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BILBAO, Spain — Tottenham Hotspur ended their 17-year wait for a trophy on Wednesday as Brennan Johnson’s 42nd-minute goal was enough to beat Manchester United 1-0 and win the Europa League.
Both clubs went into the game under massive pressure after hugely disappointing Premier League campaigns left United in 16th place and Spurs below them in 17th, but Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou kept his promise of always winning something in his second season.

Postecoglou was facing an uphill battle to save his job but he has now delivered Spurs’ first trophy since 2008 and their first European honour since 1984. They also secured a spot in the Champions League and an estimated £100 million in revenue at the expense of United, who face a season in the wilderness with no European football for the first time since 2014-15.
In a scrappy game short on quality here at Estadio de San Mames, Johnson’s bundled effort from Pape Matar Sarr’s cross separated the teams and sparked jubilant celebrations among the Tottenham contingent among the 49,224 crowd.

“This season hasn’t been good at all, but I swear, not one of us players care about that,” Johnson said after the match. “This is what it’s all about, this club hasn’t won a trophy for 17 years. It means so much. All the fans get battered, we get battered for not winning a trophy. I’m so happy.

Ever since I came here it’s been, ‘they’re a good team, but can never get it done.’ We got it done today.”
Spurs opted to leave captain Son Heung-Min on the bench while Ruben Amorim started Mason Mount ahead of Alejandro Garnacho.
A jubilant Postecoglou was surrounded at the final whistle by his staff.
On a night of high stakes, both goalkeepers contributed to a nervous start. Noussair Mazraoui was required to make a vital early intervention as André Onana was caught out trying to meet Pedro Porro’s right-wing cross.

At the other end, Guglielmo Vicario flapped at Bruno Fernandes’ 16th-minute corner and Amad Diallo flashed a shot across goal. Diallo looked the liveliest player on the pitch but both teams were desperately short of quality in the final third.
The opening goal summed up the standard on show. Sarr swung in a cross from the left where Johnson and Shaw went to meet it at the near post. The ball ricocheted off Shaw and past Onana with Johnson getting the final touch.
United saw more of the ball after the break but struggled to create much of note. Leny Yoro tried to meet Fernandes’ 58th-minute free kick at the near post, but Vicario saved and Spurs scrambled it clear.

Tottenham were reduced to counter-attacks and Dominic Solanke should have done better when played in by Yves Bissouma, but his poor touch meant the opportunity was lost.
Son came on for Richarlison with 23 minutes remaining but United created their best chance shortly afterwards as Vicario failed to deal with Fernandes’ ball into the box and Rasmus Hojlund headed at goal only for Micky Van der Ven to acrobatically clear the ball off the line.

It was Hojlund’s final contribution, as moments later Amorim replaced him with Joshua Zirkzee as part of a double change with Garnacho on for Mount.
Fernandes then headed wide from Diallo’s cross before Garnacho forced Vicario into a low save to his left as United found some momentum. Spurs retreated still further as United continued to probe and in a frantic finale.
Shaw forced a fine save from Vicario as the game went into stoppage-time, but Tottenham held on for a moment of history.
Tottenham had won all three matches it has played against United this season and are unbeaten in six straight games against the Old Trafford side, with the last five under manager Ange Postecoglou.

United and Tottenham had met in just one previous final — the 2009 League Cup when Alex Ferguson’s Red Devils won 4-1 on penalties after a 0-0 draw.

Nine venues across the four home nations will stage the 24-team tournament.
Unlike previous Euros that have seen the hosts qualify automatically, Uefa has had to alter its protocols given the 2028 edition is being held across the four nations.
Instead, 20 nations will go through, with 12 as group winners and eight as the best-placed runners-up.

Two of the remaining four spots will be allocated to the two best-ranked host nations who did not qualify automatically, while the final two places will be decided via play-offs for the remaining runners-up in the group phase.

