the second lowest return of any of the five teams in the race. Losing 2-1 to a top five rival in Aston Villa was a blow, but then a last minute defeat to Everton at home was arguably more damaging.
Newcastle United 4th
This is one of the two form teams in the race and timing your run is always crucial. They are one point behind Nottingham Forest with a game in hand and a better goal difference and the Magpies are hosting Crystal Palace on Wednesday, a clash we’ve previewed here at SBOTOP. Four wins from the last four will likely become five from five on Wednesday and Eddie Howe’s team will then have serious momentum which will take some stopping.
Manchester City 5th
Pep Guardiola’s reigning champions are hot favourites to pick up a Champions League place, and they announced their intentions with a 5-2 thrashing of Crystal Palace on Saturday. That win took them to within two points of Nottingham Forest and made it two wins and two draws from the last four. An injury to top scorer Erling Haaland looks unlikely to derail the Sky Blues, whose January recruit Omar Marmoush looks like he’s been in the Premier League for years, with six goals in ten games so far.
I’d say both Newcastle and Manchester City are highly likely to confirm their top five places and that Forest are the most vulnerable. So which of the other two teams is the most likely to sneak in to take that final place?
Chelsea 6th
You’d think Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea would have a good chance, just a point behind City and three behind Forest; but they fluffed their lines on Sunday when they were held to a 2-2 draw, at home to soon to be relegated Ipswich Town.
One win, two draws and a defeat from the last four games, yielding just five points, give Nottingham Forest fans hope, and the Blues have a difficult task looming when they play Liverpool at home and then Newcastle away. But then they have an easier task at home to Manchester United before they travel away to Nottingham Forest on the final weekend of the campaign. What a day that could be!
Aston Villa 7th
Unai Emery’s Villans have matched the Magpies’ four wins on the bounce and they are still in the Champions League, with a second leg tie against Paris Saint-Germain to cope with before they have two more huge games in the Premier League. Aston Villa host Newcastle United next Saturday and then they visit Manchester City the following Tuesday. If they can get three or four points from those two games the Villans will still be in the hunt.
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