Premier League clubs going for Champions League places – Toughest and easiest run-ins | OneFootball

I have had a look at the Premier League clubs battling for the Champions League qualifying places.

Liverpool of course, not only nailed on to be in the Champions League, but set to easily win the Premier League as well.

Realistically, it appears to be then nine other Premier League clubs fighting for the other qualifying places.

With the English top tier all but guaranteed to get a bonus fifth club place in next season’s competition, that makes it nine Premier League clubs fighting for the other four places.

This is how the Premier League table looks today (Monday 10 March 2025):

I have gone through all the remaining fixtures for the nine Premier League clubs currently 2nd to 10th.

So which clubs have the easiest and toughest run-ins?

I have divided each club’s remaining fixtures into matches against other clubs in the top half of the table, then games against those in the bottom half.

There are some striking differences, some of those competing for a Champions League place having far more matches against top half teams than bottom half, then vice-versa for others.

Arsenal

5 Top half teams: Chelsea (H), Fulham (H), Bournemouth (H), Liverpool (A), Newcastle (H)

5 Bottom half teams: Everton (A), Brentford (H), Ipswich (A), Palace (H), Southampton (A)

Forest

2 Top half teams: Villa (A), Chelsea (H)

8 Bottom half teams: Ipswich (A), Man U (H), Everton (H), Spurs (A), Brentford (H), Palace (A), Leicester (H), West Ham (A)

Chelsea

5 Top half teams: Arsenal (A), Fulham (A), Liverpool (H), Newcastle (A), Forest (A)

5 Bottom half teams: Spurs (H), Brentford (A), Ipswich (H), Everton (H), Man U (H)

Man City

4 Top half teams: Brighton (H), Villa (H), Bournemouth (H), Fulham (A)

6 Bottom half teams: Leicester (H), Man U (A), Palace (H), Everton (A), Wolves (H),Southampton (A)

Brighton

4 Top half teams: Man City (A), Villa (H), Newcastle (H), Liverpool (H)

6 Bottom half teams: Palace (A), Leicester (H), Brentford (A), West Ham (H), Wolves (A), Spurs (A)

Aston Villa

6 Top half teams: Brighton (A), Forest (H), Newcastle (H), Man City (A), Fulham (H), Bournemouth (A)

3 Bottom half teams: Southampton (A), Spurs (H), Man U (A)

Bournemouth

4 Top half teams: Fulham (H), Arsenal (A), Villa (H), Man City (A)

6 Bottom half teams: Brentford (H), Ipswich (H), West Ham (A), Palace (A), Man U (H), Leicester (H)

Newcastle United

4 Top half teams: Villa (H), Brighton (A), Chelsea (H), Arsenal (A)

7 Bottom half teams: West Ham (A), Brentford (H), Leicester (A), Man U (H), Ipswich (H), Everton (H)

Fulham

6 Top half teams: Arsenal (A), Liverpool (H), Bournemouth (A), Chelsea (H), Villa (A), Man City (H)

4 Bottom half teams: Spurs (H), Southampton (A), Everton (H), Brentford (A)

CONCLUSIONS

You have to think that Forest are in a tremendous position, with only two games left against top half sides and eight against bottom half.

Newcastle United with the next easiest run-in on paper, seven against bottom half teams and four games left against top half.

On the other hand, Villa look to have a very tough task, facing six top half teams and only three bottom half ones.

Fulham almost as tough, as they have six against top half clubs and four against bottom half ones.

The remaining Newcastle United match schedule:

Monday 10 March – West Ham v Newcastle (8pm) Sky Sports

Sunday 16 March – Newcastle v Liverpool (4.30pm) Carabao Cup final Sky Sports

Wednesday 2 April – Newcastle v Brentford (7.45pm)

Monday 7 April – Leicester v Newcastle (8pm) Sky Sports

Sunday 13 April – Newcastle v Man U (4.30pm) Sky Sports

Wednesday 16 April – Newcastle v Palace (7.30pm)

Saturday 19 April – Villa v Newcastle (5.30pm) Sky Sports

Saturday 26 April – Newcastle v Ipswich (3pm)

Saturday 3 May – Brighton v Newcastle TBC

Saturday 10 May – Newcastle v Chelsea TBC