Should all of the home nations emerge through qualifying as either group winners or runners-up, then four spots will be allocated through the play-offs.

Six stadiums in England – Wembley, Etihad Stadium, Anfield, Villa Park, Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium and St James’ Park in Newcastle – will host games in 2028, while Dublin’s Aviva Stadium, Hampden Park in Glasgow and the Principality Stadium in Cardiff make up the list.

Northern Ireland was originally named as a host nation, but has since pulled out after Belfast’s Casement Park was removed as an option due to funding.

The qualification schedule is expected to be finalised in autumn 2025.

Leicester City, likely to be one of Town’s main rivals for promotion from the Championship, are facing a potential points deduction next season having been referred to to an independent commission by the Premier League for an alleged breach of EFL financial rules in their 2023/24 Championship promotion campaign.
An arbitration tribunal upheld an earlier decision that the Premier League could not punish Leicester for breaching their profit and sustainability rules (P&S) in the 2022/23 season as the Foxes had been relegated from the top flight at the end of that term.
However, it ruled that the Premier League is in a position to investigate Leicester, who along with the Blues have been relegated back to the Championship this season, for breaching EFL P&S rules in 2023/24.
“The tribunal confirmed that the Premier League has the power to investigate an alleged breach of the P&S rules because the EFL validly transferred responsibility for its investigation to the Premier League in June 2024, when the club was promoted from the Championship,” a Premier League statement reads.

The Premier League continues to have jurisdiction even though Leicester City will be relegated to the Championship at the end of this season.”
In addition, Leicester are alleged to have breached their obligation to provide annual accounts to the Premier League by the end of 2024 as well as providing “full, complete and prompt assistance” to the league regarding its enquiries.
Leicester, who beat Town 2-0 at the King Power Stadium on Sunday, welcomed the tribunal upholding the 2022/23 ruling and say they will assist the commission.
“Consistent with its previous commitments, the club intends to engage cooperatively in this matter now that the Premier League’s jurisdiction has been established for the period ending FY24 [fiscal year ending in 2024],” the Foxes said in a statement.
“However, we will not be able to comment further on these proceedings until they are concluded, due to their confidential nature.”
An EFL spokesman said: “The EFL notes that the Premier League has today referred Leicester City to an independent commission for an alleged breach of profit and sustainability rules for the period ending season 2023/24.

The EFL commenced an investigation into this reporting period following the March 2024 submissions and as is permitted in accordance with EFL regulations, jurisdiction for that passed to the Premier League at the conclusion of the 2023/24 season on the club’s promotion.
“We will now await the outcome of the Premier League proceedings and until then are not able to comment any further on the matter.”

Fiorentina fans openly criticised coach Raffaele Palladino and director Daniele Pradé on Sunday, urging the pair to leave the club.
Fiorentina’s season is coming to a bitter end, as they have been eliminated from the Conference League semis and with one Serie A game remaining, their only goal is to qualify for the third UEFA club competition.

The Tuscans had been in the race for Champions League and Europa League placements for several months, but recent poor results mean a sixth-place finish is the best they can aim for this term.
The Viola beat Bologna 3-2 on Sunday, but fans’ protests overshadowed their win. Ultras in Curva Ferrovia urged coach Palladino and sporting director Pradé to leave the club with chants and banners, receiving applause from other stadium sectors.

Palladino was only hired last summer, and Fiorentina recently activated a clause to extend his contract to 2027.
The ex-Monza coach claimed he accepted the fans’ verdict, although he didn’t hear their chants last night.
“I was focused on the game and didn’t hear them,” Palladino told DAZN via TMW.
“I understand the disappointment and the fans’ mood. We accept it because it’s how we also feel. We’ve come through a tough week between the Conference League elimination and the defeat against Venezia. However, I want to remind the fans that we will always give everything for the shirt.

These guys deserve credit because they fought for a Champions League spot until two weeks ago. Then we had some physical issues, even though you know I don’t want it to be an excuse. We understand the frustration, but we are still fighting.”

Carlo Ancelotti will take charge of his final match at the Santiago Bernabeu next Saturday, May 24, when Real Madrid face Real Sociedad in their last La Liga fixture of the season.
As confirmed by Mundo Deportivo, the club is planning a special tribute to honour the Italian manager’s successful time in charge.

Ancelotti, one of the most respected figures in modern football, will bid farewell after guiding Real Madrid through two successful spells.
The tribute at the Bernabeu will include a celebration of the 15 trophies he has won with the club, including Champions League titles, La Liga triumphs, and other domestic and international honours.
The match will serve not just as a league encounter, but as a fitting send-off to a manager who has written his name into the club’s history books.

preparing for a fresh chapter. The 65-year-old will travel to Brazil to begin his new role as head coach of the Brazilian national team.
He is expected to be officially unveiled and will announce his first Brazil squad shortly after arriving. Meanwhile, at the Bernabeu, the focus is shifting to the future.
Real Madrid are ready to welcome Xabi Alonso as their new manager. The Spaniard, who has earned praise for his impressive work with Bayer Leverkusen, is seen as the ideal candidate to lead the next generation of talent at the club.
Alongside Alonso’s arrival, the club is also planning a series of new signings. Among those are Dean Huijsen, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Alvaro Carreras.

These additions, along with a fresh approach under Alonso, suggest that Real Madrid are already building towards a new project, one aimed at long-term success.
Saturday’s match against Real Sociedad will mark the end of one era and the beginning of another, as Ancelotti says goodbye and Real Madrid begins turning the page.

Eight players have been shortlisted for the Premier League’s Player of the Season award, with three Liverpool stars making the cut. The Reds have romped to the title in Arne Slot’s first campaign as boss, earning the Dutchman a nomination for Manager of the Season.

The trio of Merseysiders to make the Player of the Year shortlist are Ryan Gravenberch, Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk. Gravenberch has recovered from a difficult debut season to make the No.6 spot his own after a failed move for Martin Zubimendi.

Van Dijk meanwhile has been imperious once again in defence as he became the first Dutchman to captain a team to the Premier League title. And amid the noise around his contract situation, Salah has fired in 28 goals, as well as notching 18 assists.

The trio will battle it out with five other players to win the award. Manchester City’s Phil Foden was crowned the winner last year, but none of Pep Guardiola’s squad make the cut following their dismal campaign.
And Declan Rice is Arsenal’s sole representative, despite the Gunners likely ending up as Liverpool’s closest challengers for the title. Rice has reached double figures for combined goals and assists, establishing himself as one of the division’s best midfielders.

Also up the prestigious award is Nottingham Forest star Morgan Gibbs-White. The midfielder has been one of the driving forces behind Forest’s stunning campaign, helping them to qualify for Europe for the first time in 30 years.

Gibbs-White is joined by team-mate Chris Wood, with the 33-year-old having scored 20 goals in the best season of his career. Earning his second successive nomination is Alexander Isak.
The Swedish striker has fired Newcastle into Europe, as well as scoring in the Carabao Cup final to help the Magpies end their 56-year trophy drought. Isak’s tally of 23 goals puts him second in the Golden Boot race.
The final name on the shortlist is Bryan Mbeumo, who has contibuted 18 goals and seven assists to another impressive season for Brentford. Salah is favourite to win, having scored five more goals and notched six more assists than any other player.

He is just one goal or assist away from matching the all-time record for most goal involvements in a single campaign, a record jointly held by Alan Shearer and Andrew Cole, both of whom set their records in 42-match seasons.
Meanwhile, Van Dijk will become only the fifth player in Premier League history to win the award on multiple occasions, following in the footsteps of Thierry Henry, Cristiano Ronaldo, Nemanja Vidic and Kevin De Bruyne.

Reds boss Slot is the favourite to win the Manager of the Season trophy, after becoming only the fifth manager to lift the Premier League trophy in his first season in England. Many deemed the job of replacing Jurgen Klopp an impossible task, but Slot has risen to the occassion, leading his side to the title with four games to spare.
Slot is up against Brentford boss Thomas Frank, who has put his side on course for their highest-ever finish, with Europe still a possibility. Also on the list is Eddie Howe, after leading Newcastle out of their mid-season funk and into a potential Champions League place.

Premier League award nominations

• Player of the Season;
  Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
  Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)
  Ryan Gravenberch (Liverpool)
  Chris Wood (Nottingham Forest)
  Morgan Gibbs-White (Nottingham Forest)
  Declan Rice (Arsenal)
  Alexander Isak (Newcastle)
  Bryan Mbeumo (Brentford)
• Manager of the Year
  Thomas Frank (Brentford)
  Eddie Howe (Newcastle)
  Arne Slot (Liverpool)
  Nuno Espirito Santo (Nottingham Forest)
  Vitor Pereira (Wolves)
• Young Player of the Year
  Ryan Gravenberch (Liverpool)
  William Saliba (Arsenal)
  Anthony Elanga (Nottingham Forest)
  Cole Palmer (Chelsea)
  Liam Delap (Ipswich Town)
  Joao Pedro (Brighton & Hove Albion)
  Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa)
  Dean Huijsen (Bournemouth)

The Magpies remain in the hunt for second place, which would match their best-ever finishing position in the Premier League of runners-up, achieved in 1995/96 and 1996/97. The fourth name on the shortlist is Nuno Espirito Santo.
The Portuguese boss saved Nottingham Forest from relegation last term and has masterminded a stunning run to European qualification this year. He has won three Manager of the Month awards this season, more than any other manager.
The final contender is Vitor Pereira, who has won 10 of his 20 Premier League games since replacing Gary O’Neil at Wolves. The Midlands side were dead and buried when he took over, but he has successfully steered them away from the drop zone and above both Manchester United and Tottenham.

The final award up for grabs is the Young Player of the Season trophy. Gravenberch is one of eight players to make the shortlist, along with reigning holder Cole Palmer of Chelsea.
Ipswich striker Liam Delap makes the cut after an impressive season despite the Tractor Boys’ relegation. Forest star Anthony Elanga has been a pivotal figure at the City Ground and also earns a nomination.

Despite fading, Palmer has also been included after scoring 15 goals and registering eight assists. Dean Huijsen has been so impressive for Bournemouth that the centre-back is set to join Real Madrid, as well as putting himself in the running for the Young Player of the Season trophy.
Concluding the shortlist are Joao Predo of Brighton, Morgan Rogers of Aston Villa and Arsenal centre-back William Saliba. It has been a disappointing season for the Gunners, but the Frenchman has again been a commanding presence in defence, earning a second successive Young Player of the Season nomination.

Premier League supporters have until midday on Monday to vote in all three categories. The public votes will be combined with those of a panel of football experts to decide the winner, who will be revealed next week.

There’s officially one month to go until the kick-off of the 2025 Club World Cup, the tournament that will pit 32 teams from across the world against each other for global glory.

A month of action, competition and fun in the various stadiums within the United States are guaranteed in this new-look tournament, with its format completely changed from its predecessor. Let’s find out together how it will all unfold.

When and where the matches will be played

The new Club World Cup will be played from 14 June to 13 July 2025 in the United States, one year before the 2026 World Cup (which will also be hosted by the USA, together with Canada and Mexico). Already defined are the 12 stadiums in which it will be played, with the final at MetLife Stadium in New York. From Atlanta to Miami, from Orlando to Washington, the list of venues chosen for this first edition of the FIFA Club World Cup also includes the Rose Bowl in Pasadena (which hosted the unforgettable Italy-Brazil World Cup final in 1994).

The complete list of stadia is as follows:

Mercedes-Benz Stadium – Atlanta, GA

TQL Stadium – Cincinnati, OH

Bank of America Stadium – Charlotte, NC

Rose Bowl Stadium – Los Angeles, CA

Hard Rock Stadium – Miami, FL

GEODIS Park – Nashville, TN

MetLife Stadium – New Jersey

Camping World Stadium – Orlando, FL

Inter&Co Stadium – Orlando, FL

Lincoln Financial Field – Philadelphia, PA

Lumen Field – Seattle, WA

Audi Field – Washington, D.C.

The new format

The competition, which used to feature just eight club sides from across the globe, will now include 32 teams divided into eight groups of four. The eight groups have been drawn as follows:

Group A: Palmeiras (Brazil), Porto (Portugal), Al-Ahly (Egypt), Inter Miami (USA)

Group B: Paris Saint-Germain (France), Atletico Madrid (Spain), Botafogo (Brazil), Seattle Sounders (United States)

Group C: Bayern Munich (Germany), Auckland City (New Zealand), Boca Juniors (Argentina), Benfica (Portugal)

Group D: Flamengo (Brazil), Esperance Sportive de Tunis (Tunisia), Chelsea (England), play-off winner between Los Angeles FC and Club America

Group E: River Plate (Argentina), Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan), Monterrey (Mexico), Inter Milan (Italy)

Group F: Fluminense (Brazil), Borussia Dortmund (Germany), Ulsan HD (South Korea), Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)

Group G: Manchester City (England), Wydad AC (Morocco), Al Ain (United Arab Emirates), JUVENTUS (Italy)

Group H: Real Madrid (Spain), Al-Hilal (Saudi Arabia), Pachuca (Mexico), Salzburg (Austria)

The top two from each group will advance to the knockout stages, which will include the Round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals and the final, for a total of 63 matches (without a third place play-off), a format that therefore follows that of the World Cup for national teams.

Group F: Fluminense (Brazil), Borussia Dortmund (Germany), Ulsan HD (South Korea), Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)

Group G: Manchester City (England), Wydad AC (Morocco), Al Ain (United Arab Emirates), JUVENTUS (Italy)

Group H: Real Madrid (Spain), Al-Hilal (Saudi Arabia), Pachuca (Mexico), Salzburg (Austria)

The top two from each group will advance to the knockout stages, which will include the Round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals and the final, for a total of 63 matches (without a third place play-off), a format that therefore follows that of the World Cup for national teams.

Everton may be moving into a brand-new home ahead of the 2025/26 season, but the club will continue their legacy at Goodison Park following a landmark move. The Merseyside club have announced that the iconic stadium will be the permanent home of Everton Women from next season in a move described as “a testament to the women’s game” by club captain Megan Finnigan.

Everton have confirmed that Goodison Park will be the permanent home of Everton Women as part of a historic move in the women’s game.

The men’s first team will depart Goodison after 133 years at the end of the current campaign, ahead of a move to the new Everton Stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock for the beginning of the 2025/26 season.

A club statement released on Tuesday said that the iconic stadium “will remain a central part of Liverpool’s sporting and cultural identity” while serving a purpose “to create a team capable of challenging for honours – backed by high-quality facilities and a world-renowned home”.

It added: “The decision follows an in-depth review of the Goodison Legacy project by The Friedkin Group (TFG) since their takeover in December. The Goodison Legacy project was launched in 2020 to define the future of Goodison.

“After an in-depth review, The Friedkin Group decided that football must be kept at the heart of Everton’s community.

The move addresses Everton Women’s rapid growth and need for a larger, more suitable venue than Walton Hall Park. Phase one of the transition includes stadium upgrades to enhance the matchday experience and ensure adequate facilities are in place before the start of the season.”

Captain of Everton Women Megan Finnigan called the move “a testament to where the women’s game is right now and, more importantly, where it is heading”.

She added: “Goodison is a magical stadium with a deep heritage and close ties to the local community.

“Leading the team out for that first home match of next season will be nothing short of a career highlight – and the prospect of what Everton Women can become with such an iconic ground to call our home is hugely exciting.”

Everton’s chief executive officer Angus Kinnear also spoke about a “statement of intent” surrounding the move, as well as the importance of continuing The Toffees’ legacy at the stadium.

“We know how treasured Goodison is, not only to every Evertonian, but to the game itself, and being able to keep such an iconic stadium at the heart of the legacy project is something that has been incredibly important to us.

“The women’s game has grown significantly in recent years, and we believe that growth will continue and accelerate.

“We’re under no illusions; there are obstacles we need to overcome to make this a success both practically and economically, but we’re confident that we will overcome those challenges.

“We believe Everton Women can emulate that success and go even further, with one of the most revered grounds in the history of the game as their permanent home.”

This summer will host the new look and expanded FIFA Club World Cup. This year, the competition will be revamped, as 32 sides from around the world head to the USA for the finals, which will be held across June and July.
As the excitement begins to ramp up, here’s a way to brush up on your FIFA Club World Cup knowledge, with twenty facts about the global football extravaganza.

Twenty facts about the FIFA Club World Cup

The first-ever variant of any kind of a global football tournament was in 1909. It was called the Sir Thomas Lipton Trophy and was held in Italy in 1909 and 1911, where teams from England, Italy, Germany and Switzerland contested the competition.
The first official tournament took place in 2000 in Brazil, under the name the FIFA Club World Championship.

Corinthians, Vasco da Gama, Manchester United, Necaxa, Raja CA, Real Madrid, Al-Nassr, and South Melbourne competed in the first tournament.
Manchester United’s decision to play at the 2000 tournament saw them withdraw from that season’s FA Cup and caused an infamous backlash. So much so it was made into a full front page headline by newspapers of the time.

Real Madrid’s Nicolas Anelka scored the first goal of the competition in a 3-1 win against Al-Nassr.
Brazilian club Corinthians won the inaugural FIFA Club World Championship, beating Vasco da Game on penalties in Rio. It’s the only time a team from the host nation has won the competition.
Real Madrid hold the record for winning the most tournaments. Since 2000, the Spanish giants have been victorious five times.

In 2005, the FIFA Club World Championship merged with the Intercontinental Cup and, a year later, renamed the FIFA Club World Cup.
No country has had a larger number of winners than England, with four different teams: Manchester United (2008), Liverpool (2019), Chelsea (2021) and Manchester City (2023).
Japan holds the record for hosting the competition on most occasions. It’s been the host nation for eight different tournaments.

More teams from Brazil have competed in the FIFA Club World Cup than any other nation, with eleven different sides appearing.
Al-Alyn midfielder Hussein El Shahath has played in more FIFA Club World Cup matches than anyone else, with 15 appearances.
Pep Guardiola has won the FIFA Club World Cup four times as a manager: Twice with Barcelona (2009 and 2011), once with Bayern Munich (2013) and 2023’s victory as boss of Manchester City.

New Zealanders Auckland City have appeared in a record 12 different FIFA World Cup Cup tournaments.
Bayern Munich have competed in two FIFA Club World Cup tournaments (2013 and 2020), but are yet to concede a goal.
The official song for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup is the 90s classic Free From Desire by Gala.

Toni Kroos’s six FIFA Club World Cup wins are more than any other player in the tournament’s history.
​The all-time top scorer in FIFA Club World Cups is Cristiano Ronaldo, with seven goals. He is ahead of former Real Madrid teammates Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale, who are on six each.
The brand new FIFA Club World Cup trophy is made by Tiffany and Co. and features a 24-carat gold-plated finish and intricate laser-engraved inscriptions on both sides, including a world map and the names of all 211 FIFA member associations and the six confederations.

Luis Suarez, Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Hamdou Elhouni are the only players who have scored a hat-trick in the competition.

Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi was rushed to hospital for emergency surgery on an abominal injury he sustained during the 2-2 draw with Leicester.
Awoniyi, 27, collided with the post in the final minutes at the City Ground on Sunday and tried to carry on after receiving several minutes of treatment.

The extent of the injury was only discovered by club medical staff on Monday and the Nigeria international was hospitalised for an urgent procedure.

Awoniyi had stretched to try and meet Anthony Elanga’s cross and was in visible discomfort after sliding into the foot of the post, an incident which led to a on-pitch confrontation between Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis and Nuno Espirito Santo.

It is official. Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti will be the new manager of the Brazil national team, the CBF has confirmed in a statement.
The 65-year-old head coach will take over the reins of the Selecao from May 26, a day after Real Madrid’s final La Liga game of the season against Real Sociedad.

The CBF is proud to confirm that Carlo Ancelotti will become the next head coach of the Brazilian national football team,” the statement from the CBF read.
“Mr. Ancelotti is a legend of the game as the most successful manager in football history, will officially take charge following the conclusion of the 2024/25 La Liga season, ahead of Brazil’s FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign in June. His official start date May 26th, 2025. “

Carlo Ancelotti arrives as the first foreign manager in the history of the Selecao. This landmark moment sees the coming together of two icons – the only five-time FIFA World Cup champions, and a coach with an unmatched record across Europe’s elite competitions.

The CBF warmly welcomes Mr. Ancelotti and looks forward to a new era of success under his leadership.”
Ancelotti will bid goodbye to Real Madrid in less than two weeks after enjoying a fruitful second stint at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Xabi Alonso is set to replace him at the helm of affairs as the new coach of the Merengues, with the Spaniard ready to take over from June 1.

With five teams qualifying for Champions League play in the Premier League due to their performance in European competition, things have gotten tight with the top seven all in the mix for a place. The first two places of Liverpool and Arsenal seem just about set, while Newcastle United’s great run of form lately has them well placed to finish in a Champions League spot. But behind them, Manchester City, Chelsea, Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest are only separated by three points, and tensions are rising.

On Sunday, Forest had a Champions League place within their reach, leading relegated Leicester City until conceding in the 81st minute of play. Those two points dropped were critical as it could’ve seen Forest go above Chelsea into fifth, but instead they’re seventh, looking up. While this was a team that narrowly avoided relegation last season, their recent form of only two wins in their last eight matches has seen the Tricky Trees slide down the table from third to seventh. Owner Evangelos Marinakis’ frustrations also showed following the draw facing Leicester as he exchanged words with manager Nuno Espirito Santo at the conclusion of the match

Not having the experience of being in the race for Europe this late in the season, it does make sense that Forest are falling back to earth, but when the Champions League is so close to their grasp, it doesn’t make it easier to deal with either. Their poor spell couldn’t have come at a worse time, as teams like Aston Villa are hitting peak performance as the season comes to a close.

Who ends up in the top five?

Liverpool winning the title means they’re set for the Champions League next season, and while Arsenal can technically fall out of the top four, it’s highly unlikely that the Gunners miss out of the Champions League next season. Newcastle still have to face Arsenal but a draw in that match will be good enough for both teams. Lose, and things could get murky, but when taking into account goal difference, it’d be tough to see the Magpies missing out as they should take care of Everton on the final day.

City also suffered a damaging draw to a relegated team, drawing 0-0 away to Southampton. A victory could’ve all but assured their place in UCL next season, but instead, they’ll now have to see how things shake out. Facing Bournemouth, it won’t be easy to come away with a victory, but City should still get the job done.  After losing to Newcastle United, Chelsea needs to win out, but if they drop points, Aston Villa are there and waiting. Facing Tottenham and Manchester United in their next few games, Villa could benefit from their rivals being focused on the Europa League final. If Villa don’t win out, Chelsea, facing Forest on the final day, could determine the top five.

Prediction
1. Liverpool
2. Arsenal
3. Newcastle United
4. Manchester City